I almost didn’t make it to this spot. It was my third attempt to capture this view, and my perseverance paid off with this photograph, “City of Angels.” Taken from Mulholland Drive just above the legendary Hollywood Bowl. After circling endlessly in search of parking, frustration started to set in. I was on the verge of giving up, convinced that luck just wasn’t on my side that day. But just as I was about to call it quits, a parking spot miraculously opened up—as if the city itself was inviting me to stay.

I grabbed my gear and hurried to the overlook, and that’s when I saw it—the perfect scene unfolding before my eyes. The air was clear and crisp, washed clean from an earlier rain, and not a trace of the usual LA smog lingered in the sky. The sunset lit up the clouds with a fiery glow, casting a mesmerizing light over Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles. It was a rare, dreamlike beauty that felt almost unreal.

This photograph immortalizes that fleeting moment—a timeless vista that effortlessly captures the essence of Los Angeles, its iconic landmarks, and the sprawling cityscape stretching into the horizon. The drama of the illuminated clouds against the vibrant skyline felt like a reward for not giving up—a moment that made every struggle worth it.