A Walk in Los Angeles – Lensbaby Blog Circle
Towards the end of March my friend and I took a train trip into Los Angeles, and enjoyed a nice, slowly paced walk in the city for a few hours. Since we were not in a hurry whatsoever, using Lensbaby lenses was a good option. Let me share with you a few pictures of the areas we visited, which included Union Station, the City Hall (great view from the 27th floor!), the Bradbury Building, the Grand Central Market (I only ate there, no pictures), and the Disney Concert Hall. The lenses I used were: Twist 60, Sol 45 and Velvet 56.
Enjoy the brief tour of Los Angeles.
Some facts:
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- When taking Metrolink between Orange County and Los Angeles, you are traveling on a relaxing, comfortable train instead of being stuck in horrible California high way traffic. In addition to getting to LA faster, your Metrolink ticket will work as a public transportation pass for the day on any subways and bus lines. For someone like me, who prefers buses to traffic and parking challenges, it’s a wonderful option.
- Union Station in Los Angeles was built in 1939 in Moderne, Art Deco and Mission/Spanish Revival style. The original ticket lobby pictured on one of the images had a 110-foot counter in a hall with 62-foot ceilings.
- Los Angeles City Hall was built in 1928, and it has been designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument since 1976. The two floors we stopped on were #3, which had a wonderful looking rotunda, and #27, from where you can view the city of LA in all directions.
- Bradbury Building is a gem from 1893 (renovated in the early 1990s). It has a Victorian court, wonderful marble stairs and ornate iron railings. I had a hard time capturing this location with my Lensbaby lenses, but here is a photo from the inside with a non-Lensbaby lens:
- Walt Disney Concert Hall is one of the most interesting buildings I have ever seen, it is actually on the list of 10 buildings that changed America. The project was initiated in 1987, and it was completed in 2003. The Music Center’s website.
This post is part of a group of posts about Lensbaby related topics. At the beginning of each month we feature images and stories taken with our Lensbaby lenses, and link to each other. Next up in the blog circle is Melita Kyle, please click this link to see her post and keep following the circle!
I think you had a wonderful day with LA, the babys and your friend. I can make out the softness of the Velvet and I see the Sol – bokeh ist a longer circle from the middle to the edges, but I cannot say – that is done with the Twist. The others have a special, a great charme, but the Twist, the golden one, I think it is so hard to make visible what charme is inside. Do you still knows which photo is done with the Twist?
If I would guess, the Fountain I and II are made with the Velvet – also LA Metro/Subway – the train we took could be twist, Union station, the information, the glass front, the lamp and city hall – Twist?, the LA times building, the lock, mural, bradbury building outside and inside were by the Sol and Disney Concert Hall – I guess Twist again.
Now I’m really looking forward to reading your answer 🙂 Thanks for taking me to LA where I have been to years ago (late 80ths or early 90ths I think
Herzliche Grüße
Birgit
Hi Birgit, I guess I should have labeled my images with the lens type. I started out with the Twist, since it was my newest one. Union Station and the City Hall images were with the twist. LA Times to Bradbury Building were taken with Sol 45. And from the Disney Hall till the end was the Velvet 56. I have to say that I should have done more research on the Twist 60 before I got it. I thought that it was going to give me a twist effect at all apertures. I already owned the Burnside and it gave me the swirling at F2.8, and in my mind the Twist was going to do something similar at other apertures as well. But that’s not the case. I do like the pictures I got with the Twist, even without the twist. 🙂 I’ll try to find good ways of using this lens.
Makes me realise there’s more to LA than movie stars. A lovely set of images
I am really not into movie stars, I rarely go to Hollywood. It’s super crowded all the time. Although Los Angeles does not appeal to me as much as any European city, I can still find some interesting details in it. In my heart I’ll always stay European. 🙂
Great set of images, it’s wonderful to see LA through your eyes!
Thanks Janet for visiting. Have you ever been to LA?
What a beautiful collection of pictures and impressions. I’ve never seen LA like this. You inspire me to follow your lead and tour the city.
Thank you. I don’t go there often, but when I go, I try to find new things.
Hi Gizella,
thx for taking me to this journey.
Bernhard
A lovely selection of images Gizella. Thank you for sharing the history and journey to get there, it was great to be able to see this wonderful place through your eyes of the lensbaby. I love Victorian architecture. Those wrought iron ralings are just beautfiul, so much detail and workmanship. Imagine how many hands have touched them and spoken conversations taken over time.
I am so glad that I was introduced to that beautiful building. It was my first, but not last trip there. Very unusual architecture for Los Angeles. Thanks for visiting Melita.