Meet Amir Ebrahimi of DTLA Culture

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amir Ebrahimi.

Amir, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m a photographer and DP, originally from San Francisco, raised in Brooklyn, moved to LA three years ago. I’ve always been obsessed with the human story and the process of determination. More specifically the development of a creative, athletic, or personal journey.

The goal is always to inspire through stylish raw storytelling.

I’ve been blessed to travel the world capturing the human journey through stylish imagery. I’m most known for my work with professional athletes like Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, Connor Mcgrogeor, and artists like Migos but lifestyle and documentary photography and features are also a big part of my work.

I originally started taking pictures at 13 when my father gave me his old Nikon F3. After years of trying to figure out exposure and F-stops, I finally took an image I was proud of and I was hooked.

At 21, I moved to NYC to pursue a career in Film-making but was very discouraged after working as a PA. I realizing what a huge operation making a film was. The scale of the projects resembles a major construction site rather than a creative journey. (No disrespect to construction workers) This also had a lot to do with the position of a non-union PA on a union set, you were not allowed anywhere near set, thus I never got to see the Director or Dp at work.

I was lucky to find a photographer to assist and was hooked on the scale and vibe of the photoshoot. Including the model, it was a team of 5 very passionate and creative individuals working together to create something special. I was also in love with roaming around an unfamiliar location with a camera and no plans, which sparked my passion for street and documentary photography.

At that time, I turned to the amazing resource of Brooklyn, NY in the early 2000s to provide me with subjects to photograph. The amount of creativity in Brooklyn at the time was a true blessing. I started shooting artists, musicians, models, writers, anyone that was interesting to me was getting captured. The camera helped me meet so many amazing people in a time before social media. (Myspace was started in 2003)

It was around that time the DLSR camera introduced HD video options. Now with the ability to capture video, I was able to revisit my passion for storytelling through moving images.

After a series of short films, documentaries, and music videos I was approached by an unknown company at the time, Bleacher Report.

At the time, BR was without a video team and offered me an opportunity to help build the video department. I signed a 3-month contract that turned into a 7-year unforgettable journey. A journey that took me to nearly every state in the US and even a couple of international shoots, most memorably covering the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil for five weeks.

In 2017, I left my dream job and after 18 years in NYC, I moved back to the west coast and started my own production company Metric Nine Productions. Although I visited LA for work many times, I never imaged living in LA until I discovered DTLA.

After two years in Koreatown (which I LOVE) I finally called DTLA my home in late 2019.

I now raise my daughter, run my production company Metric Nine and my new passion project DTLA Culture, in the heart of this historic and ever-changing part of LA.

Has it been a smooth road?
I would say that the main challenge I have faced as a life long creative is the fact that my work spans genres. People in the position of hiring creatives want to know that you specifically and consistently do one thing and do it exceptionally well. The fact that I shoot athletes, artists, models, street, documentary, and lifestyle confused many as to what my “specialty” was/is. To me it was clear, I loved capturing people with stories that inspire.

It’s the main reason why I started Metric Nine Productions. Not only was I able to utilize my skills in all areas of production as I’ve worn many hats in my 20+ year career but I can work on a variety of projects. From athletes to artists, business owners to nonprofits, your story is my passion. And capturing your story through stylish raw imagery and video is my specialty.

With the global Pandemic, there are a number of new obstacles and challenges, but as is the case for 99% of the world population so I’ll spare you those issues.

Please tell us about DTLA Culture.
Metric Nine Productions is my company but I would especially like to talk about DTLAculture.com the passion project I started in February of 2020.

DTLA Culture is a new platform dedicated to celebrating the most unique part of LA, Downtown. Through photography and video, we celebrate the people, art, food, and history of DTLA, AKA the culture.

When living in NYC, I traveled to LA for work at least six times a year and always stayed at the Ace or the Standard DTLA when everyone else stayed in West Hollywood. I guess I tend to be more of a Manhattan on the roof kinda guy as opposed to margarita by the pool.

I have always been drawn to DTLA and wondered why it wasn’t more popular. It almost didn’t even seem a part of LA.

With a rich history, DTLA is a perfect example of everything right and wrong about the United States. An area with so much potential and seemingly no hope. Beautiful skyrises with priceless views towering over a homeless epidemic on nearly every corner. Small businesses taking a chance while drug addicts and mental health victims roam the streets. Amazing restaurants while others scrounge through garbage for a meal. It’s everything right and wrong about this country.

After living my first two LA years in Koreatown (which I LOVE). In November of 2019, I called DTLA my home.

Now living and working in DTLA, it became my new canvas to create. The idea was simple. I started an IG account to showcase the photographs and videos I would be documenting all while creating a community in my new neighborhood one story and image at a time. I should also mention that I moved in with my pregnant girlfriend, so I had a vested interest in a striving DTLA. (My daughter was born on the day George Floyd was killed)

The long-term and monetary goal for DTLAculture.com was to slowly build an authentic, stylish, and curated guide to DTLA one story at a time. Keep in mind when I started this project DTLA was definitely on the rise and had the most potential for positive growth moving towards 2021.

Little did I know that the events of 2020 would lead me to document a much different DTLA, an arena for mourning as people paid tribute to the passing of Kobe and Gigi. Followed by a ghost town as the lockdown hit and devastating once striving small business either now closed or struggling to get by. DTLA became LA’s main platform for protest when George Floyd was killed. Ground zero from the aftermath of looting, to finally an explosion of celebration as the Lakers and Dodgers won, and once again as the 45th president lost.

DTLA has seemingly seen it all in 2020.

As we reach the end of 2020, I can truly say that DTLAculture.com has built a community of local businesses and artists celebrating and “trying to make it work out in DTLA.” to quote Joshua Bartley the subject of our latest feature DTLA Piano Man.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
As a storyteller/content creator through photography and video, I only see the competition growing. As technology becomes more advanced and less expensive more people will become storytellers/content creators. It doesn’t mean they will all be good at it but just by the numbers, the completion will explode.

With so many platforms fighting for your attention, the demand for content will only grow.

With the advancement of the smartphone, more people will be able to tell their own story whether business or personal, without compromising the quality if they are a little creative and willing to learn the latest editing and transition trends.

But in the end, nothing replaces the experience of a seasoned storyteller as long as that seasoned individual stays in a state of exploring and learning.

Contact Info:

• Website: dtlaculture.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @amirzing @metricnine @dtlacutlure

Image Credit:
Amir Ebrahimi

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