Shoot…..Or Die Trying!!
Hanging Out With Skateboarders
I have been wanting to photograph some skateboarders for quite some time, but never quite had the opportunity until now. Somehow, I always knew it would fit my alternative photography style and would be a match made in heaven. So, enter my kids being of a teen age, them having friends that are seriously into skateboarding, talking things ollies, kick flips, heel flips, backside 180’s etc, whilst chillin in my front room and admiring themselves on their YouTube channel. This got my creative photography ass mind a-wandering….so I approached them with the idea of doing a photoshoot….and the rest is history, or so they say!!
We arranged to document the guys over at Saffron Walden Skate Park. This is an amazing location as it has plenty of skate bowls and ramps to shoot the guys in action. I don’t think it really matters whether you’re a pro or a complete beginner, there’s something there for everyone. Also…Its a damn site smoother than the skate parks I’ve been to in London (not that I’ve been to many but I have shot at South Bank and around Canada Water etc)
I’ve often looked at images of skateboarders and loved the style and composition. It kinda lends itself to street photography, which is also another personal favourite of mine. I’m obsessed with capturing my surroundings and everything that occurs within that vicinity. Over time, I’ve come to realise the things I like most about images that inspire me and try to recreate them with my own spin on it. I guess it’s like being at school, if it’s something you’re interested in, you want to produce the best results possible. My approach to shooting the skaters was similar to how I capture boxing, although I had a little more creative ability to micro manage them to encourage them to land their tricks. I knew I needed to shoot wide on my 24mm prime lens. Ideally, I would had preferred to use a fisheye lens, but due lack of owning said lens, I opted for the widest one available. At this time as I write this blog, I am hoping to arrange another shoot with my recently acquired fisheye, and I can’t wait to see what frames I can capture.
So, the boys were awesome to work with. I knew I needed to get in close, and the guys were also aware of this. I wasn’t worried that I may end up with a slight donk on the head from badly landed trick or that I’d have to move quick if a board was coming straight for me …not if I got my shot anyways!! I just waited for the perfect time when I knew I needed to fire off that shutter and get my clicks in. Most of all though, I just wanted to challenge myself and be creative and experiment, and try out new photography shizzle. It’s fair to say that I was instantly hooked. I want more, like shit loads more!!
Personally, I love everything about the skateboarding lifestyle….from its carefree attitude, to the graffiti laced skate parks, the adrenalin rush it creates etc etc etc, I just wish I could actually skate myself! I guess this all stems back from childhood and seeing Marty Mcfly skating in Back To The Future and thinking I wish I could do that!! But hey, I could roller skate and would occasionally play street hockey, so maybe i’m not all that bad? Feeling frustrated with my lack of ability to skate, I often like to shoot and capture activities I’m unable to participate in to help me have a better understanding of them. Call me Peter Pan, but why the hell should I conform to all this ageist bullshit? Why should I only be photographing boring stereotypical mid life appropriate subjects? Mental note to oneself…..learn to at least balance on a skateboard and give it a go. Ok….Rant OVER, I’ll get back to what I do best and that’s scheming up my next awesome photoshoot.
I don’t know if my images would ever be ‘THRASHER’ worthy, but I was kinda stoked at how they turned out.