As we conclude our series on Trope Los Angeles, we turn our focus to five more photographers who have contributed to this stunning book. Selene Sarı, Greg Goyo Vargas, Kelvin Cheng, Matthew Gillespie, Josh Luten, and Matt Weitz, have explored the city from fresh angles, capturing moments that are both timeless and uniquely LA. From the beaches to the vibrant streets, their work takes us on a journey across the city, giving us a new perspective of Los Angeles.
How long have you been a photographer and what initially drew you to the profession? How would you describe your photography style?
I picked up my first camera about four years ago, after watching a documentary about Ara Güler, my all-time favorite photographer, famously known as the “Eye of Istanbul.” I bought his book Istanbul, which showcases the city through 40 years of his lens. Before this, I had no interest in photography at all. But soon after, I bought my first camera and started shooting. My first photos were taken in Redondo Beach, where I lived at the time. Then, I began exploring Abbot Kinney, where I was always struck by intriguing details or people. I quickly realized how much I loved wandering through the streets of LA, spotting small, everyday moments and potential compositions that conveyed a specific emotion. It felt like I was seeing the city through a completely new lens—one I never knew I had. This is how I developed my style, which focuses on finding seemingly mundane details and reframing them through composition to reveal the hidden stories within the city. I love creating that effect in my photos, showing the world that perspective is everything. There’s something extraordinary in even the most ordinary scenes, as long as you're open to capturing it.
What is it about Los Angeles that inspires you to photograph it?
I love looking at the details of a street and finding the extraordinary in the mundane, and Los Angeles is a goldmine for that kind of street photography. There’s something inexplicably iconic about the city. It feels like there's always a hidden gem waiting to be found, and the people are some of the most interesting to photograph. Shooting in LA almost feels like stepping into a time machine—it’s like time flows differently here. The feeling the city gives me is comparable to the difference between a masterpiece like a Jaguar E-Type and the mass-produced, pragmatic sedans we see on the roads today. Los Angeles is like that rare E-Type in a world of boring sedans—it understands that life isn’t just about getting things done or going from point A to B. We’re always moving between those points, so the way we do it becomes significant. LA may not be the most pragmatic, but it’s beautiful and worth living for. Inexplicably, everything becomes more joyful when it’s done in LA—or maybe I just feel that way because I’m in love with the city. It’s my favorite place for street photography, and that’s why I’ll be moving back there!
Do you have a favorite Los Angeles photography moment or memory?
I was trying to do a photoshoot in front of the Paul Smith pink wall on Melrose. I had just gotten my first camera and was getting my first real taste of photography. My plan was to take a series of photos of myself walking across the pink wall by putting the camera on the ground and capturing one shot each time. Looking back, I’m not sure why I thought this would be interesting—I think I just wanted to be part of the photo but still be the photographer. So, I’d set the camera, sprint to the wall, and then walk back toward it. Of course, about ten minutes in, I was just sprinting back and forth under the California sun in front of the pink wall, wearing heavy clothes. At some point, I felt really embarrassed because people around were watching me. I’m sure they couldn’t even see the camera, so it probably looked like I was just running around aimlessly in the Paul Smith parking lot. I took hundreds of photos that day, and most of them were terrible—except for one.
How long have you been a photographer and what initially drew you to the profession? How would you describe your photography style?
I started shooting in 2015. Previous to that I always had a latent yet never fully realized interest in photography. That year at the behest of a friend, I enrolled in the photography program at Santa Monica College. The theoretical and practical training was just what I needed to provide the motivation, direction, and focus of the craft while concurrently streamlining and amplifying my interest in photography. And in so doing, I was able to cultivate my own style. And now for the most part, I consider my particular street work on documenting Los Angeles a stylistic convergence of the street, documentary, and fine art genres of photography, implementing what I have learned over the years.
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?
The act of photographing the city and the people of Los Angeles, be it a new or repeat location, is simultaneously an emotional outlet and a creative expression for me. What many people overlook throughout the day, I make an attempt to see and document. When shooting in this fashion, I experience a multitude of accidental pleasures. Often times I never know who or what I may see and discover or more interestingly what I might have revealed to me. At other times, it is a combination of direct intention and the beauty of chance. I’ll set up and wait, putting faith in my instincts, training, and habits, because I sense something will happen at the chosen location. I want to be there for it.
What is it about Los Angeles that inspires you to photograph it?
I am a proud native Angeleno and I truly love Los Angeles. Be it by chance, accident, fate or design, Los Angeles is my home. I am lucky to be alive and thankful to live in a place where life is not as difficult compared to many other parts of the world or during other time periods. Appreciating where I live is my motivation.
What is it about Los Angeles that inspires you to photograph it?
Los Angeles is an urban mystery built on lost history. Boulevards of fame while streets in flame. Underneath the billboards and television show lies the shadows of hunger in Skid Row. Peaceful life, disturbed by wildfires, Santa Ana winds, and the San Andreas quake. At the end of the drought, atmospheric rivers fill the Hollywood Lake. Echo Park pedal boat swans; lines of food trucks under the palms. Where concrete jungles and nature, seen and unseen, grit meet glitz, all at once, coexist. The world's culture melted into a metropolis. There's no place like Los Angeles.
