Life in the City of Angels: Southern California Car Culture

By Dave Banks on August 2, 2015August 2, 2015

The Petersen Automotive Museum is marking its 20th anniversary by commencing a complete exterior transformation and a dynamic redesign of the interior, resulting in a world class museum that will showcase the art, experience, culture and heritage of the automobile. The exterior design by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates is transforming the Petersen building into one of the most significant and unforgettable structures in Los Angeles. Long ribbons of stainless steel will wrap around three sides and over the top of the deep red building, making a visceral statement that evokes the imagery of speed and the organic curves of a coach-built automobile. The first image is an artist rendition of the completed project, the following images are a look behind the scenes of the construction of ribbons of stainless steel.

Life in the City of Angels: Open All Night and Patrons

By Dave Banks on June 30, 2015June 30, 2015

Surveying the plushness of the emporium and its well-designed lighting, all is welcome to procure culinary delights, cold drinks and cigarettes.

Life in the City of Angels: Architecture in Fifty Shades of Gray

By Dave Banks on June 15, 2015February 21, 2022

Life in the City of Angels: Street Photography to Architecture -It Pays the Bills.

By Dave Banks on June 3, 2015June 3, 2015

Picked up a new client in Jim Meltzer (Designer) of Alan Desk Business Interiors. Jim had just finished construction of the interior of the Keystone building in Culver City when he came up with the idea to decorate the hallways with original prints to compliment the black and white motif. So on an early Sunday morning, camera operator and pilot Joe Drago and I used his drone to photograph the aerials of the building shooting over 600 image on a GoPro. I spent the rest of the day shooting the building from different perspectives under varying lighting conditions. Later, Jim and I presented the clients three 13×19 samples: a color print, black and white print and California Impressionism print. The clients choose black and white to complete the upgrade. A special shout-out and thanks to my dear friend and Art Director Brandt Daniels for the referral.

Life in the City of Angels: Gum Shoe

By Dave Banks on May 22, 2015May 22, 2015

Life in the City of Angels: Hollywood Boulevard in Technicolor

By Dave Banks on April 14, 2015April 14, 2015

Life in the City of Angels: It Takes All Kinds of Flowers to Make a Garden

By Dave Banks on April 12, 2015April 12, 2015

It is a planned space that exists outdoors or indoors and is set aside for display. It is where cultivation can happen in rain or shine. The garden of humanity combines the souls of different heights, colors, textures, and fragrances to create interesting and at times delight the senses. The garden can bring enjoyment,sadness and surprise and in-spite of the manure that life throws at some, still the garden grows.

Life in The City of Angels: Doppelgänger, Michael and Edward

By Dave Banks on November 16, 2014November 16, 2014

While flipping burgers at McDonald’s in the early 90’s, Edward Moss was repeatedly told by co-workers and customers of his strong resemblance to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Edward likeness became his asset leading him from the business of cardboard hamburgers to show business on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One of Edward’s first appearances as “The Gloved One” was at the old Hollywood Wax Museum. Standing at the entrance of the museum as living statue of Michael Jackson. Curious tourist would stop to take a gander at what they thought was a wax figure. As the vacationers gather for a closer look on cue a track of music would blast from the museum speakers. Startled by the music and movement, Edward would start dancing across the polished entrance of the museum to the surprise and amusement of his audience. For the Hollywood Wax Museum they sold tickets and for Edward it was the beginning to a career as a Michael Jackson impersonator.

La Musica in B&W

By Dave Banks on October 30, 2014December 1, 2014

Music is a safe kind of high -Jimi Hendrix

It is my favorite assignment, photographing musicians while in rehearsal or in a recording studios. It is the moment that the musicians delve deeply into the musical notes on a sheet of paper and give birth to a sound that becomes airborne with an arsenal of emotions. Like a still image, music can act as a synthetic acid which enhances flashbacks to a moment in time that has been joyful or painful and never forgotten. Music is the needle and thread that sews our humanity together and in spite of being in metal boxes on Golden State 5 you can witness the joy of Angelenos as they boogie, jive and groove to their own soundtrack, it is a collective consciousness of moving forward to the beat of their own music.