Category: Skateboarding

A report from Whitedog on his many travels across the pond…
Words and pics – Craig Whitehead

So Omar called me up and said he was going to Hawaii to film for Fuel TV. He’d already filmed a bunch of stuff with the guy from Fuel, up in the northwest, (Oregon)… his name is Jeremy.

But anyway, he said they were going to Hawaii and he wanted some homies to go out with him so it wasn’t just a filming mission, but a fun time as well, So Rhino, Chet Childress and I hopped on the plane and met Omar and Jeremy out there.

We get in the rental car and headed to the North Shore. Chet and Omar together are like little kids arguing and ripping on each other the whole time. From the time they picked Rhino and I up at the airport to the time we got out of the car at the Quiksilver house (a 45 minute drive) my face hurt from laughing so much. I didn’t know if I could hang for the next 5 days…

Skating was the same way. just 100 % total fun. no bad vibes, no goons trying to snake everyone, just fun skating. Omar who is sponsored by Quiksilver hooked up the Quiksilver house for us to stay, free of charge. Fuckin’ hyped.

So we unload all our gear and went straight to the beach across the street, which is the legendary Banzai Pipeline. The waves weren’t hitting when we were there, seeing how it was summertime so we floundered in the water for a while then went back to the house for a couple beers. I asked Omar where the bowl was and he answered “Shit we can walk there from here!” so we walk to the next dirt driveway and hang a left up the hill and BAM! A tranny skaters paradise!

We were welcomed by Cholo who owns the place and pretty much runs the North Shore. This guy is amazing. He’s is 55 years old, owns the sickest Mexican restaurant on the North Shore and still grinds the shit out of some pool coping. Killer. This place has 2 miniramps and a big amoeba shaped bowl. We skated for a while drinking beers getting some grinds and chilling.

The next day we went to Waimea Bay, which is another legendary surf spot. The night before Cholo told us the the Alba family was in town. So we were all hyped to see Salba and the family chillin’ on the beach when we showed up in the morning. So we sat on the beach drinking beers, laughing, and jumping off the cliff with the kids, which was a blast. They were hyped.

Meanwhile, the wholetime we were at the beach we were all joking around and calling Jeremy the filmer, Mark, which I think is Chets favorite word. I don’t think we introduced him to Salba, so when we were leaving the beach Salba said “See ya later Mark!”. We all got a kick out of that one so we just called him Mark for the whole rest of the trip. We’d go to the beach every morning and jump off the cliff to get rid of the hangovers from the night before and check out the tail running around the beach, which was great. Then we’d take it to the bowl for the evening sessions and bbq’s at Cholos.

We met this local named Mitchell who took us to this place called sharks cove, which it this jagged Lava rock field at the ocean with tunnels and tons of tropical fish. He took us to this tunnel through the rocks that went out into the ocean and was probably 30 or 40 feet long that you had to hold your breath and swim through. No one did it except Salba, Mitchell, and I. Chet almost did it but got freaked out at the last possible second and turned around… Twice. He said it was gnarlier than anything he has skated or witnessed ever. Salba said it was second on his list, right underneath skydiving, it was definately a rush for sure.

Then we met up with the locals at Cholos and went and skated GRAVESIDE. Matt Stien, who I’ve met on past trips to the island, has been living out there for years . We met up with him and a couple other dudes, and went to this spot that they have been working on thats right next to this children’s graveyard. He said you can hear the kids playing at night time and shit. Fuckin’ nuts. Anyway this place was insane! The bowl was the roughest and most gnarliest shit I’ve ever skated. Just getting a grind over the deathbox was gnar.

After skating it for about an hour, Omar desides he’s going to throw up an air over the box, makes it, rolls up and says “I think I could throw up a heelflip!” So the camera marks, (Jeremy and Rhino) get the gear out and set their shit up. Sure enough he made it in about 5 or 6 tries, the guy is a fucking machine.

The next day all the loc’s came over to Cholo’s for a big old BBQ bash. Good sesh, good food, and good beer. Everyone there was super cool and mellow. I almost stayed and got a job at Cholo’s mexican joint, the place was so awesome.

The last night of the Alba family vacation we all went to Cholo’s and had a big farewell feast for the Alba’s. We still had 2 more days, so we went back to the bowl and shot photos with Rhino and Omar finished up his Fuel TV show. It should be airing soon. Check it if you guys get that shit over there…

Fred Mortagne is unique. He has the eye and the imagination to take visual images you will never forget. This Frenchman from Lyon, is probably best known for his progressive filming techniques (he even had a particular angle, the rolling long lens shot named after him, the Fredangle, how many of today’s filmers can claim that?!), but when he started taking pictures too, the praise was doubled.

