L.A. flyovers... safe places to wander with LF?

[mortensen]

I will have a couple of days in L.A. in the end of march and I would like to add a couple of pictures to my ongoing "infra/super/structure" project (working title...) It currently includes dams, gasholders, flyovers, tunnels, reservoirs etc... nothing groundbreakingly new, I know, but its an interesting frame for me.

Nevertheless, I would like to shoot The Stack (101/110 four level interchange), and the 105/110 five level interchange as these are tallest I have found yet. But are these safe places to venture around on foot with a 4x5? What part of the day is ok? And how should I approach this without looking suspicious to bypassing people/police? Looking at street view, all the green areas seem fenced, but it could be a great advantage with the Harbor Freeway light rail station within the 105/110 interchange... that should enable some moving around on foot, right?

Are there other interchanges I should look into that exhibit great shapes and geometry from the ground?

thanks in advance, L.A. residents!

btw, I was for a moment considering mortgaging myself deeply and do it 'burtynsky-style':

[ScottPhotoCo]

Hello Lars,

As I just moved here a short while ago I'm afraid that I can't answer many questions. The Capitol Records building is quite iconic as is Walt Disney Concert Hall. Those are a couple off of the top of my head.

If I can be of assistance while you're here just PM me and I'll send my contact info. Always happy to help a fellow LF'er.

[vinny]

This one is north of L.A. on the way to santa clarita and is quite accessible* on foot. I scouted it ahead of time and parked right on site where the no parking signs were (cinematic immunity). I'm not all that happy with this image but I'll post it since you're looking for stuff like this.

5/14 interchange by vinnywalsh.com, on Flickr

*feb 2012, they're probably still working on it if it's anything like any other freeway project in california that takes a minimum of a decade

[Kevin Crisp]

I work downtown and often go for an hour walk at lunch covering a lot of ground in many directions. Downtown LA is actually improving quite a bit. I fought moving our office downtown for decades and now that I'm here I think it is great. You will be panhandled mercilessly in many places, but most of downtown I would not consider remotely dangerous. The area around the big interchange isn't a particularly bad area and it is a long way from ski row. There are lots of mentally ill people on the streets but in the two years I've been encoutering them I've never had a problem. Being 6'5" and 230 pounds might have something to do with that. I would not hesitate to walk around downtown on a week day and use a 4X5 camera. But I've never put my head under a dark cloth for a long period of time downtown. People set up tripods all the time with expensive digital cameras, day and night, and it doesn't seem to be an issue. Don't jaywalk, they are cracking down.

[MikeH]

I would like to shoot The Stack (101/110 four level interchange), and the 105/110 five level interchange

When you say "The Stack," I think you're referring to the Four Level Interchange, which has some historical significance as well. I live several miles form there and grew up in Pasadena. Can't tell you how many times I've driven through it in the north to south (& vv.) direction, but never thought about it photographically...

Sunset Blvd. is to the north. There *has* to be sidewalks - I've never been over that bridge but if I'm near there I'll check it out. The only problem will be that you probably need spring or summer a.m. light from that vantage point.

There might be some that disagree with me, but neither the 4 Level or the 105/110 interchange are in safe areas. I wouldn't set up a 4x5 at night near either. The 5/14, as suggested by Vinny, is probably much safer. It's about a 45 minute drive north from LAX on one of the world's worst freeways: the 405. 45 minutes if it's running ok, 2 hours if it's not. I'll keep an eye out for others as I drive around. If you're looking for height, the following come to mind:

Interstate 10 / 71 / 57 in the Pomona area, 35 miles or so east of LAX.
The 10 & 405 near Santa Monica, 10 miles north of LAX.
Maybe the 10 / 15 interchange near Rancho Cucamonga (anyone closer have a better opinion?)

[Kevin Crisp]

I agree on the 105/110 interchange. I would avoid it. The 10/15 should be OK.

[Daniel Stone]

Maybe the 10 / 15 interchange near Rancho Cucamonga (anyone closer have a better opinion?)

I'd agree. I live approx 25mi from R.C. The 10/15 interchange is TALL, but doesn't have a huge amount of intersecting lines, unless you use a wide angle lens. Stopping/parking and setting up a camera might be a problem too, since both fwy's are VERY busy 24/7/365. Both are heavy-trafficked truck routes, so if you attempt to stop and photograph, make sure you're well off the road.

Use google maps if possible to scout from your computer @ home, this way you can "see it" w/o driving all over so. Cal and wasting precious time ;-)

-Dan

[John Kasaian]

Contact a local (LA) university with a photography department and make some friends. Faculty might have connections with Caltrans or CHP when it comes to taking students to fenced off locations. Another option would be to contact the CHP(California Highway Patrol) yourself and speak with their public affairs officer. Tell them you're from a foreign country and wish to take some photographs under n interchange and see what it takes to get official permission (if you have the backing of a publication to give you press credentials, that would help!) You'll not only need permission to be there, but directions on how to safely get to these spaces. another option would be to find out who is the landscape contractor and offer them some prints of their freeway landscaping in exchange for access, which of course they'd already have.
Yet another angle would be to contact whichever department oversees roadside trash pickups, find out when your piece of asphalt is scheduled to be groomed and ask to tag along(you'll have to wear an orange safety vest!) Don't give up and know the concerns of the officials you're speaking with(public safety, trespassing, graffiti etc...) so you can address those concerns.

[mortensen]

Thanks everyone - valuable information in here as always. Much appreciated!
@ Vinny: well, I really like that picture! Both the composition and the light. It escapes me, how such a picture can not be part of your portfolio... but you might have higher standards than I have. Thanks for sharing the place. It is precisely that kind of photographs I am hoping to get.
@ Kevin, MikeH & Daniel: thanks for considerations and , I'll look into the places... a pity that you consider the 105/110 to be a dangerous place. I have been working with 4x5 in some of the poorest slums and outskirts of Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad (see my website below) and had no problems worth mentioning, but given the amount of fire arms in your dear country, I might hesitate taking any chances... I have a wife and 8 months old son that I hold very dear!
@ John: Great suggestions! will look into it. Unfortunately my time is very limited, so I might prefer places that are 'readily available' and require no appointment or permission... If that at all exists Shooting the interchanges is part of a long term project on infrastructure in general in many locations (dams, gasholder, reservoirs etc - switzerland, japan, denmark etc.) so I might be able to produce a little story about 'the bigger picture'

While I have all you locals' attention, let me ask a couple of other questions:
- are these interchanges, i your opinion, already done to death by you local, talented photographers?
- and, as a quite different matter, do you have any tips to high vantage points looking out on the vast sprawl of L.A.? Great places in Hollywood Hills? Viewpoints lesser known than Griffith Observatory?

best,
lars

[John Kasaian]

Mulholland drive comes to mind. The view from the Getty Museum might interest you as well.
Be careful as there are some very dangerous areas in LA, many right off the freeway!
Once I was driving around an industrial area Carson, obviously quite lost, looking for fishing rod manufacturer when an LAPD cruiser came from behind and on the speaker ordered me to " leave the are NOW!"
Gang violence is an issue you need to be aware of! When you have an idea of the places you want to visit, consult the desk clerk at your hotel or the cops at the local doughnut shop.
Stay safe!