Vintage Glow: DTLA Through a Canon 5D

Looking at this photo takes me right back to 2008. I remember driving over to the old Temple Hospital site specifically for this vantage point. The hospital was technically still open, but it felt like it was running on fumes, and I knew the building itself was eventually destined for demolition. I grabbed a few atmosphere shots on the ground level first—including that classic Western Exterminator sign—before finding my way up to the roof. Any mild nervousness I had about being up there completely evaporated the second I saw the view. It was just peaceful being high above the city noise.

I set up my tripod, genuinely excited because I was shooting with the Canon 5D. It’s funny to think about now in our current era of massive sensors, but back then, its full-frame, 13-megapixel resolution was an absolute game-changer and a huge step up for me. Paired with my favorite 24-105mm lens, it felt like the perfect setup. This image actually ended up in my 2011 book, Downtown Turnaround. I’ve cycled through so many cameras since that night, but looking back at this file—even with "only" 13 megapixels—I’m really glad I was there to capture it. I lalways think about how a photo will be seen years into the future. Many photos that seem ordinary can be eyeopening years later for various reasons. The specs have changed, but the moment remains.