LA Noir

A portfolio and interview with photographer Andy Smith

By VITTI Cycling

We love an ambiguous story more than most. We love a series of images that have no real beginning or end but are whole in and of themselves without need for characterization or explanation. This series of images shot by photographer Andy Smith does just that. The images exist in a place where they reference a vague noir-ish storyline with Los Angeles as the backdrop.

Los Angeles feels different, it feels both expansive and claustrophobic, busy and laid back, dark and much too bright, strangely cold by the ocean and murderously hot downtown. it's like no place else. I can't remember who said it when characterizing Los Angeles but it went something like this..."LA is a city that has no roots in Europe, it is an entirely invented place that is purely without reference to the old world as we know it". I am sure I am ruining the statement but that's the gist of it. The idea that LA exists just for itself, apart from the rest is interesting to us. It is also interesting to Andy Smith. Andy is new to LA so sees it all for the first time. That's what interesting photography does, it sees for the first time. How many times have you gotten off a plane and everything looked exciting and new, then after a day or two of being in that new space you don't see anymore the things that were so different a day or so before? Andy sees it still. A Londoner recently transplanted into a most American place, Andy was able in this series to carve out a story on the bike that has as its backbone a reference to film noir, a timeless ambiguous quality that defines a moment without artifice, a uniquely LA story.

We hope you enjoy this series and interview with Andy as much as we have enjoyed being a small part of it's creation....a special thanks to Mateen Richey for riding hard all day.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from? How long have you been shooting for? Why photography? What is it about the medium that speaks to you?

I’m originally from Yorkshire in the north of England. I lived in London for the last 12 years and recently moved to LA. I’ve been calling myself a photographer for 15 years. Photography just makes sense to me. It achieves the impossible, it stops time and space and brings order and clarity to the business and chaos of a passing moment, in a way that no other medium or technology has ever been able to. Then it presents it back at you in a way that can be immediately understood by anybody.

What do you love about LA? What do you hate about LA?

I love it for its diversity and everything that brings. Being in a city that’s within easy reach of mountains and beaches is definitely up there on the list, as well as being close to national parks and I hate that I can’t live in a camper van in a national park.

What do you miss about London?

I miss how easy it was to get to places, St. John bacon sandwiches and pubs in winter. I should probably say friends as well.

What about shooting cycling interests you? How does it relate to your other work?

One of the things that really interests me about cycling are the nuances of the interactions between people you ride with. The expressions of feelings that are only visible in mannerisms and body language. It’s those little moments that I look for and love about shooting cycling. The other thing I love is the constant change as you move - foregrounds, backgrounds, shadows, light, shapes, obstructions, unintended outcomes and let’s be honest, it’s a bit dangerous as well, which reminds you you’re alive.

What were you hoping to achieve in the series?

I’m new to LA and one of the things I love about riding here (and one of the reasons we moved here) is how different rides can be and I wanted to try and show as much of the urban, suburban, inland and coastal riding that’s right on the doorstep. Light changes the mood of a place and therefore people’s experience of it and as a photographer here, every day from around 3:30p onwards just gets better and better as the sun sets. Light is a huge part of the character of LA and I wanted to make the most of that.

Do you ride? If so, what bike do you ride? How often do you get out?

As often as possible. At least once a week but I go through periods where I’ll be out every day for two or three hours. I have a Condor. I fear its best days are behind it but it keeps me sane.

What do you do when you're not shooting pictures?

There’s a lot of exploring to do since moving to California so making new friends (people or dogs), finding great food, seeing new things and planning travels are all high on the list at the moment.

What is your favorite thing about the part of the country you live in?

After 12 years in London, knowing it’s going to be dry and warm enough to ride for 300+ days of the year is probably my favourite thing about Southern California. There’s a lot to like though. People have been really welcoming, they actually speak to you. Did you know that people speak to each other? It came as a shock to me after living in London.

What was the thing you were surprised by when shooting this?

LA drivers never fail to surprise me.

Did you plan some of the images or let them unfold naturally?

I knew where we were going and what times of day we’d be there. I had a few stops in mind but otherwise we just had a laugh and let it flow. It’s not often you get the space to do that as a photographer which is a shame (for clients more than anything) because more often than not it's where the best images come from. Very few clients understand that.

When shooting the series what influenced the choices you made behind the camera? Those purely photographic unplanned moments really stand out for us in this series. Which of those moments were you the most excited by and did you recognize it when it was happening or afterwards in the edit?

I didn’t want to put any parameters or pressure on it and Mateen was so easy going, it’s a pleasure riding with him. I sometimes take a camera out riding with me and forget it’s on my back. That’s what this felt like. Honestly, we probably left a dozen shots out on the road because I wasn’t concentrating on photography but you know that mindset is where the good stuff happens. I know there’s more than likely going to be something good happening when the light is good - that’s what the route was planned around and it's when I'm tuned in and looking for opportunities.

One of the things that drew us to you was the documentary aspect of your work and the implied narrative, especially apparent after seeing all the images together. Is this filmic ideal something that you have in mind when shooting?

One of the powerful things about a still image is being able to make people ask questions. If somebody is curious about / questioning something that is implied, hopefully that means the image has engaged and made them feel something. Some images answer questions as well but I don’t think they have to. LA was always going to be the main character in this story. It’s so iconic that you'd have to go out of your way to avoid it. It would be like casting Denzel Washington and trying to make somebody else the star of the movie - never going to happen.

Where do you draw your influences from?

I don’t consciously look for anything. I’ve forgotten who it was who said that photography has nothing to do with what you see and everything to do with how you see it, which I think is true. So if you consider that, inspiration can come from anywhere I suppose. One thing I know for sure is that riding helps to organise it in my head. I’m sure the same applies to running and other sport - whatever your thing is your thing, but being active definitely helps.

What’s your favorite camera?

My Fuji x-t3. I bought it specifically for shooting cycling and and my own personal/travel work but it’s slowly found its way into my kit bag and I use it as much as possible now.

Coffee or Tea? When you go to a bar do you order a beer or a pint?

Coffee. This makes me a bad Englishman, I know. A pint, surely? Is this a trick question?

Who are your photographic Icons?

Salgado.

Who are your cycling heroes?

Pantani.

What is the last book you read?

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy. Before that I started reading Supermensch by Shep Gordon but have yet to finish it.

What are you working on now? Any personal projects in the works that you are excited about?

Since moving to LA I’m keen to shoot more and more sport / activewear work so I’m working on tests for that right now. I’ll be updating my lifestyle work as well. So much to do and only so much time in a day.