christopher mortenson 12/17/25 christopher mortenson 12/17/25

When Life Gives You Lemonade

Every now and again us photographers get opportunities to make photographs that can transcend the reason we are there in the first place. This happened to me this weekend while photographing a birthday party at Ultrazone in Sherman Oaks.

I can’t recall how it happened, but four years ago I got asked if I shoot kids birthday parties. I am not one to turn down cash so I said yes. Since then I have been documenting every one of this girl’s birthdays. At this point it feels like a family reunion every time I show up, and their family brings me a ton of joy.

When I heard she was having a laser tag themed birthday I was pretty stoked. I’ve never actually played before, but Barney from “How I Met Your Mother” made it look amazing (especially in a suit). I showed up to to the venue I did the usual of making some portraits of the family while they set up for the party and waited for their guests to arrive. It ended up being about thirty -forty kids who showed up, this allowed for three teams in the laser tag arena. Now I’m a bit night blind so it took me a second to get used to the course. Once I locked in my distance to range focus on the players it was on. The first round I played it pretty safe and just used the flash to catch the kids like a deer in headlights. After the round we all had pizza and I was struck with inspiration. I realized that I was actually in a pretty good position to create some photographs that could be used outside of a family album. By the next round my brain was turning and I thought this is a perfect time to do a test shoot. I had a full room of kids running around in costumes having fun. So I started playing around trying to capture the energy of laser tag. The images below are some of my favorites and I think could be a good proof of concept for future shoots like this.

The point of all this is that we have to be aware of the opportunities we get. Some jobs or assignments we get are just what they are, but some times life gives you lemonade. We just gotta take a sip.

christopher mortenson 11/15/25 christopher mortenson 11/15/25

Lucha VaVOOM

My birthday was on Wednesday. My initial plan was to do a best of post that included some of my favorite images since last November. However, I had to switch it up because this week has been pretty busy. I started a new personal project which is going to be exciting. I can’t share too much about it, but it involves some communities affected by the LA fires earlier this year. It’s going to be a long term project and I’m excited to keep the ball rolling. It’s funny how these things come about and I’m grateful I was able to expand on an assignment I was given by the newspaper. In the mean time I wanted to share some images I made for LA Downtown News of Miss Rita’s Lucha VaVOOM.

The event happened at the Regent Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. It was a night filled with sexy dances and some amazing wrestling. The last time I photographed wrestling like this was at a block party in DTLA and there were so many people next to the ring I couldn’t get close. I will say it was nice to get up close and personal during these matches. This wasn’t the easiest thing to photograph, but with some luck and little bit of skill I came out with some images that make me smile (that’s the goal right?). Lately I’ve been trying to balance making photographs that are technically sound, but also allow room to show the energy of what is happening. This process makes me be ok shooting at higher ISO’s, maybe things are blown out, dark, or even a bit blurry. It’s not my usual style, but it’s fun to explore. If you have a chance to catch Miss Rita’s Lucha VaVOOM I highly recommend it. You won’t be disappointed. For all my fellow photographers out there who might be reading this, get out there and make some work for yourself. The personal projects are much more important than making eye candy for Instagram. Have a great week everybody. Ciao!

christopher mortenson 10/20/25 christopher mortenson 10/20/25

Santee Alley

Exploring Santee Alley.

Tucked in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles’s Fashion District, Santee Alley began in the mid-20th century as a back-lane marketplace where garment manufacturers sold excess stock and samples. Over time, it transformed into a bustling hub for bargain shopping, drawing crowds with its mix of clothing, accessories, and street-market energy. Often called “Los Callejones,” the alley became a vital space for immigrant entrepreneurs and local small businesses, reflecting the city’s creative hustle. Today, Santee Alley remains a colorful slice of LA culture—part retail bazaar, part community landmark, and a lasting symbol of the city’s entrepreneurial spirit.

