In this second part of our series for Trope Los Angeles, we continue to dive into the work of the talented photographers who have captured the city's essence through their lenses. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, these artists bring new life to LA’s diverse landscapes.
This time, we are excited to spotlight the work of Kris Kuganathan, Jeffery Xin, Bryce Way, Tiffany Bell, Andy Shigekawa, and Daniel Feldman.
How long have you been a photographer and what initially drew you to the profession?
I've been a creative for most of my life. My expression initially began in the arts — drawing, painting, graffiti — but I shifted to photography in 2017 after buying my first camera and joining a few photographers on a road trip through the Southwest. From that moment, I was hooked. I fell in love with the idea of finding a new location, getting there, setting up the shot, waiting for the perfect lighting, and finally freezing the perfect frame. While it’s not my full-time job, I spend every spare moment I can learning, practicing, and growing my skill set. These days, I’ve picked up more portrait and live event work but I’m still happiest when out in the field shooting landscapes or cityscapes to feed my creative soul.
How would you describe your photography style?
My photography style reflects a mix of urban and natural landscapes with an emphasis on light, mood, and contrast. I love showcasing the dynamic relationship between urban environments and the backcountry in both golden hour and night time lighting. The fundamentals of my edits are consistent across all of my work - punchy colors, high contrast, and deep blacks. I lean heavily on the use of a tripod and am never afraid to lower the shutter speed to emphasize motion. I often introduce a small human element (oftentimes, it's my fiancé) to show off the scale of the scene that I’m photographing.
What is it about Los Angeles that inspires you to photograph it?
I think Los Angeles is a deeply misunderstood city. Some see it as either a Mecca of dreams and others see it as a wasteland of broken promises. I’m sure there’s glimmers of truth to both but I believe the true soul of the city lies somewhere in between and finding perspectives that tell that wide array of stories serve as my main inspiration. Whether it’s the golden sunshine kissing the beautiful beaches at sundown or red taillights trails zippin’ through gritty downtown city blocks in the dark of night, each frame tells a different story about another corner of Los Angeles. The constant evolution of the city, with new developments and changing landscapes, keeps the work fresh and exciting. As compositions come and go, the photographs last forever and tell the story of our city. I’m honored to help write the pages of LA history through my artwork.
How long have you been a photographer, and what initially drew you to the profession? How would you describe your photography style?
My passion for photography began in high school, and I enjoy framing everything. After that, I started my journey in professional photography, and I always like to describe my style based on the beauty of perspective and geometry.
What is it about Los Angeles that inspires you to photograph it?
As a filmmaker and photographer based in New York City, the West Coast is always a paradise of chill and relaxation. However, I have been deeply attracted by the Cali vibes through music and lifestyle. Therefore, I wanted to bring what I felt and saw in Los Angeles into my works.
Do you have a favorite Los Angeles photography moment or memory?
One of the beautiful memories I had in Los Angeles was walking beside Santa Monica Beach in the morning, holding my camera, sitting on the beach, and watching people pass through.
How long have you been a photographer and what initially drew you to the profession? How would you describe your photography style?
I've had a camera in hand since I was 10, running around creating movies and capturing moments. Photography has always been a way for me to express myself and connect with the world around me. Being in this profession has been on my mind for as long as I can remember. Creating art and sharing it with the world gives me purpose, it’s what fuels my passion every day.
What is your process like for shooting a new location? Do you try to match the feeling of the place with the image that you produce, or is it much more spontaneous?
I always set the scene and make sure my subject matches the surroundings, whether it’s a car, a person, or a product. It’s important that everything fits the scene to create a cohesive photo and tell a story. I focus on crafting moments that feel authentic to both the location and the narrative I’m trying to tell.
What is it about Los Angeles that inspires you to photograph it?
Los Angeles is a creative playground with so much to capture. There’s this endless variety that makes every corner of the city feel unique. Whether it’s the streets of downtown, the beaches, or the hills, there’s always something new to discover. It’s a city built on ambition and creativity, and that energy inspires me to push my boundaries as an artist every time I shoot.
What advice do you have for up-and-coming photographers?
Never stop creating, and stay consistent. You're going to hit bumps in the road, but that's okay, that's how you learn and grow. Shoot as much as possible, push your creativity, and don’t quit. The key is to keep going, even when things get tough. The more you shoot, the better you’ll get. You’ll develop your own style and stand out. Remember, it’s not a race, it's a marathon. You create today and get paid tomorrow.
