Los Angeles is arguably one of the most photogenic cities in the world. We want to share this guide with those who want to visit Southern California and are willing to dedicate some time exploring the city.
There are many interesting spots to capture the sunset in the South Bay. Today I went to the Palos Verdes Peninsula again but it was my first time photographing from the area called the San Ramon Reserve.
Ela Park is located in Lincoln Heights, a suburb that is 100% Hispanic therefore good Mexican food is available everywhere. From juicy burritos to crunchy tacos and grilled chicken with lots of garlic, East L.A. is the place for all your spicy cravings.
What a cold & windy winter we have had in Los Angeles this year! Strong winds clear the air from dust and smog, which is good for panoramic time-lapse photography.
This afternoon I went to one of the most popular spots for hiking and relaxing in the entire Los Angeles Metropolitan area, which is Runyon Canyon Park located in the Hollywood Hills.
Today was a day for car enthusiasts in Los Angeles. The annual Downtown Burbank Car Classic Show was a hit. Lots of people, amazing atmosphere, cool cars, music and a wide variety of food from local restaurants.
I have to start by saying that this premiere was both scary and obscure from the audience’s perspective. I arrived earlier than usual and could walk around to scout for the best spots to take photos and record videos from.
Today I went to the Hollywood Boulevard to document another movie premiere. This time the cast of the Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw took the spot light.
It was a hot summer afternoon with temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. I arrived an hour before the event and the boulevard was already packed with movie fans waiting for their favorite actors to get photos and autographs.
Every Los Angeles suburb has practically a piece of history attached to it and Pasadena is not an exception. Today I went to explore that city for photogenic spots and stopped by the Casa Grande neighborhood where Edward and Alex Van Halen grew up and formed their band.
On my way to Twenty Nine Palms I stopped by a wind farm located in North Palm Springs for a quick time-lapse photo sequence as the scenery of those giant turbines and the clouds was irresistible; then I drove to the Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center before getting into Joshua Tree. There was a special event for astronomy enthusiasts open to the general public at the observatory.
This was my third year in a row helping the Friends of The L.A. River organization to document their clean-up.
It is unbelievable the amount of trash volunteers collect every time they are called to participate in these events. I have seen mattresses, personal computers, shopping carts, televisions, clothes, and car parts, just to name a few things that nobody would expect to find near the river.
Los Angeles is internationally known for its traffic. There are so many cars in this city that traffic violation statistics seem a little bit crazy year after year, no matter what authorities do to enforce good behavior behind the wheel.
Elysian Park is supposed to be a family-oriented space in the heart of Los Angeles. In fact, I have seen many birthday celebrations, BBQ gatherings, and even “movies at the park” events there. Unfortunately, vandals and drug addicts are frequent visitors as well.
It’s summer 2017. I went to Redondo Beach to enjoy the day and create some time-lapse photo sequences that will be part of a video that covers the South Bay area of Los Angeles. Something similar to our “Silicon Beach” video.
I always wanted to capture these tunnels but never had the opportunity until recently. The tunnels are located near Elysian Park and are part of the 110 freeway that connects Downtown LA with Pasadena. The entire area is not considered very safe but there are many good spots to capture the traffic, therefore I took the risk three times. Twice during the day and once at night.
South Gate is a suburb located 7 miles southeast of Downtown Los Angeles. I had planned going there to shoot the symbolic bridge for at least two years, always waiting for the perfect waiting conditions that included fast-moving clouds. This bridge serves as a meeting spot for teenagers living in the area and also as a backdrop for photographers like most bridges in LA.
The Baldwin Hills scenic overlook is a cool place for both exercising and taking panoramic photos of LA. The main hiking trail is very steep, a mile long from the park entrance located on Jefferson Blvd. Some people don’t consider this a hiking trail but the way the concrete steps are set up will make your legs feel like they are on fire, therefore you are going to have a nice workout anyways.
