San Francisco: Wrapping up the Photo Issue march 08 April 15, 2008

This was our constant game of tetris inside Brandon’s trunk with all the gear.

During the Bittercold Showdown weekend in Ohio, I was talking to Be-Mag about the photo issue, and what we could do to make it unique for this year. Then during the contest I was watching Brandon skate the course, and it all just clicked.

Brandon Smith is from Northern California, and has been rollerblading for a decade or more. He went pro for a while, and then suddenly seemed to start flying under the radar. I later found out that he began studying photography, and picked it up in no time at all. With a natural eye for skating, and the technical skills honed, it’s no surprise his photos started showing up all over skate magazines and the internet. Recently I’ve been thinking of him so much as a pro photographer, it slipped my mind that he still had all the pro skating abilities. In Ohio he wasn’t even competing, but was still shredding the course to pieces, keeping pace with all the guys who ended up in finals and the winners circle.

We were already planning to give him a photo section, spotlighting his photography, but why not give him the feature interview as well and cover his skating? It was a last minute decision, but Brandon agreed to it, everybody supported the idea, and a few days later I was in Oakland under a bridge shooting photos of Brandon on a makeshift barrier.

I always ask for a window seat on flights, and it never gets old, especially out west. On the flight from Phoenix to SF, we transitioned from dry barren desert, to snowcapped mountains, to flat plains, rolling green hills, and just before landing in the Bay Area there were these crazy colored shapes that I haven’t figure out what they are. If you know please educate me.

What are these!!?!?!

Warm and sunny, with clear blue skies … re-discovering california

some leftovers found at the first skatespot

They make Photoshop in here, im glad this place exists

Gandhi’s hood

famous 3rd and army spot.

Walking around 3rd and Army, finding all sorts of modern ruins

nomad mobiles

one for the texture series

ess eff

the spot we were at earlier from the cookies photo

The situation was really interesting to me, a skate photographer shooting an interview on another skate photographer. I had just gotten to work with Philip Forstner in Europe, and had a really good time, so hopefully this would turn out the same. Brandon was amazing to shoot with, and looking back it was the quickest, most stress-free interview I’ve probably ever worked on. I was a little nervous at first, since I wanted to be on point with every little detail of each shot. If anything was messed up he would be the first to notice.

We pooled a lot of equipment, and shot mostly with my cameras and lenses, and his lighting setup. The communication on shoots went really smooth, since he understands the elements that go into a really good image. We would collaborate on lighting ideas, toss around angle ideas, and had really good luck with security. The bulk of the interview was shot in the first 4 days, with 6 more days to polish it up. The final product exceeded any expectations I had, and the issue should be on stands May 1st. If you want to see any of Brandon’s photography, check out his website at www.brandonsmith-photo.com

ONE ’s new billboard? Stepping it up Wes!

Ivan snapped this when I arrived in Oakland. A lot of people have asked if i’m rolling a joint in this photo, and if you look closely, you’ll notice the rolling paper is actually my small digital camera. Inhaling camera smoke is not recommended.

Cali has perfect skateparks to go along with their perfect weather

These hills are awesome, and one of the properties had llamas roaming around

Wood sculpture at a museum downtown

trees you don’t in kansas

Driving by a Star Wars battle that happened to break out at the moment

It was George Lucas’ inspiration

Wooden hombre watching us eat dinner

love it, hate it

Hanging on Brandon’s garage door

scooping up JJ for the session that day, coffee in hand

Stopped and visited Aggressive Mall, this contraption reminds me of something you would

find in Willy Wonka. It makes skate wax… and the occasional everlasting gobstopper

Christmas in March

what do you think that extra dollar goes to?

During our super low stakes bowling game, I joked with EG about how

I was really left handed and was waiting for the 8th frame to play

seriously. In reality I’m terrible at bowling, have never thrown left handed, and

on the 9th frame got my only strike of the game. Accidental hustler.

When we picked up Bailey, it was clear something was missing. The famous

contest winning mustache was no more.

the steepness

probably the best cup i’ve ever had. the hype was real.

street art everywhere in the mission

there’s also pigeon street art everywhere in the mission

Victor’s pre B-day dinner

Victor’s real party

the last page of a random book I found in Berkley

every college town has the go-to pizza joint. This is Berkley’s

up on the quarter of the face bowl with Brandon, shooting in socks.  See Brandon’s trick here in the next issue.

Brandon throwing a few tricks for Ivan’s video camera after hours at the park.

Soon after this, we got a really great shot, probably my favorite one I took for the next photo issue