I’d always known about Santee Alley, but in the 15 years I’ve lived in Los Angeles, I’d only visited a handful of times. It wasn’t until December 2023 that inspiration finally struck. I was getting ready to head back to Arizona for Christmas with my family and needed some last-minute gifts. I remembered that Santee Alley had a great selection of T-shirts, so my sister and I made the drive from Long Beach and parked near Pico and 12th — a perfect spot if you’re only planning to stay for an hour or so.

The first shop didn’t have what I was looking for, so we kept wandering down the alley. As we passed each storefront, I started noticing how every shop — if seen through the right lens — looked like its own little stage. That’s when it hit me: there was real photographic potential in this tucked-away gem of downtown LA.

Fast forward to January 2024. After teaching Atwater Photo Camp with my friend Alyson Aliano — a weeklong workshop where we guide kids (ages 7–12) through photo walks and creative exploration — I left feeling creatively recharged. Teaching always reminds me how a camera can be more than a tool; it’s a vessel for exploration, a reason to look closer at the world around you.

Fueled by that energy and some New Year’s motivation, I decided to start a personal project photographing Santee Alley. Alyson was on board, so we met up one Saturday morning in mid-January. I got there early, grabbed a pupusa for breakfast, and we talked about our goals for the day — I wanted to make portraits of shopkeepers, while she aimed to capture the alley’s movement and rhythm. It worked out perfectly; we weren’t competing, just seeing the same place through different perspectives.

The first portrait I made was of a woman holding a Chucky doll — she smiled and played along. From there, we slowly made our way down the alley, meeting people, making pictures, and absorbing the energy. Some folks welcomed the camera, others brushed me off, but that mix is what makes street work honest. My goal is to eventually make a portrait of every shop in Santee Alley. I’ve gone back a few times since that first shoot, and it’s still one of the most rewarding days I’ve had behind the camera.

If you’re a photographer reading this, here’s my takeaway: get out there and make pictures in your own community. You don’t have to travel across the world to find compelling stories — sometimes they’re just 45 minutes away.

christopher mortenson 10/7/25 christopher mortenson 10/7/25

Another Day. Another Portrait.

Last month I got to do some work at Jam In The Van in Culver City. If you’re not in the know. Jam In The Van is a solar powered mobile recording studio that helps showcase bands on their YouTube channel. They have been around since 2011 and I have been working with them since 2014. I need to go through my hard drives and talk morevon my journey with them, but I’ll save that for later.

I usually get hired to be the photographer, but recently I have been getting jobs to film little interviews on the phone for their socials. Since I can’t help myself I still make pictures while I’m there, but with a little more freedom to shoot what I want when I want.

This specific day we had the band Drac and The Swamp Rats playing. I’ve always loved this band. Anytime they come around I set up a small portrait studio to make a few pics with them. This specific set up I used an Alien Bee 800 with a Photek umbrella as the key. To give it a little more pop I added another Alien Bee with a grid behind them and to camera right. My go to set up is usually one light, which I like to call “One Light To Live”, however I came to the realization that I need to stop being lazy and try some different set ups when the opportunity arises.

I’m a sucker or set ups like this. My favorite portrait photographers are Richard Avedon and Irving Penn. I feel like when the background and lighting are consistent it’s up to the photographer and subject to create something special. It was a great day and there were a lot of characters that came through the office that day. I find that doing small set ups like this help get the creative juices flowing. It also feels good to come up with a plan and execute it, even if it is simple. Hope ya’ll have a great week. Carpe Diem.

christopher mortenson 9/8/25 christopher mortenson 9/8/25

Wine me, Dine Me.

Last week I had my official first day back making photographs after breaking my elbow in July. I haven’t been able to lift a bunch of shit, so I have been using a small ProFoto light and umbrella for most of my shoots. While I love that set up I was excited to break out my trusty Alien Bees again.

