I’ve always loved exploring the streets of Los Angeles through photowalks — it’s been a big part of my photography journey. It all started back in 2000 when my daughter Sasha was born (she graduated college in 2022!). I picked up a basic point-and-shoot digital camera to capture family moments, and I’ve been documenting life with photos and videos ever since.
Fast forward to 2009: I was at a friend’s house, and his father—an avid photographer—inspired me to upgrade. On a whim, I bought an interchangeable-lens camera. Feeling overwhelmed, I found a tutor on Craigslist for a 4-hour lesson on manual mode and the basics.
A few months later, I was hooked. I even bought a Leica M6 film camera and started developing my own black-and-white film at home. Over the years, I’ve collected more cameras (film and digital, from compact to full-frame) and lenses—lots of trial and error, both in gear and shooting. I tend to get a bit obsessive with new hobbies!
All those cameras sitting around created the perfect excuse for regular use. Then Google+ launched photowalks, and I joined one where I met people I’m still friends with today (updated this post on December 30, 2025).
A Night Photowalk on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood
One evening, a few friends and I grabbed dinner near Melrose and La Brea, then hit the streets for a long photowalk after dark. Not much was open on the usually bustling avenue, so we explored the quieter alleys behind it.
In one alley just north of Melrose, I captured Farzad Kohan (camera in hand) as a skateboarder zoomed by. I’m a big fan of Farzad’s work—check it out on his Facebook page. Our other friend was Steve from Smacksmog.
Cool Graffiti and Murals
We wandered several blocks, looking for interesting shots. This alien mural stood out the most—I’ve always been strangely fascinated by aliens, and the colors popped beautifully at night.
Love Locks in a Stairwell
Spotting these padlocks immediately reminded me of the famous love locks in Paris. They’re tucked in a stairwell on Melrose — wonder if they’re still there in 2026? (This shot was noisy/grainy, taken on my beloved Fujifilm X-Pro1.)
A Perfect Street Sign
On the way back to our cars near La Brea, this logo caught my eye. It perfectly embodies a quote from the legendary graphic designer Saul Bass:
Summarize and Symbolize
(If you haven’t seen his iconic film titles and posters, you’re missing out!)
Photowalks like this remind me why I fell in love with photography—capturing fleeting moments with friends in a vibrant city like LA. Have you done a night photowalk on Melrose? Share in the comments!
