Hoodlums, delinquents, and thugs. That is probably what you think of when you hear the word “skaters”. Unfortunately, these are also descriptions that these young men have brought upon themselves. However, with a visit to any city skatepark these days, one would find that these stereotypes are not fair descriptions. Yet since the inception of the skateboarding craze in the 70s, skaters have drawn the short straw in the sports world. After shooting all the flowers in the yard and shadows on the walls, I wandered down to the boardwalk one day out of boredom and found the skatepark buzzing with activity. I set out to offer a fresh perspective on the sport of skateboarding.
Along with the beauty of the early light, the thinner morning crowds also provided easier chances to frame out the busy backgrounds and focus only on the athletes. Hann said that he also quickly learned the benefits of shooting in the California morning haze. With various techniques, I managed to capture the raw athleticism and artistry of the young boys and girls.