This was the last stop of my day and after driving a complete circle around Los Angeles I was a bit tired. As soon as I stepped into Stoa Wine Bar in Marina Del Rey I was hit with inspiration. I love a good wine bar and this spot hits! The ambiance is nice, the food was delicious, and the owners are super rad. They have an ancient philosopher kind of theme and each guests gets these conversation cards that help spark deeper conversations. After we finished up, their PR lady and myself crushed this food and enjoyed some great conversation and solid martini. Stay hungry ya’ll. Peace.

christopher mortenson 8/25/25 christopher mortenson 8/25/25

Punch Out 2025

The Centennial Boxing Show is an amateur boxing exhibition that takes place at Pasadena City Hall. For the last three years I have been covering it for Pasadena Weekly. I look forward to it every year, even if I don’t remember it’s happening until the week before. The photos in this post are from my evening spent covering the event. I love photographing sports and boxing is quite the challenge. I have started to rely on my photographic spidey sense vs. the spray and pray method. Some of these photos aren’t perfect timing, but they I feel like there is something about them that I like. Not sure if I’ll be shooting the UFC anytime soon, but I would not turn it down given the opportunity. What I most about photographing boxing is that the fighters are so focused on their mission. When looking through my lens I can see the determination in their eyes. This makes me want to give the same amount of focus to the photographs I create at this event. If you’re in LA in 2026 this isn’t an event to miss. Till next year.

Sergio served a twenty year prison sentence and was released three years ago. His cousin kept his car safe for him while he was doing his time. We chatted a bit about prison and how it was adjusting to life outside and then I made his portrait.

christopher mortenson 8/21/25 christopher mortenson 8/21/25

The Beginning…

Every hero or villain has their origin story. “Life In The Middle” is mine. I haven’t shown these photos in a long time, so here we go. This body of work I created circa 2009-2011 and it helped me get to where I am today. I started college at New Mexico State University in the Fall of 2005. I went in with the dreams of receiving a BFA in photography and shooting BMX for a living. While not bad aspirations, art school is not the place to show action sports for every project. Luckily I had an amazing professor named David Taylor who helped me think outside the box with my photography. Not going to lie I did struggle at times coming up with projects for my classes. At the time I interpreted my assignments as tasks that needed to be finished. In my mind it was:

A+ on assignments + graduation = degree in photography (which means I could start working on my own projects)

I was so focused on what life would be like out of college that I didn’t consider how lucky I was as a young photographer to focus on my vision for 4 years. That was until this project came into my life.

It all started when my dad passed away in 2009. It was sudden and heart breaking for my family. I felt an instant obligation to be there for my sister and grand parents. This body of work was a way to navigate these feelings on my own personal time. At this time in my college career I started to transition from action sports to editorial. I wanted to work for magazines that people would buy on news stands. After a ton of research I realized that I needed to learn how to light a scene. Taking inspiration from Jeff Wall, David LaChapelle, and Gregory Crewdson my project was born. This project taught me so many things and I am forever grateful for this time in my life. I still use a lot of these lighting set ups every day. Most importantly it taught me how to be vulnerable while creating art.

My artist statement is on a hard drive that doesn’t work, but here’s the reader’s digest version.

“Life In The Middle” is about navigating the world of adulthood. After losing my father I was met with questions about manhood. This project navigates the middle ground between feeling like a kid, but becoming a grown up.

If you’ve made it this far thanks a ton. Here’s a link to the rest of the work:

Life In The Middle

christopher mortenson 8/15/25 christopher mortenson 8/15/25

“Flash” Back Friday.

Tombow does an over tooth on a street spot that street dreams are made of.

I was scouring my hard drives looking for some images for an upcoming project and I stumbled upon a folder from this day I spent with the Peepgame Posse. I’ve been been hanging out with Steve and these kids since 2016. They ride BMX almost every Sunday religiously and it is always a good time. I’ll be making a more in depth post about these times, but that’s for another time.

