ANGELINOS

Years ago I had an Native Alaskan fishing guide describe to me his one trip to Los Angeles and how terrifying it was.  He described how the plane began its approach to LAX and he looked out the window and saw nothing but houses.  He said that’s all he saw for the next 15 to 20 minutes, the houses were endless and he immediately wanted to get back to the openness of Alaska

Southern California has been home my entire life. It is unlike any other city in that it seems to be endless.  You can drive the 116 miles from Malibu to Banning before you get a break in the housing tracks.  But the different cities and areas are also very different, they have their own atmosphere, traits, and in some cases distinct cultures. 

The areas within the city limits of Los Angeles are also incredibly diverse.  Wilshire District, Pacific Palisades, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, South Central, San Pedro, Reseda, Venice, Downtown, and all the ethnic districts are all unique unto themselves.  To describe the typical “Angelino” is difficult to do beyond stating the person lives in Los Angeles.  It seems like so many of the people that identify as an Angelino are transplants from other parts of the country or migrants.  I guess when you move here from the Midwest or a foreign country you are so excited to be near Hollywood you are willing to tolerate the costs, the traffic, and the living conditions in most areas of the city.  

Most of my photographs are from Venice, Hollywood, and Downtown Los Angeles because those areas have the most people on the street.