How many times have you seen that impossible 360° kickflip or hair-raising rail grind flawlessly executed before your eyes and dropping jaw…and the magic moment is lost to the sands of time, without evidence of the perfect crime? Every skater has borne witness to the miracle of undaunted daring making a mockery of gravity, but such ephemeral achievements are lost in the next round of tricks, unless someone was smart enough to bring a camera to the party.
Of course, you came to carve air, not snap photos-but in every gang of talented skaters, the potential for a mind-blowing, even epic slide show is present in every afternoon session. Just as groups of drunks are well-advised to assign a designated driver, it’s not a bad idea to dedicate the quick reflexes of one of your number to the task of archiving the experience for posterity.
The first step to chronicling your local skate phenomenon is to choose a camera. Digital models are improving on a daily basis, and have the advantage of instant development and deployment online. Nevertheless, to capture the split-second intensity of skateboarding, nothing beats the old-fashioned 35mm. Pro skate photographers recommend such dependable standby models as the Nikon F5, but the degree of technical sophistication and investment you bring to your skateboard pictures is strictly up to you.
Once you have a camera, you’ll have to learn how to shoot skateboard action, something even many professional photographers find challenging. Many skaters resent being photographed and find being under the zoom lens distracting, so you’re best off finding a place to be invisible in. Be sure to stay far enough from the action so your shutter noise and flash don’t become the cause of your next slam shot. You might wind up with that camera up your nose.
Think of yourself as on an urban safari, stalking the skittish wildlife in the hopes of catching a rare specimen doing something spectacular. The most important thing is not to disturb the natural environment of the airborne skater. The quest for perfect skateboard pictures will test your patience more than anything. Don’t expect skaters to risk their ass just to so you can get it on film. Your job is remain at constant attention, your trigger finger poised, waiting for the rare moment when everything comes together for skater and photographer alike.
Always check with your subject and get permission before posting your skateboard pictures to the internet or sending them to a magazine for publication. While verbal consent is probably enough to be sure you aren’t violating someone’s right to privacy, if you have any aspirations of using your photos for commercial purposes, the best practice is to have a few copies of a standard release form for photographers in your pocket. Taking a moment to get it in writing could keep you out of court, and for a magazine sale proper paperwork is mandatory.
Of course, you should never use anyone’s image without their express permission, for both legal and ethical reasons. In the unlikely event that permission is refused, walk it off and forget it ever happened. For the most part, skaters hound for the glory and you’re likely to find an open, friendly attitude-and possibly even a new friend.
