ESTEVAN ORIOL HAS THE RECEIPTS

"THE ONLY THING THAT IS WORTH SOMETHING IS THE ARCHIVE"

- Seulgi Oh

Estevan Oriol has got the receipts.

The OG photographer and director has 30-plus years of shooting everything from hip-hop artists to Afghan prisons to Japanese Bōsōzoku, resulting in a bulletproof archive that spans wide and delves deep into the cultural spectrum. Oriol’s iconic “L.A. Fingers” image — which shows a woman's manicured, ring-decked fingers forming the letters of this city — is arguably second only to the Dodgers logo as the most identified people’s symbol of Los Angeles. And it’s his relationship to his hometown, the City of Angels, that defines his sui generis eye and puts him up there with such greats as Ansel Adams, Mary Ellen Mark and Daido Moriyama. Oriol has an instantly recognizable style that shows reverence for his subject and a deep connection to the environment. He's also started a few different clothing brands with friends over the years, including Joker, one of the first West Coast streetwear brands, which just celebrated its 30-year anniversary.

We chopped it up one afternoon at Chateau Marmont, the location at his request. We have been friends for over 10 years, and though my job titles have changed a few times, one thing always remains consistent: I will do a project with Estevan at some point. He is my favorite and most steadfast collaborator, suitable for all occasions, always raising the bar with a fresh perspective. Our first event was the “California Love” photography and lowrider show at Milk Studios in 2016, where the lo-lo’s were dramatically lit as if they had descended from heaven, combined with the best of Estevan’s L.A. images.

Seulgi Oh: In your mind, what is the biggest misconception about being Estevan Oriol?