After spending a lot of time in Montréal and Las Vegas for the Quebec Deluxe and Lapse Vegasphotography projects, we are back in Los Angeles to continue with our most ambitious adventure, which is building the largest LA timelapse photography archive ever created.
Downtown LA has experienced a lot of new constructions and building renovations between 2012 and 2016. I’m waiting for all major projects to be completed before I work on new photo sequences to capture the skyline again. In the meantime here are some photos I took with my phone.
This iconic bridge built in 1932 and considered a monument in Los Angeles is no longer part of the LA landscape. The steel arches and concrete have been suffering “the test of time” and therefore the viaduct has been demolished.
There are usually dozens of 4th of July celebrations organized in Los Angeles every year so I drove to Mount Wilson to capture the fireworks from a panoramic perspective. The wind was slow. There was practically no wind, so the smoke clouds caused by the fireworks look dense in the photographs.
There is so much history in this area of Los Angeles that you wouldn’t believe it! Both Santa Monica and Venice Beach have been used as the set for many TV shows and feature films including “Cobra” (1986), “Pacific Blue” (1996-2000), “Point of No Return” (1993), and “The Net (1995)” just to name a few.
Today is the first day of the demolition of the legendary and iconic Sixth Street Viaduct which connects the Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles with the Boyle Heights neighborhood in East LA.
This video includes photo sequences from the Hollywood Boulevard, the Sunset Strip and the Hollywood Hills but we also included the Hollywood Tower, which was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1988. Each one of the areas came with its own set of difficulties.
It was a lovely Sunday afternoon when the stars of the Terminator Genisys film arrived at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood to interact with the media and meet their admirers. This was an incredibly thrilling experience!
On a lovely Saturday afternoon, I drove to Mount Wilson with the intention of capturing the sunlight reflecting on the antennas. As I explored the area, I discovered various picturesque locations that offered stunning views of the landscape and sunset.
Turnbull Canyon, situated between the suburbs of Whittier and Hacienda Heights on the east side of Los Angeles County, is a hilly area that offers the best location for capturing stunning sunsets. Irrespective of the time of year, this spot is perfect for creating incredible time-lapse photo sequences that are truly breathtaking.
It has been two and a half years since I embarked on this adventurous and ever-challenging project of documenting Los Angeles using the time-lapse photography technique. From scouting locations, planning, waiting for perfect weather conditions (which are rare in LA) to hiking and driving so many miles throughout the city always looking for a good photography spot, the whole experience has been just amazing.
This is a collection of photos of the most interesting and unique signs I have seen while exploring the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
This is a collection of photographs taken around the same time, in Downtown LA and the StubHub Center.
Something strange happened a few minutes after I sat on the ledge of a building Downtown when I was trying to take the first selfie. I saw a helicopter flying in circles above me. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not unusual to see helicopters in L.A., but flying in circles is a specific sign.
Continuing with the series of time-lapse videos, TimeLAX02 includes photo sequences from Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley areas along with additional shots from Downtown Los Angeles and its surroundings. Hiking to Mount Lee to capture the city during the sunset behind the world famous Hollywood Sign involved taking four long walks uphill with 30lbs of camera gear, a powerful flashlight, snake-guards and a can of bear spray (to be somehow protected against wild animals) but being up there was a totally amazing experience. This iconic landmark is protected by a technological fortress, surrounded by a regular fence to stop visitors (and vandals) from trespassing and getting close to the sign, which is strictly prohibited. The sign is monitored 24/7 with infrared surveillance cameras.
TimeLAX is a time-lapse photography project that shows the Greater Los Angeles area from many angles.
The project includes different types of photography such as panoramic, architectural and artistic. We have scouted, tested and selected more than 200 locations that will be presented in a series of videos. Although we have photo sequences made from popular spots such as the 4th St overpass in Downtown, the Griffith Observatory, the Disney Concert Hall and the John Ferraro Building, we also included unique photo sequences captured from hard-to-find and hard-to-access places.