End Page: Immortalize Your House: Tim Street-Porter

Samantha Brooks

May 3, 2004

British-born, Los Angeles–dwelling photographer Tim Street-Porter has been documenting architecture for the past 25 years. “Photography had always been a hobby of mine. I started out photographing everything from fashion to landscapes,” says Street-Porter. “However, after I finished architecture school, I realized that I didn’t want to sit behind a desk all day. I knew a lot of architects and started photographing their work. It lets me enjoy architecture without being indoors the whole time.”

The living room of La Miniatura in Pasadena, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s concrete-block masterpieces in Southern California.  (Photo by Tim Street-Porter, click to enlarge)

Street-Porter, who is one of the pioneers of the architectural design book (Freestyle was published in 1986; The Los Angeles House in 1995), is currently working on a large-scale photographic book of Los Angeles. “I love Los Angeles’ architecture because it is richer and more varied than that of any other city in America,” he says. “It’s always exciting.” Whether he is photographing the work of Frank Gehry or Frank Lloyd Wright, Street-Porter always responds to each building’s innate qualities. “I never try and capture what isn’t already there,” he explains. “There is something romantic and natural in every building I photograph. That is the quality that I try to bring out and emphasize.” 

Tim Street-Porter
323.549.0122

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