Looking to do photography, need location suggestions (Los Angeles, Orange: houses, neighborhood)

[50 Proof]

Can anyone recommend some safe places where I can do photography in Downtown L.A. at night?

I would like to do street photography at night near all the tall buildings. Are there any streets or parts of Downtown L.A. near the tall financial buildings that are safe to walk around in at night? Which areas should I stay out of? Are there any streets with a sidewalk directly over the 110 freeway that provide a view of freeway traffic and buildings?

I would also like to photograph all the tall buildings from a distance. Where can I go to safely photograph the tall buildings from a distance but still be close to the buildings so that they don't look far away? I was thinking either the park next to Dodger Stadium or Griffith Observatory, but I don't know how far Downtown L.A. looks from these two locations. I don't have a powerful zoom lens, so I'm out of luck for being able to zoom in from a distance.

Obviously anything can happen regardless of where you are, I'm just trying to minimize my risk of getting robbed as much as possible. I have a GPS and I'm good at reading maps, so don't be afraid to name off areas or streets or whatever. I'm somewhat familiar with how to get around in L.A. but I live in Orange County so I'm not familiar with the good areas and bad areas.

Thanks

[Charles]

Originally Posted by 50 Proof

Can anyone recommend some safe places where I can do photography in Downtown L.A. at night?

I would like to do street photography at night near all the tall buildings. Are there any streets or parts of Downtown L.A. near the tall financial buildings that are safe to walk around in at night? Which areas should I stay out of? Are there any streets with a sidewalk directly over the 110 freeway that provide a view of freeway traffic and buildings?

I would also like to photograph all the tall buildings from a distance. Where can I go to safely photograph the tall buildings from a distance but still be close to the buildings so that they don't look far away? I was thinking either the park next to Dodger Stadium or Griffith Observatory, but I don't know how far Downtown L.A. looks from these two locations. I don't have a powerful zoom lens, so I'm out of luck for being able to zoom in from a distance.

Obviously anything can happen regardless of where you are, I'm just trying to minimize my risk of getting robbed as much as possible. I have a GPS and I'm good at reading maps, so don't be afraid to name off areas or streets or whatever. I'm somewhat familiar with how to get around in L.A. but I live in Orange County so I'm not familiar with the good areas and bad areas.

Thanks

Gut feeling answer: Most likely you will have absolutely no problem. You can tell if the street is bad. Just drive around. From what you describe, the places you will be shooting should be OK. Now, from a distance things might change; just look for signs of risk: lots of graffiti, bars on windows, groups of rough looking characters, poorly lit places.

[MIKEETC]

Practically anywhere in Downtown Los Angeles is safe for night photography. I do photo sessions all the time there and I have never been in a situation where I felt unsafe. There are homeless people, of course, but for I've never been approached by them. In fact, I have received more 'grief' from security guards but they're just doing their jobs; it usually amounts to "you can't do that here" or something like that so I just leave.

Regarding your question regarding taking photos of the 110 from overpasses, try the 4th Street overpass (there are others nearby but I like that one best):



Regarding your 'distance' photos, try:

The east side of the Los Angeles River (this area I admit looks sketchy so be wise):



From Griffith Park Observatory:



Best of all is Mulholland Drive west of the Hollywood Freeway (US 101) - I have a couple of photos from there but I can't access them from where I am now. Anyway, check my profile for a few more. There are numerous locations out there...like the poster above suggested - drive around.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by MIKEETC

Practically anywhere in Downtown Los Angeles is safe for night photography. I do photo sessions all the time there and I have never been in a situation where I felt unsafe. There are homeless people, of course, but for I've never been approached by them. In fact, I have received more 'grief' from security guards but they're just doing their jobs; it usually amounts to "you can't do that here" or something like that so I just leave.

Regarding your question regarding taking photos of the 110 from overpasses, try the 4th Street overpass (there are others nearby but I like that one best):



Regarding your 'distance' photos, try:

The east side of the Los Angeles River (this area I admit looks sketchy so be wise):



From Griffith Park Observatory:



Best of all is Mulholland Drive west of the Hollywood Freeway (US 101) - I have a couple of photos from there but I can't access them from where I am now. Anyway, check my profile for a few more. There are numerous locations out there...like the poster above suggested - drive around.

The Griffith Park photo brings back great memories of exiting the Laserium shows back in the 1970s. You'd step out the exit and all of a sudden you get that killer view with clear views of the Vincent Thomas Bridge and the runway lights at SMO (which point almost directly at the Observatory).

