Mash Up Round Two

As I had mentioned before last weekend I gathered quite a few images. Here is round two. This batch has a few sequences some of the homies. Don't have much to say here other than looking forward to more sessions out in Santa Rosa, or missions out in the Oakland area with these guys.

Christian

Good To Be Back

So in the prior post I mentioned getting away to visit some fam up in Portland. The trip was a lot of road time but was definitely worth it. The city was great and I'm glad I can say I have been up there, but nothing makes you appreciate home like being away for a bit. To that effect it was pretty great to hook up with Dustin and Weston and do some shooting and filming this eve. Weston continues to kill it and gives Dustin a good reason to come out with us. Here are a few choice shots from the Portland trip and a couple from this eve.

Christian

Hittin' The Road

Well folks the family and I are getting ready to hit the road up to Oregon. The past few weeks have been super productive and I feel like I have been working really hard on my skills. This is a little gallery of some recent stuff. When I get back I'm hoping to have some fresh stuff for ya and I will for sure be getting on a weekend trip with the kids from skidmark mag and definitely securing some killer stuff there. Have a good one and see you all when I return from my family road trip.

Christian

Death Match 2

When I hear it in my head its kinda in a demonic style voice...if you know what I mean. Death Match was frickin awesome. Our great hosts at 621 really did a killer job getting the ramp and the shop all done up for this event. Ramp got a sweet extension and the shop got some sick graffiti work done up by some local artist. Shot calling was handled by Andy B and Ron Allen, killer combo. Sponsors were thick for this little party, folks like the mighty VS, Spitfire, Antihero, Thrasher, ASF dist, and Lowcard. Musical entertainment locked up by Drunken Starfighter, and Regulator. Of course the skating was off the hook. That new portion of the ramp got a through working, and it definitely took the session to another level. I actually found myself hopping up and down on the deck and going "Ohhhhh damnnn!" many times. Winners were 1st Brad McClain, 2nd Ratface, 3rd Ryan Carpenter. Another note worthy goings on was the release of the new Skidmark magazine...icing on the cake. Great work Mike O!! Good friends, great time. Thanks to everybody!!

Christian

Ryan Young Interview

I have never actually met Ryan. Like most folks I head hunt for the interviews, he does great work and gets here cuz someone I know suggested I give him a peek. I look forward to meeting him and the process of the interview sheds some light on his character. Everybody out there take a few moments to get to know a bit about Ryan the same way I did by reading the interview and peeping out his photos. Maybe you know him or maybe you will meet him, what ever the case he is or will be a solid person either way.

Christian

C: Name, age, location, occupation
R: My name Ryan Young, I'm 22 years old, and I shoot photos.

C: How long have you been shooting?
R: I've been shooting photos for about 6 years.

C: Formal training, or a more hands on get it done approach?
R: This question is an interesting one. I find it unique because I struggle with the difference a lot. I go to a school where I am influenced to make pictures as opposed to take pictures. The element of design and intent is sometimes awesome to understand, but at times it can be an unhealthy obsession. Sometimes you gotta just let go and free yourself from what you think is universally right or wrong. There's a beauty in both.

I consider my formal training to be what I am told and shown technically and conceptually. On the other side, my hands on training is simply the knowledge I attain put into action.

It's somewhat like skating. Skaters learn new stuff at a skatepark, but most would want to film what they've learned on a unique street spot so they can call it their own.

C: Most folks who shoot skating also put in some ride time is this the case with you?
R: Yes. Skating will always be my number one. I still feel the same about skateboarding as I did when I was in middle school rushing through my homework so I could get down to the skatepark and do my thang.

C: Your American Dreams series is killer how did you come up with that concept?
R: Thanks. It started out as a self-assigned school project. I got ideas from things I've seen in person, movies, and NPR.

American Dreams is actually a work in progress. Its a social narrative covering contemporary issues ranging from home foreclosures to discontent suburban families. The series is supposed to convey the feeling of being caught in between reality and fantasy. There's always an underlying element of tragedy in every photo. I guess I'm drawn to the way people react to things before, during, and/or after moments of struggle.

C: What is your current fave thing to shoot?
R: Portraiture. I know that's speaking in a rather broad scope, but it's what I'm into. I feel that every artist has their own idea of what a portrait is. There is no specific definition. A still life can be a portrait. A portrait can be a still life. One of my favorite portrait photographers said it best, "The subject must be thought of in terms of the 20th century, of houses he lives in and places he works, in terms of the kind of light the windows in these places let through and by which we see him every day." -Arnold Newman

C: Who is inspiring you to keep at it?
R: I get inspiration from a lot of different sources. Everyday it seems to come from something different. Sometimes it's a movie, sometimes it comes during a critique in school, and other times it comes from simply looking around at my environment.

My favorite artists who inspire me are; Pablo Picasso, Albert Watson, Brian Gaberman, John Cardiel, and Quentin Tarantino.

C: Other than your camera what is a bit of equipment you could not live with out?
R: Film and a reflector.

C: What is your best advice to folks out there getting into photography?
R: Hmmm... Spend a lot of time obtaining the technical knowledge so you aren't limited. Look at all kinds of artists for inspiration, not just other photographers. Have fun.

C: Dream gig?
R: Some sort of editorial project in an awesome environment, with amazing light, that pays extremely well... I wish I could be more specific, but I guess I like to take things as they come.

C: If you were in a band what would you play?
R: The drums always peeked my interest.

C: Ok bro that ought to do it...thanks a bunch for your time. Any shout outs as the curtain falls on our little interview?
R: Shout out to my SPC homies, Jenna, Sam Muller, BK, D-Money, K-Duff, Mom, Dad, and Bro.