Skateboarder, Spitalfields
I know nothing about skateboarding but I often finding knowing nothing about a subject you are going to photograph is a distinct benefit.
The reason why is because you question everything and come to the subject with no preconceptions, much like being a stranger in a foreign land.
I was covering the Vans Downtown Showdown Event at Old Spitalfields Market for Visit London and once I had sorted out my accreditation I took my time watching what was going on.
Key thing was to find somewhere to be able to operate properly. Always is. Can’t operate properly you can’t take decent shots.
Main issue of the morning was to be able to stand with a reasonably low risk of being hit by flying skateboards.
When the stunts and trick don’t quite go as they should the rider goes in one direction and the skateboard in the other. At some speed. One of the other photographers got a skateboard in the head but he seemed none the worse for it.
I decided to use a very large American photographer as my first line of protection. He seemed happy with this as long as I kept well behind him when he was shooting as he was using a fish eye lens.
In fact everyone apart from me seemed to be using a fish eye! Maybe it’s just the thing to do.
