City Guides - I Hit The Button

The 16 Best Places to Photograph in Los Angeles

LA has to be one of the most photogenic cities in the US. From the sprawling mountains minutes away from the city to scenic beaches Los Angeles is FULL of places to Instagram.

Nearly every sunset in LA is breathtaking which is why I love this city so much. Everytime I visit I find myself photographing all day and night.

Below are the best places to photograph in Los Angeles:

Griffith Observatory

LA from Griffith Observatory

If you only stop at one place on this list the Griffith Observatory is a must. Once at the observatory you get a beautiful view of the Los Angeles skyline.

Parking can be tight at peak times though and you may have to park a bit away.

Additionally if you’re willing to hike a bit there are a few trails behind Griffith that will let you get above the observatory for even more creative options. Read More →

Best Places to Photograph in Point Reyes

During my road trip to the west coast I’ve seen some incredible National Parks. Point Reyes National Seashore is no exception, from an iconic abandoned boat to foggy cypress trees Reyes’ has plenty of unique things to photograph.

Here is my list of places to shoot at Point Reyes National Seashore:

Point Reyes Shipwreck

Point Reyes Abandoned Shipwreck

12 Beautiful Places to Take Engagement Photos in Washington DC

Newly engaged? Congratulations!

Now it’s time to share it to the world with an engagement photoshoot.

I’ve already shared the best places to take photos in DC. But I see a lot of people wondering where to take engagement photos in DC.

Luckily my friend Adam Mason has been so gracious to share his list of places to take engagements photos in the district.

From obvious places like the Jefferson Memorial to more unknown spots like Eastern Market these spots are sure to be the best way to share an engagement. Read More →

Photography Guide to Washington DC Cherry Blossoms

One of the best times to visit Washington DC is during the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival to view the peak bloom of cherry blossom trees on the Tidal Basin. With amazing bursts of pink and white the cherry blossom trees create a huge burst of color in the nation’s capital. This year’s Cherry Blossom Festival is March 20 thru April 15, 2018.

It’s difficult to plan a trip around peak bloom since the most accurate predictions are about 10 days before they bloom. I’ve seen many friends come to town and miss the peak bloom by a few days. Read More →

The 11 Best Places to Photograph in Chicago

I finally made it to Chicago Illinois, aka, the Windy City! To my luck a couple of my friends from Instagram were also in town so we got to explore some epic sights together. I also made a few videos from my trip.

I’ve followed many photographers from Chicago throughout the years so it was awesome to finally see the city in person rather than just from their work (which continues to inspire). Most of my time was spent in “The Loop” where many of these locations are. Here’s how I managed to fill three days taking pictures. Read More →

The 20 Best Places to Take Pictures in Washington DC

I’ve spent years filling my Instagram account (@someguy) with beautiful photos of Washington DC. Including well known spots like the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and the Tidal Basin to less known spots in the city.

I want to share some of the best places to photograph in DC! I’ve also included some of the best times to visit specific spots.

The fastest way to get around DC is to use the Metro. You can walk to most of the spots listed by heading to the Smithsonian metro stop on the mall. To get around on the mall you can use the Capital Bikeshare but I recommend riding the metro to go to more urban areas.

Here is my list of the best places to take photos in DC:

The Washington Monument

The Washington Monument from the Tidal Basin

The most iconic and recognizable building in DC is hard not to photograph since it’s DC’s tallest building. From the Tidal Basin, steps of the Lincoln Memorial or standing right next to it, the Washington Monument looks great at all angles.

Plus you can visit the monument 24 hours of the day which makes it a great place to photograph late at night. (Currently tickets to the top are suspended until 2019)

Washington Monument on Google Maps Read More →

Nyc Instagram Spots Top Of The Rock Sunset

The 12 Best Places to Photograph in New York City

New York City has to be one of the most photographer friendly cities in the world. With loads of unique buildings, its epic skyline, and stunning bridges NYC is a must visit for photographers. With so much to see my friend Phil Martin (@phil.martin) and I (@someguy) headed to NYC capture some of the most iconic photo spots in the city. Since both of us love using Instagram we had to visit the best spots to photograph in New York City.

If you haven’t taken a trip to this incredible city be sure to stop at all of these epic sights, it is full of photo ops!

Here is my list of the best places to take pictures in NYC:

Top of the Rock

Empire State Building Lit Up Blue for Autism Awareness Day

Top of the Rock has to be one of the best skyline views of New York. The only downside is that tickets are $26 and often require a wait. We rushed to get there before sunset but sadly the first available tickets were 2 hours later, so I recommend buying tickets online.

In addition to the view of the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center you can get a great view of Central Park from the north side of the building.

Top Of The Rock North View

Top Of The Rock Sunset Nyc

Top of the Rock on Google Maps

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Places I Love in Seattle: Food, Brunch, Drinks & More!

I only had a brief weekend to explore Seattle but there were still some awesome spots I found. Good thing for Yelp and Thrillist lists because they make my search extremely easy.

Here’s a list of a few of my favorites:

Places to Eat in Seattle

CLOSED: Zhu Dang (Yelp) – If you love fresh Chinese food Zhu Dang’s small plate approach to Chinese cuisine was unique and more importantly delicious. From house made noodles, sauces and sausage I will definitely be back to try more, be sure to get the Sausage platter!

Honey Hole (Yelp) – If you’re craving a dive bar feel with killer sandwiches Honey Hole is worth a visit. I had the Buford T. Justice and it made me want to try their whole menu.

Pike’s Market Place (Yelp) – Pastries, the original Starbucks, pork buns, and much more. Pike’s Place market was a bit ‘touristy’ for my book but it’s worth a stop for a pastry.

Apple Cinnamon Roll from Piroshky Piroshky at Pike’s Market Place

Brunch Spots in Seattle

Burgundian Tavern (Yelp) – Not exactly in downtown Seattle but if you’re craving chicken and waffles they hit it out of the park.
Read More →

Places I Love in San Francisco: Eating, Drinking, Hiking & More

After several trips to San Francisco I’ve gained a sense of the city and have accumulated some favorite spots. Often friends ask me what deserves their attention and what experiences make the trip worth taking. Here is a list of what I tell them, which are my personal favorites.