Los Angeles Photo Suggestions/Locations

grimace

I have to go to LA for business next week and wanted to get a few shots in while I'm out there. I'm looking for any kind of suggestions. Sunset locations, lighthouses, piers, city skyline spots, etc.

I'll have late Wednesday afternoon and evening to shoot as well as Thursday day thru the evening.

I don't want to go to far out there but I don't want to miss anything worthwhile. Basically, I want to stay within a 30 mile radius of downtown.

Any help, suggestions, or examples would be GREATLY appreciated.

saurora

Hi, wish I could help but I don't know my way around L.A. very much. I'm an Orange County dweller. I think Angelo might live there...I'll bump you and see if you get some action. Where are you staying exactly? L.A. covers a big area and it might help to know since you don't want to travel far and traffic is fierce!!! Are you near the airport?

grimace

Saurora,

Thank you for the post. Looks like I'll have to focus on work while I'm in LA instead of photography.

I'll be staying near the airport but willing to go out 30 to 40 miles for pictures.

ChrisJ

Opportunities abound here in L.A. If the weather is nice, head out to Venice Beach or Santa Monica, or one of many others. If you like theme parks, Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm are in your range.

Downtown, there's the recently opened Disney Hall... since it's really shiny, it's hard to get a good picture of (think of it as a challenge).

People watching near Mann's Chinese Theatre can be fun. Lots of touristy things to do there as well. You can get a good view of the Hollywood sign from the big mall that includes the Kodak Theatre (Academy Awards place).

I haven't really found a city skyline place that I like...

You just have to remember that 30 to 40 miles can take 2-2.5 hours (or longer) at the wrong time of day!

Angelo

ChrisJ wrote:

Opportunities abound here in L.A. If the weather is nice, head out to Venice Beach or Santa Monica, or one of many others. If you like theme parks, Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm are in your range.

Downtown, there's the recently opened Disney Hall... since it's really shiny, it's hard to get a good picture of (think of it as a challenge).

People watching near Mann's Chinese Theatre can be fun. Lots of touristy things to do there as well. You can get a good view of the Hollywood sign from the big mall that includes the Kodak Theatre (Academy Awards place).

I haven't really found a city skyline place that I like...

You just have to remember that 30 to 40 miles can take 2-2.5 hours (or longer) at the wrong time of day!

ahem!!!!! angelo.smugmug.com/disney

Angelo

The airport is about 30 miles southwest of downtown so forget downtown.
I would focus on the airport itself, especially the theme restaurant (looks like a spaceship) and the beach.

As Chris said, Venice and Santa Monica offer great opportunities. I think Venice offers more people watching, gritty, city dweller (with waves).

DavidTO

Yeah, Venice beach.

Here's a gallery I shot when I went down for the World Sacred Music Festival.

Nice photo-ops, and even more than that, a pleasant place to be.

DavidTO

This one's kinda far for you, but I've always wanted to head out to Vasquez Rocks.

grimace

Thank you all for your suggestions and input. If I come up with anything worthwhile I'll make sure to post it.

grimace

Where is this taken from?
Chris, David, or Angelo,

Do any of you or anyone else reading this know where this shot was taken?

http://www.photosecrets.com/cover.tla.big.jpg

DavidTO

grimace wrote:

Chris, David, or Angelo,

Do any of you or anyone else reading this know where this shot was taken?

http://www.photosecrets.com/cover.tla.big.jpg

Well, I don't know for certain, but it looks to be a pedestrian walkway (do you have google earth? or just search in google maps): 34° 03' 19.37"N 118° 15'26.76"W.

Or somewhere around 4th Street and the 110 FWY in downtown.

DavidTO

You see how 4th St. is split as it crosses the 110? I think that angle in the shot is straight down that split, and that's the lights you see streaming towards the buildings on either side.

DavidTO

This is the closest I could get Google Earth to it.

Jamoke

Santa Monica
Santa Monica

I love they Highway against the Pacific - I swear each time I go out for pictures I see at least 1 dolphin (Summer time). The Pier isn't bad either. It's a good beach with excellent attractions. If I could choose anywhere in Cali I would head to santa monica. My favorite!!!

DavidTO

I also want to mention that the building almost dead center in the first GE image, and the one that's blotchy in the center of the second...it's under the "e" and the "l" in the photo you linked...with the four round structures around the central round structure....anyway, that's the Bonaventure Hotel. There's a rotating bar/restaurant up top, so after you shoot you can go up and have dinner, and take a spin around the city.