Do you have a favorite Los Angeles photography moment or memory?
My favorite day to photograph Los Angeles is always on July 4th, but Independence Day of 2023 was the most memorable. I filmed a time lapse of a full moon rising over the Library Tower, a scene inspired by the film “Independence Day”. Then I headed over to Sixth Street Bridge to capture the Ribbon of Lights with the fireworks. There were large crowds of rebels celebrating July 4th like a scene straight out of GTA V in Los Santos. I captured the crowds behaving recklessly, launching fireworks, speeding, and climbing the arches, and put the photos together like a story. I had a few close calls with fireworks launched towards me. I sold footage to the news networks for the first time, and many told me the photos I captured that night were the best they’ve ever seen of Los Angeles.
What advice do you have for up-and-coming photographers?
Show up, and focus on the present moment. You’re only a bad photographer if you never took the shot. To make your dream photos come true, take control of your vision. The best photos are researched, planned, executed, made, and learned.
How long have you been a photographer and what initially drew you to the profession? How would you describe your photography style?
I started my journey into photography in 2016, while pursuing a degree in graphic design. I found photography to be a natural extension of my creative process, allowing me to capture the visual elements I was already working with in design, but through a different lens—literally and figuratively.
Over the years, I’ve honed a style that can be described as warm, minimal, and focused. I love the interplay of light and shadow and how they can transform an ordinary moment into something interesting.
What is it about Los Angeles that inspires you to photograph it?
Los Angeles is often described as a city of suburbs, and I love exploring the many distinct neighborhoods that make up LA County. Each one feels like its own mini city, with a unique personality and vibe that sets it apart. Southern California’s warm pastels and rich orange tones are a natural fit for my editing style, bringing out the essence of the region. While LA’s hidden architectural gems are there to be discovered, they often require a bit of a hunt.
What truly captivates me, though, is the city’s depth, far beyond Hollywood. It’s the people—the street vendors, independent artists, and outdoor enthusiasts—who shape the real heartbeat of everyday life here. Their stories and history are what fuel
my inspiration.
What advice do you have for up-and-coming photographers?
Use what you have! Don’t let expensive tech get in the way of creating great work and capturing the things that interest you. The cameras on our smartphones are incredible, and they’re a great way to start developing your eye for composition and personal creative expression. I actually prefer them sometimes to my DSLR when I’m out shooting street photography because you’re much less likely to stick out.
How long have you been a photographer and what initially drew you to the profession? How would you describe your photography style?
Capturing sunsets has always been a habit, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I really dedicated myself to it. It's just a great way to get outside and be creative.
For my style, I use a dreamy sky aesthetic that you'd find in a video game, or somewhere on a California dreaming sky aesthetic Pinterest post.
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?
For shooting new locations there's things like research, and planning to help prepare. I'll gather inspiration shots from things like social media, or internet search results. And there's usually an 'ideal shot' planned ahead of time. But during an actual shoot, things like weather conditions, people walking around, or how I'm feeling can significantly change those outcomes. And a lot of time it's for the better.
For example, there's no amount of planning that could prepare me to see a special unique moment between real people. And that then adds a depth and a humanity element to a shot. Stuff like that can really lift a photo and give it life.
What is it about Los Angeles that inspires you to photograph it?
Los Angeles just has so much going on. It's like this giant playground for photographers. There's just so many iconic beaches, palm trees, famous streets, and life to it. Every location has its own vibe and energy. And every location is a unique experience that brings different creative flows.
How long have you been a photographer and what initially drew you to the profession? How would you describe your photography style?
I started taking photos about 9 years ago as I was about to graduate college. I love capturing a moment in time and seeing different environments through the lens of a camera. I would describe my photography style as a mixture of urban landscape and street photography. Street photography is usually gritty, but I like to find the colorful aspects of cities.
What is it about Los Angeles that inspires you to photograph it?
Los Angeles will always be home for me. I grew up in the suburbs but would frequently come into the city to see my family. The palm trees and warm weather and plenty of time on the freeways remind me of my childhood. My grandparents have been in LA for almost 80 years, my dad grew up there and has never left Southern California, and my mom has never left once she moved there. Nothing really beats a Los Angeles Sunset.
Do you have a favorite Los Angeles photography moment or memory?
My favorite LA photo memory was heading to the Baldwin Hills Overlook. It was in the winter and recently a storm rolled through so all the mountains behind the city had been covered with snow. I got there a little before sunset and was treated to a dizzying array of colors. First it was blue and yellow, then once the sun started to set a golden hue draped over the entire city. That then turned into pink and purple. The snow in the background mixed with an LA sunset was not something you see very often and some of my favorite skyline pictures were taken that evening.
Learn more about Trope Los Angeles here.