Safari Inn in Burbank, California, USA
This motel is famous for its role in the movie True Romance and has been a landmark in Burbank since 1955. Together with the car, surfboard, palm trees, and actress, we have a good collection of LA cliches represented. This photo is part of a series of portraits I am doing with real people and the cars they own.
Place you live: Los Angeles, California
Place your photo was taken: Burbank, California
Can you sum up LA? Los Angeles in general can be summed up by my exponentially growing “hate to love” relationship with it. The surface level interpretation shows a superficially vacant cesspool of self involved fame seekers in a relatively uninspiring landscape of bland surroundings. The reality for me has been a close knit community of creative people who are genuine and passionate about contributing towards building a renaissance in kicking ass. Also, once you spend enough time navigating through the right neighborhoods, LA reveals itself to be infinitely more aesthetically rich than the nonsense you are surrounded by on Hollywood Blvd.
Occupation: photographer
Preoccupation: dining
What is a perfect day in LA? Brunch at Dusty’s, dinner at Little Doms and drinks at 1642.
If someone was visiting, what must they do? Drive the coast from Venice to Malibu stopping at Chez Jae, Moonshadows and Point Dume and then head to the Old Place Cornell.
A perfect meal in LA? burgers and beers at The York aren’t bad but that is just one option. there are too many great places to pick one.
What is the best thing about your spot? The vast amount of space we have to mess around with. whether its used for jumping off the balcony onto a stack of air mattresses or building sets for photo shoots, we live in an adult playground.
What is the worst? No legit breakfast within walking distance
A little known fact about where you live? the LA “river” makes for a great BB gun range
Where is your favorite place in the world? Impossible question, but I still threaten to move back to San Francisco every so often. Telluride is pretty magical.
Who are your three favorite photographers? no favorites – David LaChapelle, Erwin Olaf, and Gregory Crewdson are some I like though.