This week I returned to Los Angeles as the all-grown-up version of myself that arrived here in early June, 2007, with two gaping suitcases mostly filled with shoes. Although anticipating a two week stay and corresponding internship, those weeks quickly turned to an entire summer-turned fall semester-turned year and a half where I never left the city and frankly, never had a reason to.
Two years in LA was the ultimate complement to the college education that I received on either end of my stay. I arrived as a photography student riddled with the dilemma of a regard for visuals disproportionally greater than my patience for cameras. Skill or ability was not a factor; this circumstance was solely determined by interest. Of course I knew how to set up and operate a camera, but how quickly I was lured from the Mark II bodies tethered to Macs when the world of art directors, stylists, beauty teams, and production designers were suddenly by my side and at my disposal to learn from. I was instantly hooked and to this day my initial excitement has only intensified with each creative pursuit.
Today seems like an appropriate occasion for introspection, as Monday, February 14th marks exactly one week since my arrival in Los Angeles. I spent all of yesterday working in the art department on a shoot at LaChapelle Studio, and today, on a considerably quieter note, I find myself recalling past experiences and at the same time, envisioning new ones. I was working for someone whose work I admire and respect tremendously and so yesterday was filled with an excitement to be learning as much as I can from her.
Below is a picture from my first week in LA. What I have lost in hair I have gained in life experience. I will never forget how it felt to enter this world at the age of twenty, nor can I articulate how it feels to return now, four years dated from my arrival, armed with the combination of my previous time spent working in LA, the completion of my college degree, and the succeeding 2 years pursuing my own creative projects in NYC. Today I feel confident, inspired, and unabashedly ecstatic to take on this crazy beautiful city.
First week in LA:
Second week in LA:
Last week in LA before returning to school:
Up next: current!