[50 Proof]

Originally Posted by MIKEETC

Practically anywhere in Downtown Los Angeles is safe for night photography. I do photo sessions all the time there and I have never been in a situation where I felt unsafe. There are homeless people, of course, but for I've never been approached by them. In fact, I have received more 'grief' from security guards but they're just doing their jobs; it usually amounts to "you can't do that here" or something like that so I just leave.

Regarding your question regarding taking photos of the 110 from overpasses, try the 4th Street overpass (there are others nearby but I like that one best):



Regarding your 'distance' photos, try:

The east side of the Los Angeles River (this area I admit looks sketchy so be wise):



From Griffith Park Observatory:



Best of all is Mulholland Drive west of the Hollywood Freeway (US 101) - I have a couple of photos from there but I can't access them from where I am now. Anyway, check my profile for a few more. There are numerous locations out there...like the poster above suggested - drive around.

Great looking photos, and thanks for the suggestions. That 4th street overpass is exactly what I'm looking for to practice some night photography. I was driving home from seeing Phantom of the Opera last weekend at the Pantages and drove through Downtown L.A. on the way home. I couldn't really tell where to park though. Where do you recommend parking a car? Should I just pick a parking garage near where I want to shoot and pay for parking?

[buckeyenative01]

Take Broadway north and make a left at Elysian Park Drive (eventually becomes Park Row Street). Use your brights since there's hardly any light, but the winding road up the hill eventually gives you one of my favorite panoramas of the city. You have to park your car and walk up the hill a little bit (bring a flashlight and a tripod), but it offers a great view of downtown to the south.

Drive up Park Row a little farther and you'll encounter a neighborhood. The bridge you drive on goes over the southbound 110 freeway and if you position the camera on the center of the bridge, you get some great shots of both the busy freeway and the skyline bookended by two hills.

Here's an address to one of the houses along Park Row. Obviously, don't go to the house unless you know the residents (), but you'll see the views I'm talking about and get an idea of what kind of skyline shots you'll get:

600 Park Row St Los Angeles, CA 90012

[50 Proof]

Originally Posted by buckeyenative01

Take Broadway north and make a left at Elysian Park Drive (eventually becomes Park Row Street). Use your brights since there's hardly any light, but the winding road up the hill eventually gives you one of my favorite panoramas of the city. You have to park your car and walk up the hill a little bit (bring a flashlight and a tripod), but it offers a great view of downtown to the south.

Drive up Park Row a little farther and you'll encounter a neighborhood. The bridge you drive on goes over the southbound 110 freeway and if you position the camera on the center of the bridge, you get some great shots of both the busy freeway and the skyline bookended by two hills.

Here's an address to one of the houses along Park Row. Obviously, don't go to the house unless you know the residents (), but you'll see the views I'm talking about and get an idea of what kind of skyline shots you'll get:

600 Park Row St Los Angeles, CA 90012

Thank you (MIKEETC and buckeyenative01) very much for the location suggestions. I definitely know what I'll be doing this weekend I'm going to drive by some of these areas, get familiar with them and start planning some photoshoots. I really appreciate it. Finding this type of information is not easy without talking to locals who are really familiar with L.A. My mother grew up in L.A. but unfortunately doesn't know her way around as well anymore.

[buckeyenative01]

If you're downtown taking pictures of buildings, beware the guards at the Aon Center. I had one follow me a block north toward the library once trying to prevent me from taking any pictures of the skyscraper. God forbid the second-tallest building in Los Angeles show up in any of my pics...

You technically can't take pictures of a building on its grounds if a guard asks you not to since its private property (but obviously if there aren't any security guards around, go for it). You can technically go across the street and take pictures since you're no longer on their private property.

Another great skyline view is the south end of the Dodger Stadium parking lot, but obviously you won't be able to get in there until baseball season begins. Like others have said, Mulholland Drive also offers some great views.

Good luck and post the photos when you're finished. It might be interesting to see how they turn out since last I heard, its supposed to rain all weekend. Very rarely do you see any photos of LA in the rain.

[50 Proof]

Good to know about taking pictures of buildings while on its grounds. I was not aware that you couldn't do that. Thanks for the warning.

We'll see how the rain is this weekend. If there are any short periods of time with no rain, I shouldn't have any problem getting some pictures. I'll definitely post up some of the results if the weather is somewhat permitting. I'm hoping for some thick dark clouds with patches of lighter shaded clouds and/or blue sky, kinda how the sky looks when the rain is letting up and the clouds are starting to transform from storm clouds to regular clouds as the storm clouds float away. That would make up for an interesting background for some day shots.

[germanal]

I also will be shooting in LA. I need locations of train tracks that I can access without the police being called or something like that. I do not want to brake any laws so this is why I ask. Bridges also work any info will be greatly appreciated.