Los Angeles is not a place to rush, especially if you plan to take photos like in the movies and search for the best walls to take photos. The locations are far apart across the city, traffic is horrible, and it is worse than you think. For people driving from San Francisco to LA, add a day to your trip because of the horrible traffic. Los Angeles looks great in movies, but sitting in traffic is nothing like a movie scene.
The best way to plan your trip is to plan your trip by where you are going. For example, The Lighthouse Cafe is way out of downtown but is close to Venice and Santa Monica beaches so those would be good to do together. If you want to avoid driving for a long time, leave before the afternoon because commuter traffic can make a short drive really long. The Griffith Observatory is a place where you will want to spend a good amount of time. The viewpoint that you will want to see which is from the movie with the dance scene is on the road that leads up to the observatory. There is a lot of wildlife so if you want to take photos you should not stay for very long.
When it comes to wall hunting in Los Angeles, Melrose Avenue provides an excellent starting point. Melrose Avenue has something for everyone. There are vntage shops, a Paul Smith wall, which is famous for its pink wall but during pride month it was painted rainbow, as well as a myriad of other colorful storefronts and walls. Because of the policies, security would sometimes limit the use of cameras to just smartphones and this was based on whether there were staff present.
Nearby were even more walls to check out. Walls with bright overlays, a very photogenic but tall wall that would require stepping out into the road to get the perfect shot, and also plenty of colorful walls around the Alfred Tea Room. One Melrose location served coffee while the other was a milk tea spot, but the drinks weren't the main attraction. The bright, solid color walls were an ideal canvas for high saturation clothing that stood out from the graffit, street murals, and local street art. The Made in LA area was another good spot to find murals, as well as other colorful painted walls and a Simpson's themed wall. Simple outfits, especially in places like this, were perfect, as you could end up looking very busy and lost in the patterns of the detailed graffiti. If it feels like posing is awkward, walking slowly along the wall can get you some more natural looking shots.
Many people stopped to take photos of the angel-wing murals, with one location being on Melrose Avenue and the other on Hope Street, right next to the Philz Coffee. Both of the murals drew a lot of customers, and the formula was pretty simple: wait in line, strike a pose, and don't be self conscious when taking the shot.
The Arts District was more challenging for drivers because it was harder to find parking. Because of the street restrictions and the red and yellow curbs, finding an empty parking lot was a greater challenge than the goal of using the internal walls of the parking structure as a part of the photo backdrop. Lots of paid parking quickly filled up as cars leaving the parking space became the new goal to find an empty parking space.
Once brunch, shopping, and photo taking was done, it was time to focus on the two Downtown landmarks. With its ornate staircases, historic interior, and glass ceiling, The Bradbury Building had a more cinematic feel than any wall mural. It was the perfect spot for taking photographs, especially with a flowing dress as the elevators were no longer in service. The building's interior was also a great setting. Right next to it was Blue Bottle Coffee, which made for a great stop after exploring the area, especially with its cold brew and hot latte.
Angel’s Flight was just a little walk away and it appeared in the movie as a date spot. While we were there, the funicular was closed, it had a huge fence around it for the repairs, so we could only take pictures of the outside of it. There was a surprisingly nice public area in the middle of the office towers that had an enclosed pool, and a seating area where people could lounge and eat and talk to each other, it was a nice calm break from the typical mural circuit.
We visited The Springs looking for the wall that had colorful dots. The really important detail, which was found too late, was that the wall was actually on the inside of the building and people had to walk through the business to get to it. Despite this, the area still offered fun surprises including a totally pink building that many people loved to take pictures in front of, a fun illustrated wall with a recessed doorway that allowed visitors to be part of the artwork, and another mural that was located directly across the street.
One place needed a little more caution. A park by Chinatown called Elysian Park View had a tree swing and a view of Los Angeles from up on the hill. Getting to it was steep, sandy, and there was no path along the side of the hill. On this visit, the swing was broken and there were only two ropes hanging down. Anyone thinking about the climb to the swing should check if it is repaired and wear shoes with good grip. The slope was not a casual walk, and without the swing the trip was disappointing.
In Los Angeles, you will be rewarded if you start to plan around the distances instead of fighting them. The best photographs in the city are rarely taken in a single afternoon. They are spread across Melrose, Downtown, the coast, and the hills. So, dress nicely and ‘Hollywood’ appropriate, and plan to spend time in traffic and parking. Every wall mural, vintage car, and brightly lit staircase can be a backdrop for you to step into your own photo. LA expects people to arrive as though they are ready to be photographed downtown. Luckily, with the right background, almost anyone can.
