About three months ago I learned that there was a skate park in Epsom called Long Grove. I turned up there one day with my camera and shot some BMXers in the bowl. I went back a few days later and shot some skaters. Before long I was over there weekly, experimenting with different vantage points, camera settings, lenses etc. The differences in my shots between the first couple of visits and now is staggering. I wasn't shooting with flash for the first few sessions. The shots were alright but lacked that vividness that gives that sort of photography its flavour. Begrudgingly took my flash over there one night as the sun was already starting to go down, and everything finally fell into place. I now don't shoot skate or BMX without it.
The first night I shot with flash was amazing. Guys who'd already been skating all day found a last bit of energy to throw some shapes for me and my camera, even though I’d turned up 5 minutes before they were about to go home. One of the older and more hardcore skaters Adam Voss really went for it. I think I was shooting a little over an hour, but the amount of great shots that came from that looked like half a day’s work. I turned to Lee, one of the other older skaters, and said that it was cool to see everyone so active. “The flash adds to the atmosphere, you're hyping them up”. He said. That had not occurred to me, but it was amazing to think that indirectly I may be helping these guys push themselves, take risks, and try new shit.
I had said to myself early in the year "I don't want to get to the end of Summer and think I haven't spent enough time taking photos". Well damn, the Long Grove skateboarders and BMXers made sure that there was plenty worth shooting.
I just wanted to give a little shout out to Adski (pictured), Lee, David, Kalen, Micky, Charlie, Chris and the whole Long Grove skater crew, and to the random BMXers that have been super welcoming to me over there also (Joe P & crew, Matt & crew, Connor & Jack & crew, Tomasz & crew). It would have been a much duller Summer without you guys.