You’re probably already familiar with the work of photographer John Brian King. He’s designed the film titles for dozens of movies, including Boogie Nights, The Ring, Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love, and Lilo & Stitch. King also directed a movie called Redlands, set in the California city. But it was over 30 years ago that King first had his eye on the Golden State.
His photographs, focused on the harried travelers bustling in and out of the Los Angeles International Airport and the gritty streets of Los Angeles at night, haven’t seen the light of day since the ‘80s. Those black-and-white negatives have finally reemerged in a new book published by Spurl Editions, LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980–84 , available on November 2.
The photographer’s monograph tells a parallel story that ushers us from airport to city — the chaos of the LAX lobby to the Sunset Strip, revealing images of a metropolis that has since vanished.
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions
From LAX: Photographs of Los Angeles 1980-84 by John Brian King, published by Spurl Editions