The Griffith Observatory: Los Angeles Sunset Travel Destination Highlight (Sigma Prime Lenses)

The Griffith Observatory is an observatory located on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood. The destination is a highlight for tourists and photographers alike who are interested in architecture and stunning views of the Los Angeles skyline. As of the time of writing this post, the Griffith Observatory currently offers free admission to enter the facility, which makes it a great destination for tourists to visit.

I have only gone inside the observatory a few times, so in this blog post I will be focusing on the views from the outside of and around the Observatory, as well as my experience in this area as a travel photographer.

The photos featured in this blog were taken on the Sony a7R III and with the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN ART lens and Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN ART lens.

 
Beautiful view of the Griffith Observatory at blue hour with glowing lights
 
 

WALKING UP THE TRAIL TO THE GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY

While there are roads that you can drive on to reach the parking lot of the Observatory (as well as public transportations which will take you to the destination), I prefer to walk up the hiking trail that leads to the observatory. It takes me about 15-20 minutes to walk uphill, but there are plenty of beautiful views of the Los Angeles skyline that you can see along the way.

If you bring a camera and lens, I would recommend getting a zoom angle lens that can expand across a variety of focal lengths (like a 50-150mm lens) to a variety of different angles of the urban landscape. From the view, you can see the high-rise buildings from Downtown Los Angeles. There are plenty of beautiful spots in Mount Hollywood to capture some amazing sunsets and walking up this trail provides you with one of them.

In the photos below, I was pretty fortunate to capture the beautiful Los Angeles cityscape at a time when sunset lasted a long time near the end of winter. I had enough time to walk up the rest of the trail leading to the Griffith Observatory and capture more beautiful sunsets on the terrace.

I didn’t carry a travel tripod for this shoot, but the hill leading up the observatory has a spot on the walkable path where you can get a few nice long exposure photos. 

 
A hiking trail heading towards the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles
 
 
Wide view of a beautiful grassy path moving up towards the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles at sunset
Sunset view of the Los Angeles skyline with dramatic dark clouds
 
 

ARRIVING AT THE GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY

The entrance of the observatory has a beautiful patio entrance of green grass in front of the actual building. When the observatory opens, you can walk up the stairs which leads to a higher level of the observatory where you can take some nice photos of the Los Angeles skyline from a higher elevation.

During sunset, this location can get pretty crowded since a lot of tourists and locals want to take travel photos from this location. I would recommend walking around the area to find a space for yourself - at such a high elevation, you can get a great view of Los Angeles from a lot of different spots.

At the time of originally posting this blog, the Griffith Observatory is open until 10pm Pacific time most days of the week, so chances are you’ll have the opportunity to see a great sunset on the terrace.

On the upper floor of the Griffith Observatory is a telescope that you can visit. I personally prefer the outside view where I can take photos of the surrounding mountains and cityscapes from an elevated angle, but I think it’s definitely worth trying out if you have the time and if the space is available.

Usually around sunset and blue hour, the space gets more crowded so you might have to wait for some people to clear out before you can get a clean shot of the cityscapes.

 
View of the Griffith Observatory with nice clouds and a grassy patio near sunset in Los Angeles
Griffith Observatory sign showing to the telescope at night
Beautiful view of the Los Angeles skyline from the top of the Griffith Observatory at sunset
 
 
 

THE GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY GIFT SHOP PATIO

On the lower level of the Griffith Observatory is a small patio of seats and tables where you can capture another angle of the Los Angeles skyline. There is considerably less space in this spot, so you’ll want to be cautious about your focal length.

In the photos below, I was able to capture some great sunsets using both the Sigma 35mm and 85mm prime lenses. From this angle, you can still see the high-rise buildings in Downtown Los Angeles silhouetted in the sky.

There are also coin-operated binoculars spread throughout the Griffith Observatory. Although I have never used one, it can make a great subject in the photo.

 
Binoculars pointing towards the sunset skyline in Los Angeles near the Griffith Observatory
 
 
Beautiful sunset over the Los Angeles skyline at the Griffith Observatory near Mount Hollywood
 
 

MOUNT HOLLYWOOD TRAIL FOR SUNSET PORTRAITS

Slightly leaving the Observatory, there’s a trail that leads toward the Hollywood Sign. It’s a small walking distance from the observatory, but it offers a fresh sunset perspective of the Los Angeles skyline. I have adventured a bit around this area and would say that it can make for a great location to get some lifestyle portraits at sunset.

Below are just some of the photos I captured from an outdoor lifestyle photoshoot with male model Clifton Sneed. To see the full photoshoot, you can visit this blog post.

As you can tell from the photos, you can get some strong backlight and side light in this area if you arrive on an evening where there aren’t many clouds. You can also get a view of the Hollywood Sign from this spot, as well.

 
Male model putting on his sunglasses wearing a watch at sunset near Mount Hollywood
 
 
Man posing near the Hollywood sign in Mount Hollywood at sunset wearing sunglasses and a watch
 
 

BLUE HOUR AND NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

Moving into blue hour, you can see the window panels of the Griffith Observatory light up a brilliant and vibrant orange color. Since the Observatory is open until 10pm, you’ll still have time to walk up the outside terrace of the building and get some blue hour and night photos of the Los Angeles cityscape. 

If you’re interested in learning more about blue hour photography, then I recommend you to take a look at my blue hour cinematic travel photography guide in Los Angeles.

 
Golden panel windows of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles at night
 
 
Close up view of the Griffith Observatory's golden window panels at night
 
 

SUNRISE OR SUNSET

Because the Observatory opens at around 12pm on most days (10am on Saturday), if you visit the Griffith Observatory for sunrise, it’ll be much quieter than it would be during sunset. However, you won’t be able to walk up the steps to the terrace and it’ll be mostly closed off. You can still walk up the trail and explore the surrounding areas to get a nice quiet view of the cityscapes and skyline.

One of the biggest reasons why I prefer to visit this location at sunset is because the sun will set over the high-rise buildings and the Hollywood Sign. The golden hues cast over the buildings make for a more cinematic shot compared to how the sun rises on the opposite side.

However, if you are looking for a peaceful walk and an opportunity to explore a bit of nature, I would definitely recommend walking by the surrounding areas and trails in the morning.

 
 
 

FINAL WORDS

I have mentioned this in the past, but I would consider the Griffith Observatory grounds to be one of the best places to find a beautiful sunset with a view here in Los Angeles.

Even if you are not able to make it to the Observatory itself, there are plenty of trails and pathways leading to the destination that can make the trip worth it. From my experience, it can be difficult to find locations in the Greater Los Angeles area where you can take photos of the skyline without a car. While the walk up might be daunting and the location itself can be a bit crowded with tourists, I would say that the view is more than worth it.

I was fortunate that I was able to capture these beautiful sunsets with the Sigma 85mm & Sigma 35mm ART prime lenses in my camera bag. In addition to the image quality, travelling light (especially if walking up and down an incline) is pretty essential for being able to enjoy the view and not tire out. Since sunset can go quickly, you don’t want to miss a moment of capturing great images.

If you’re a travel photographer or just a tourist looking to explore a new location in Los Angeles, then I would put the Griffith Observatory as high on the list.

Thank you for reading and until next time.

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