Composing a Visual Melody

I’ve driven past "The Melody" countless times, always telling myself I’d come back to photograph it properly. There is something about the retro signage and the architecture that is very pleasing to my eye, but I knew a mid-day shot wouldn't do it justice. I really wanted to capture it at twilight—that brief window where the warm glow of the sconces balances perfectly with the cotton-candy colors of the sunset.

To get the shot, I set up my tripod right in the median of West Olive Avenue. It’s a surprisingly busy spot, sandwiched right next to the massive walls of the Warner Bros. lot, but the traffic actually worked in my favor. I spent some time working through different angles, letting the passing cars paint streaks of light across the frame. I kept shooting until the color finally faded from the sky, and despite the rush of standing in the middle of a busy avenue, I’m happy with the final composition.