Steve hit me up the day before to see if I wanted to shoot a photo with Tombow for an Animal ad. I love little missions like this, and since I was borrowing a pair of ProFoto flashes (shout out Buddy Bleckley) I happily obliged. The afternoon started off at Diamond Park in East LA. I actually love this park, and ended up making a few photos of the homies with natural light. You can’t beat just having a camera bag and some quality talent in front of your lens.

After a nice warm up session, a few spliffs, and a lot of laughs we made our way to this little hidden gem in El Sereno. I’ve never been to the spot, but once I saw it I knew it was going to make a great photo. Tombow is one of my favorite riders to photograph. He is creative and usually handles business in a few tries. The overtooth is one of my favorite tricks and this spot called for it. I set up the strobes and realized I didn’t have any reflectors. However the ProFoto didn’t disappoint and worked out great. Shout out to Peepgame and Steve for always having me out. Love you guys <3

I preferred the long lens version of this, but since we had a few tries I had to snap a few on the fish.

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to check this out. I’ll be doing more regular updates now that I am out of splint and on the road to the recovery from a broken elbow! If you’re a shooter get out there and make pictures! If anything else get out there and kick it with your friends!

christopher mortenson 7/24/25 christopher mortenson 7/24/25

Puerto Rico. A Love Letter.

So I am about week number three healing up from this broken elbow. I have broken bones before and it always sucks, but this one feels different. I’ve been extremely motivated to make more photographs and work on some personal projects. This little injury has for sure, but a damper on that. Fuck it though, it has given me space to look through some archives and share some work that I haven’t put out into the world.

The photos in this post are from a trip that I took with the BSD team out to Puerto Rico. Growing up I used to love the BMX roadtrip articles in my favorite magazines. They inspired me as a kid to explore the world with my BMX bike. Sadly I wasn’t a great documentarian in the early days of my travels, so my early trips were filled with more riding than photography.

This trip happened super last minute. I was working in a weed warehouse during covid and got the call that BSD needed a photographer for their team trip to Puerto Rico. In a flash I had a flight booked to have two weeks of fun in the sun. Luckily I knew most of everyone on the trip so the vibes were high.

We landed in San Juan and drove to Rincón on the westside of the island. This would be our home base for two weeks. The mornings started with a hill bomb, coffee, and a swim in the ocean. From there we would pile our bikes in the truck and explore the island looking for spots to ride.

This was my first time traveling with a team outside of smaller trips in the US and I have to say Puerto Rico did not disappoint. That island is a magical place filled with adventure. Those two weeks were spent eating good food, meeting some amazing locals, exploring nature, and some amazing riding. These are a few of my favorite flicks from the trip. If you want to watch the video here’s the link.

Salud.

This was the first BMX photo I shot on the trip. We pulled up to this skatepark and it had just finished raining. With a little bit sweeping, Curly Man was ready to blast this little set up.

Denim Cox eyes up a wild rail to put his pegs on.

It always amazes me what some of my friends can accomplish on a bike. This set up had no run and Denim Cox handled this over grind like a champ.

Reed Stark poses for a portrait during one of the most colorful bike checks I have ever photographed.

We randomly discovered this little obstacle and I set up the flashes to make this happen. I was a little late on this one, but it the spot was so steep I couldn’t ask Reed to get it again. I still love this flick though.

After riding the most scenic skatepark I’ve ever been to we explored the jungle around it. We found this bridge and Reed had to get a kendama trick that would make the inexperienced tremble in their shoes.

Not sure why I like this flick, but there is just something about it. I used to turn my lens only to the action, so it’s moments like these that I have learned to cherish.

Denim Cox on top of a beat up car. I’m sure if he had it his way he would’ve taken this thing home and fixed it up.

We randomly found this rail in the projects. When I was setting up the lights some locals started gathering around us mentioning how nice my gear was. I politely agreed and continued to set up. It felt a bit shady at first. Last minute a young man strolled up saying he used to skate and hadn’t seen anyone do anything on this spot in like 15 years. We ended up hanging out with them for a few hours drinking beers and chilling. It was a pleasure.

Reed Stark making something out of nothing.

We found this ledge next to some houses that were affected by the hurricane that blasted through Puerto Rico a few years ago. I believe that there were people inside watching television, so Denim sneaked up on the roof to handle this ledge.

BSD. One of the best companies to ever do it in BMX.

christopher mortenson 7/10/25 christopher mortenson 7/10/25

The Art of Resistance

I just broke my elbow on the 4th of July, it sucks, but I am moving forward. Since then I’ve been reading The War of Art. The book (if you haven’t read it) is about how “resistance” holds us back from our full potential. I have felt this my entire career as a photographer. It often manifests itself when a photo reveals itself and I say to myself “I’ll come back and shoot that”. The truth is. I never make it back, the moment is lost and I am left with a feeling of guilt. The thing about giving up these opportunities is that the creative hole gets deeper, and deeper, and deeper. The photos in this post are my way of slowly climbing out of that hole. Some were made while on assignments, and some were made by simply taking the time to pull out my camera. I would love to give more insight, but I hate typing with my left hand. In closing I highly recommend getting out there and doing things for yourself. No matter what it is, you will have a way better day.

Louie Lopez. Santa Monica triple set, 2025.

christopher mortenson 6/13/25 christopher mortenson 6/13/25

Viva La Raza

I was in Arizona when the ICE protests started in Los Angeles. When I got back into town I was assigned to document the ongoing protests for LA Downtown News. My girlfriend and I made our way to DTLA on Monday evening to see what was going on. We found the protest on the corner of Los Angeles and Temple in DTLA. I will say the tensions were high, but the streets were filled with people peacefully exercising their first amendment rights. That being said as the sun was setting tear gas and flash bangs were used to disperse the crowd. It was my first time being in a situation where at any moment it felt like things could go badly, and let’s just say I didn’t make too many images that day.

I went back on Wednesday June 11th to try again. This time I was mentally prepared. I also rewatched Civil War to get in the zone. The police presence was heavy and I joined the crowd outside of Los Angeles City Hall. People were finishing up some speeches on the city hall steps and then the crowd proceeded to make their way through Grand Park and down Hill St to Pershing Square. The march was peaceful and the support from cars and LA residents was a great thing to see.

christopher mortenson 6/12/25 christopher mortenson 6/12/25

New site, New Vibe.

Windows 95, but real life. Scottsdale, AZ 2024.

My name is Christopher Mortenson, but I go by Morty. I got the nickname when I first moved to LA in 2011 from my good friend and professional BMX rider Gabe Brooks (RIP). I’m from a small town in New Mexico and got into photography at the age of five. My mom was a photographer in the Navy and my aunt was a hobbyist who loved doing underwater photography on her scuba trips. Growing up I wanted to work for National Geographic (still down if they want to send me someplace nice), but in 1998 I got into BMX and all I ever wanted to do was shoot action sports. I graduated from New Mexico State University in 2010 with a BFA in photography. My professor David Taylor helped broaden my photographic horizons and I’m forever grateful for his guidance. In 2011 I got a job as an art director for a street wear company called Quintin Co. They had a BMX team and I slowly started integrating myself into the Los Angeles BMX scene. From 2011-2018 I documented the riding scene in Los Angeles. I used this time to work on my vision and voice as a photographer. It’s always easier to photograph the people around you, and I’m thankful that they trusted some kid from the middle of nowhere to document their lives. I currently work Times Local Media Group as their staff photographer in Los Angeles. It’s a funny story how I got here, but I’ll save that for another day. I started this blog last year to remind myself the importance of making photographs for yourself. I think I posted for a month and then gave up on the blog (not making pictures). So here we are again. After culling through five years of hard drives and battling some imposter syndrome my new website is finished and it’s time to kick off this blog again. The images on this post I showed at the All Visual LA slideshow in March. They are photographs I made for myself. Thanks for reading.