EDIT: oh, and the last time I was there I saw Shaquille O'Neal there...

LiquidOps

Santa Monica Pier is a great place for some cool reflections



Steven

saurora

I just noticed rain is forecasted for Tuesday and Wednesday :cry ...hope it doesn't spoil your plans!!! The next 5 days are sunny and clear in the low 70's!!! Better stay late into the weekend!

ChrisJ

Angelo wrote:

ahem!!!!! angelo.smugmug.com/disney

:uhoh Oops, did you post any of these here? Nice shots!

Angelo

grimace wrote:

Chris, David, or Angelo,

Do any of you or anyone else reading this know where this shot was taken?

http://www.photosecrets.com/cover.tla.big.jpg

That's a street overpass of Sunset Blvd (newly named Ceasar Chavez) at Figueroa, looking south at the Bonaventure Hotel and other downtown skyscrapers.

Angelo

ChrisJ wrote:

:uhoh Oops, did you post any of these here? Nice shots!

don't remember. if I did it was a looooong time ago. thanks.

DavidTO

Angelo wrote:

That's a street overpass of Sunset Blvd (newly named Ceasar Chavez) at Figueroa, looking south at the Bonaventure Hotel and other downtown skyscrapers.

Are you sure? I could have sworn it was the 4th st. 110FWY thing that I posted...

grimace

Thank you all for your help and suggestions. It looks like I have a few places to hit and a lot of time on Thursday to run around (Catching a 12:30AM redeye).

Steven,
That's a great pier shot. I have that on my list of places to hit.

Angelo,
The location you mentioned, is it on David's map?

DavidTO

grimace wrote:

Thank you all for your help and suggestions. It looks like I have a few places to hit and a lot of time on Thursday to run around (Catching a 12:30AM redeye).

Steven,
That's a great pier shot. I have that on my list of places to hit.

Angelo,
The location you mentioned, is it on David's map?

The main street between the bonaventure hotel (with the round dealy-bobs) and the 110 fwy is Figueroa. Follow that north(ish) to sunset/caesar chavez. That's where he's talking about. But I think he's wrong. The buildings don't line up right from that angle.

Angelo

DavidTO wrote:

Are you sure? I could have sworn it was the 4th st. 110FWY thing that I posted...

Upon closer inspection I think you're right David, which would put the shooter most likely on Beaudry facing east.

Angelo

grimace wrote:

Thank you all for your help and suggestions. It looks like I have a few places to hit and a lot of time on Thursday to run around (Catching a 12:30AM redeye).

Steven,
That's a great pier shot. I have that on my list of places to hit.

Angelo,
The location you mentioned, is it on David's map?

the two locations are within walking distance of each other, however as I posted above, I defer to David. On first glance I was disoriented and misidentified the line of view.

grimace

Results
Thanks again for everyone's help and suggestions. Here are a few of my results from Wednesday & Thursday.

Manhattan Beach Pier


Downtown LA at Night (thank you for the location map)


110 Freeway Going Through Downtown LA


Palms & Skyscapers (Downtown LA)


Point Vicente Lighthouse

DavidTO

Very nice!

Man, you put me to shame. I'm so lazy about getting out and about and shooting what's right in my own backyard!

saurora

Oh these are super nice!!! Glad you were successful in finding some good locations. I love the pier shot...haven't been there in years!!! The night shots makes me want to get out and explore my own neighborhood. Hope you post some more!

DavidTO

grimace wrote:

Downtown LA at Night (thank you for the location map)

This shot turned out great (they're all great!). I gotta tell you I was pretty please with myself having scouted that location for you with Google Earth. Pretty cool what you can do with that!

Angelo

Hey Adam, some really nice shots there

You really covered some ground getting around town like that. I've never even heard of the Point Vicente Lighthouse. Can you enlighten me?

grimace

Angelo,

Half way through responding to your post your "light" humor finally hit me.

Just in case anyone is looking for the Point Vicente Lighthouse it's located near the city of Rancho Palos Verdes and is operated by the Coast Guard. It's fenced off and unaccessable to the public except for the 2nd Saturday of each month. Otherwise, your shot options are very limited unless you 6'5" or taller.

Also, the Point Fermin Lighthouse and the Korean Bell of Friendship (seen in the movie "Usual Suspects") are just 5 to 10 minutes south of Point Vicente in the town of San Pedro. Both are worthy of shooting but both were having work done while I was there.