Empty City of Neon Dreams

Cinematic Photography Shows the Uncanny Side of LA

The sun-drenched strips of Los Angeles, California, have long held the attention of visual artists and cinematic style-chasers across the globe. Neil Kryszak, the New Yorker music producer and photographer now based in the city, has got a take of his own that’s well worth checking out.

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With saturated neon palettes and exaggerated urban shadows, Neil’s style toes a line somewhere between the uncanniness of Lynch and the neo-noir LA nostalgia of Inherent Vice. Except you arrived late on the film set: the lights are on, but nobody’s home. Neil’s curated Instagram creates an interesting breed of street photography, one in which the city has leaned the leading role in an unspecified film, and Neil’s account is leaking stills and production shots bit by bit.

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THE PLUS: Tell us a bit about yourself! How did you come into photography and music?
Neil Kryszak:
My father is a film composer & abstract painter. I spent my childhood surrounded by unique imagery & sound which had encouraged me to create constantly. I’ve been playing drums for about 20 years. Producing music for about 10. Photography is the most convenient outlet for my creative energy. I can do it almost anywhere, anytime. I’m drawn to surreal, psychedelic, dream-like aesthetics.

TP: What attracts you to the kind of urban spaces we’re seeing a lot of on your Instagram at the moment? (Is this LA?)
NK:
Most of the photos you see are in or near Los Angeles. I grew up in an urban environment in New York and find comfort & nostalgia in these areas.

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TP: Why is it the pinks and blues you draw out? Is it reductive to describe it as a late 20th Century nostalgia?
NK:
Theres a lot of influence from imagery I’ve seen throughout my life in movies, surrealist, psychedelic art as well as a large range of musical influences. I make color decisions based off what makes me feel ‘right’ at the time.

TP: You’ve presented a cinematic city with a very particular character. How would you describe it?
NK:
The adventurous, mysterious feeling I’d get as a child or from dreaming. Photos are like paintings & recordings to me. I’m just improvising, I suppose.

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TP: You work as a music producer as well as photographer – how do the two paths work together for you?
NK:
It all comes from the same place. Sounds & visuals both create environments for us, especially when together in film which I’m beginning to work with.

TP: Your recent photos suggest you’re something of a night owl. Is this true? What does night photography do for you?
NK:
True. Nighttime has always been the most creative time for me, like many…working with music, photos, editing…My imagination peaks around 9pm-4am. Photography during that time can be very meditative and intriguing.

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TP: You use similar colour palettes in your Instagram photos. If you could only see in one palette for the rest of your life, what would you pick and why?
NK:
I’m not sure..I appreciate the variety & freedom of colour choices and couldn’t choose to limit it, but I gravitate toward blue, purple and pink hues usually.

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