The following were taken at Griffith Park and surrounding areas of Los Angeles California.
This is one of the look-out points within Griffith Park overlooking a panoramic view of the world-famous Griffith Observatory and the greater Los Angeles area is beyond. It is just one of the breath-taking views that you'll come across while hiking around the park.
There are a few different paths that you can take to get to the Griffith Park Observatory Trails Peak, this being the most difficult as the elevation is quite substantial. Along this climb, are a couple old pipelines leading you towards the peak. It is quite satisfying having reached the top of this treacherous path.
The first image was captured atop the peak of the park. We had reached the top in good time, which allowed for a quick shoot while we were waiting on the second half of the group to arrive just in time for a sandstorm. Model Maggie (image 2)
The palm trees in California are superior to the few located on Vancouver Island. There is also an enormous variety of desert vegetation just within Griffith Park.
Here you can see the famous Hollywood sign in the distance. I took this in between a series of fairly violent (and painful) sandstorms. We were told that we would have to hike another two hours to get closer to the sign, so we opted out due to the extremely tight schedule that our group was on. I will definitely try to make and effort of getting out there next time that I am in the Los Angeles area with my family.
We found this staircase on the other end of the peak and just had to stop for an elevated portrait. Model: Maggie
As I mentioned earlier, the views here are stunning! I love the contrast of the mountain and city. When you look out towards the city, you can see almost the entire area of Los Angeles! And if you are here on a day when the LA smog is not as prominent, you can even catch a glimpse of the California coast beyond all of the city's buildings.
Lastly, we ended up at the Griffith Observatory where many well-known films including Rebel Without a Cause and La La Land, have featured the unique landmark. We did not have a lot of time to spend in the Observatory, but I did have a quick look inside the building and I was blown away by how much is packed in there. It is essentially a science centre for astrology that tourists and school groups can visit (obviously you do not have to be a tourist or a group to come here) and admission is free. There is also a café that is located on the lower level where you can grab a bite to eat and enjoy a spectacular view. As you can tell, I cannot wait to come back here!
For ease of viewing, the complete collection is featured below:
