Daniel Sackheim’s Film Noir Approach to Street Photography

I’m pleased to share my recent chat with Daniel Sakheim. Dan is a television director and producer known for his work on shows like “True Detective,” “The Americans,” and “Better Call Saul” and he is also a very talented street photographer. I’ve been trying to get Dan on the podcast for a while, and I’m glad it finally worked out. We had a great conversation about his journey into photography, how his directing work influences his photographic vision, and his project, “City Unseen.”

Dan talked about how LA isn’t really recognized as a street photography hot spot like New York or London. But there’s a vibrant community there, especially within Julia Dean’s collective, which Dan co-directs. It’s inspiring to see artists driven by passion, documenting their city without much financial incentive. He mentioned LA is like a collection of cities, each with its own distinct vibe, offering endless opportunities for unique street shots.

Dan also shared how he got into photography after the 2008 writer’s strike gave him time to explore a creative outlet. He audited classes at Art Center and struggled for six years before taking a photo he didn’t hate. I found that so relatable because sometimes the most rewarding things take time. He eventually found inspiration in downtown LA, drawn to the old movie palaces and their history, which led to his “City Unseen” project inspired by film noir.

Dan shared was how “City Unseen” started with a photo, titled *Salaryman, *that he took in Tokyo. Walking around Shinjuku late at night, he captured a salaryman at a noodle shop, and it reminded him of classic noir films. He started watching every noir film and really getting into that style. The project has been exhibited in galleries in London, New York, and LA, and he’s working on turning it into a book.

He talked about how he often scouts locations and does light studies like he would for a TV shoot. Then, he finds an interesting background and waits for something to unfold. For example, the tram shot at the Getty Center took five attempts to get right. We also got into the impact streaming has had on TV, with Dan giving his perspective on how it gives more freedom but also creates a lot of pressure.

Check out the full podcast to hear all of Dan’s insights and stories. If you haven’t seen his work, head over to his website danielsackheim.com or his Instagram @daniel.sackheim