Tell me a bit about your editing process.
Depending on what the photo is for, I'll either use Photoshop or Lightroom. My editing process is about enhancing the photo without overdoing it. Each image gets its own attention depending on the mood I want to evoke, but my goal is always to keep it true to the scene I captured.
What is it about Los Angeles that inspires you to photograph it?
What inspires me about photographing Los Angeles is the incredible diversity of the city. LA has this unique blend of natural beauty and urban grit—beaches, mountains, sprawling cityscapes, and hidden pockets of culture. There's a constant sense of movement and energy in the city, and I love capturing those fleeting moments where you see LA in a new way, from the eclectic neighborhoods to the ever-changing skyline. The light here is cinematic, and every part of the city—from the beaches to the urban streets has its own unique story makes LA endlessly fascinating.
What advice do you have for up-and-coming photographers?
My advice for up-and-coming photographers is to shoot as much as possible and experiment with different styles. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Study light, learn the basics of composition, and understand your gear, but also trust your instincts. Get out of your comfort zone, explore new places, and challenge yourself to see things from different perspectives. Photography is much more than technical skill—it's about telling a story.
How long have you been a photographer and what initially drew you to the profession? How would you describe your photography style?
I’ve always been fascinated with photography. I had a Kodak film camera growing up and would take photos when traveling, but other interests, primarily being a musician, led me in other artistic directions. Around 12 years ago I started taking pictures of my watches, pens, flashlights and knives to share on some “everyday carry” forums. I found that I had a knack for capturing images in this still-life, macro style. This reignited an interest in photography and led to me being hired by a company to do their product photography. I continue to do the bulk of their photo work to this day.
I upgraded to a Sony mirrorless camera around 6 years ago and started to branch out to landscape and urban photography in Los Angeles and around my home state of California. I live near the Pacific Ocean, so many of my photos featured scenes of sunsets around Venice, Santa Monica and Manhattan Beach.
In the past few years my focus has transitioned to a passion for street photography. I had always been fascinated with this style of photography, but I was intimidated to try it. It’s more of a challenge dealing with a moving subject and there exists the potential of getting negative reactions from people that you are photographing. But, in spite of the challenges, this style has become my passion. I feel that it affords me the opportunity to capture the human element and real-life candid moments of life that no other style affords.
Tell me a bit about your editing process.
I have been using Adobe Lightroom and continue to do so. My editing workflow has changed quite a bit over time. When I was taking landscape style photos I would really push the contrast and clarity. I would bring in more blacks and really boost the saturation to make a strong impact with the image.
Now that my focus is on street photography I am trying to create more of a “cinematic” look and feel with my images. I tend to use much less contrast and clarity and use a lot of selective desaturation to create an edgy mood in my work.
I find the editing process one of the most enjoyable parts of photography. I love working with an image to see what you can coax out of it!
What advice do you have for up-and-coming photographers?
First and foremost, take time to enjoy the places you visit and sights you see without worrying about taking photos. Let those experiences really sink in. I think you can miss out on so much if you are always worried about taking pictures.
Secondly, try to find your own voice as a photographer. I think we all try to emulate work that we enjoy, but ultimately, we want to have our own unique stamp on our work. I think this is an ever-evolving process, and part of the adventure of photography.
Lastly, try not to get too caught up in social media approval. Since I transitioned to street photography, my social media engagement dropped significantly, but I find more satisfaction in creating work that more accurately reflects who I am as an artist.
How long have you been a photographer and what initially drew you to the profession? How would you describe your photography style?
I’ve been shooting film on and off all my life. I quit for a while due to the expense but during Covid decided to mitigate that by learning how to develop and scan my photos. I've been actively shooting film since early 2020. I’ve always loved the look of film and the idea of capturing moments and using a camera to freeze time. I’ve mostly been shooting documentary style photos but am moving more into studio and portrait work.
Tell me a bit about your editing process.
I really like the film stock that I shoot to speak for itself. I do very little adjustment in post. I try to make the images feel like they looked to me when I shot them.
What is it about Los Angeles that inspires you to photograph it?
LA is such a historical and culturally relevant place that it almost feels like shooting behind the scenes of American culture. Most people in the world know LA but don’t see the reality of the day to day living in it. I think documentary style work in LA gives the city a new and different life.
Stay tuned for part 3 of "Meet the Trope Los Angeles Photographers" and learn more about Trope Los Angeles here.