Picture-Perfect LA: Exploring Iconic Photo Spots

The world's capital for cinematography is also an incredible place to do amateur photography! Los Angeles is full of picture-perfect spots that offer unique settings for everything from professional photo shoots to selfies. Be sure to mark these six iconic photo spots in Los Angeles on your map!

LACMA Urban Light

Urban Light has become a symbol of Los Angeles since opening at LACMA in 2008. In the years since it first opened, the installation has been featured in dozens of television shows, movies, and music videos, including "No Strings Attached" and "Modern Family." What's the story behind this vibrant landmark? Urban Light is made of more than 200 historic street lamps from the 1920s and 1930s collected from spots around Southern California. In 2018, Leonardo DiCaprio helped to update all of the bulbs with LED bulbs to reduce power usage by 90%.

Rodeo Drive

Most people know Rodeo Drive from "Pretty Woman" scenes and "Clueless." Home to iconic designer boutiques, Rodeo Drive is where the rich and famous Hollywood shop is! Explore three blocks of decadence with sidewalks lined with palm trees and parked sports cars. Rodeo Drive is home to more than 100 international brands that occupy architecturally beautiful storefronts.

Hollywood Sign

The Hollywood Sign is the most iconic symbol of all! Just a quick glimpse of these famous letters perched on a peak of the Santa Monica Mountains evokes thoughts of Hollywood glamour and movie magic. The sign can be seen clearly at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in Hollywood. The Griffith Observatory also provides exceptional views of the sign. While the sign can be photographed from a distance at many different points throughout Los Angeles, not everyone knows that you can hike directly to the sign to get once-in-a-lifetime photos!

Santa Monica Pier

If you want to take wholesome, vibrant, and fun photos in Los Angeles, there's no better spot than the Santa Monica Pier! Located at the intersection of Colorado and Ocean, this never-ending carnival of fun juts into the Pacific to offer refreshing breezes and unmatched views. The pier also has rides, games, food, and attractions. Just think of the thrill of getting the Pacific Park Ferris Wheel in the background of your photos!

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Walt Disney Concert Hall is one of the most interesting buildings in Los Angeles. People who have never stepped foot in the city can instantly recognize the building's unique and unmistakable curvature made from glistening stainless steel. Inside the venue, a stunning wood-paneled auditorium creates amazing acoustics.

Griffith Observatory

Situated inside the largest urban-wilderness municipal park in the United States, the Griffith Park Griffith Observatory is where celestial bodies, mountain peaks, and incredible architecture come together to inspire photographers. As one of the most iconic photo spots in Los Angeles, the Griffith Observatory allows photography for personal use both inside and outside the building. Visitors can consider lawns, sidewalks, roofs, and terraces when looking for photography locations. Head-on snaps of the building can be taken from the Charlie Turner Trailhead.

Making Memories Beyond the Camera Lens

You'll undoubtedly capture the magic in your camera when you check out iconic photo spots in Los Angeles. However, the city is also full of exciting things to do when you just want to get lost in the moment instead of chronicling your every move. If you want to make a literal escape while on vacation, consider adding one of the popular escape rooms in Hollywood, CA, to your itinerary!

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