The inspiration for this photograph, “Hollywood” came from seeing one of Peter Lik’s breathtaking shots from behind the Hollywood Sign. Seeing his masterpiece ignited a determination within me to create my own rendition of the iconic Hollywood Sign from behind. One February day, with a coworker visiting from New Jersey, I set out to bring that vision to life.

The trail to the lookout proved far more demanding than I had anticipated — steep, winding, and relentless. My muscles ached for days afterward. Yet, as we finally reached the summit, our efforts were met with an unexpected obstacle: a towering 6-foot fence, standing guard and challenging my plan.

But just as doubt threatened to take hold, the sun dipped lower, casting a radiant glow across the backside of the sign. With careful maneuvering, I managed to fit my tripod through the narrow fence openings, aligning the shot just right. As the shutter clicked, I knew I had captured something special — a photograph forged through persistence and the reward of seeing my vision come to life.