California Series


My wife Jane & I traveled to Southern California in spring of 2016 to visit my aunt Olivia Newton John at her ranch near Santa Barbara.

We spent some time visiting the local area & I shot a roll of film around the old motel called the Santa Cota. It was built in 1962 and at the time was closed & boarded up.

https://www.brettgoldsmith.com.au/collections/california/products/motor-lodge

From there we drove to Palm Springs to attend a wedding of a friend & stayed at the iconic Ace Hotel. This chain of restored motels scattered all over the world are super hip & keep the integrity of the original architecture intact.

Some of these photographs from Palm Springs are among my most popular.

https://www.brettgoldsmith.com.au/collections/california/products/palm-springs-pool

https://www.brettgoldsmith.com.au/collections/california/products/ace-hotel

At midnight after the wedding we randomly drove past the art Deco building, Canyon.

I was able to get one frame in the dark of night of this fantastic building.

Not easy after a Palm Springs wedding - drinks - dancing - good times.

https://www.brettgoldsmith.com.au/collections/california/products/canyon

From Palm Springs we traveled to Indio & Coachella on our way to the Joshua Tree state park.

There we stayed a night at the Joshua Tree Motel. I always wanted to visit as this is where musician’s Gram Parson & Keith Richards had some of their infamous adventures; sadly this is also where Gram Parson died.

It’s a crazy story & you can read about this adventure here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Gram_Parsons

The Motel has not changed or renovated since 1973!

I shot some images of the front yard & pool area in my series. The Joshua Trees & the untouched look of the place makes you imagine being there almost 50 years ago.

https://www.brettgoldsmith.com.au/collections/california/products/joshua-tree-motel-2

After Joshua Tree we drove back to LA & spent some time in Malibu shooting at the surf break on the point & Venice Beach.

The light in California at that time of year has a beautiful warm golden glow, hoping to get back there one day soon to do it all again.