A series of photos and portraits Fred took, which were later used for a Flip Skateboards catalogue, earned him the first prize in a prestigeous photography competition despite only having started shooting film for a year. It’s things like that which qualify Fred for a Triple Shot with Crossfire. Bon appetit!

How long have you been a photographer Fred?

About 4 years. I started to take it more seriously in late 2002. I was only messing around before.

How did the filming crossover get you into photography?

When you film so much great skateboarding, in constantly different places, and with so much history and lifestyle going down along the way, you start thinking that you are wasting some amazing opportunities… While filming, I’ve always pictured photographs that could have been shot, that I never filmed, because they would have had an interest only as a photograph. And when I see that the photographer present at the time doesn’t even shoot it, so it’s a complete waste, so I decided to pick up a camera, and do it myself. That’s really the process that went through my mind that pushed me into photography.

Your inspiration shot here is a classic. What effect did it have on you?

I don’t think some photographs inspired me to start shooting myself, not like video footage (I saw) when I was a kid which really inspired me to start making videos. On my website I put a little montage of some clips that really inspired me, before I even started to film. But this photograph shot by Dan Sturt is the most memorable one from back when I was a kid. He’s definitely the most influential photographer to me. He’s got a crazy sense of framing and angles.

What were the best and worst bits of advice anyone gave you in regards to photography?

All I can think of is a compliment I got from Mike O’Meally, who told me that, not only my photography is original, it’s got a recognizable style. This was great to hear.

Have you ever felt bad about taking a photo? If so, which one?

I have a hard time shooting pics of strangers in the street, like if I’m close to them, if they notice me. I would love to have the power of being invisible when I need to.

What’s the relationship like between a photographer and filmer?

There’s usually a great mutual respect, and there are rarely any problems, because we work things out together. But no matter what, I hate filming when there’s a photographer around, and vice versa, because it limits my work, my angles, my options. It sucks to have to deal with a situation, where you know you are not shooting from the best angle… this kills me, really. Makes me sad.

Please tell us why you have picked your fave skate shot you have submitted, it’s beautiful.

It’s one of my most powerful photographs, and it’s typical of the way I’ve been shooting skate photography. It’s always on the side of my filming duties, and this was no exception. It was during a Cliché tour in the north of France, we ended up at this amazing architectural place, designed by Brazilian guy Oscar Niemeyer, whose works are very famous around the world. The place was insane, so good for skating, filming and shooting pictures. I want to go back.

So we’ve been filming, but when we were leaving, I spotted this thing. I asked Lucas Puig to do something quick, we only had a few minutes…like always. That’s why most tricks in my pictures are easy ones, I can always shoot when the session is done, within 5 minutes… I’m stoked about this pic, like some other ones of my “classics”, because 2 or 3 photographers were there at the same time, with some other teams, for a long time too, but no one thought of it… I just pictured it, and we made it happen. That’s a good feeling.

What main advice would you give to upcoming skate photographers?

Have fun, don’t run after money and develop your own style.

Are there ways of getting better/free equipment as you continue to grow or do you have to fund everything yourself?

I never have any hook ups, I’m too antisocial.

Is the work of a skate photographer well paid? Do you get by in life with this income alone?

I guess it can be good, but you got to shoot a lot. Ideal is to get employed by a mag or a company I suppose, if you really worry about money… But I don’t, so instead of selling my pics, I just shoot, and keep them in the cellar, like good wine!!

Does music ever inspire your photography? What music artists can you not leave for a tour without?

Definitely. I like listening to music when I shoot photos, not so much for skating, but for other shit, like when I wander around in a city. I like to put on some freaky ambient music, to create some weird atmosphere… Godspeed You Black Emperor! is one of my favorite band to have to go through my ears. And “Koyaanisqatsi” soundtrack by Philip Glass, is just amazing. Whoever hasn’t seen that movie, I highly recommend it.

Please tell us about your non skate shot you have submitted and the story behind it.

That’s one of my first pics ever taken in 2001, in Osaka, Japan. I had just purchased my camera, at the time I wasn’t deep in photography at all, I was more like a tourist who snap shots to have memories… On the contact sheet, that’s the only cliché of that place, I shot only once, whereas if I would be there now, I would shot so many times, to have it right. It’s an important picture for me because it made me realize I was able to come up with some very cool pics.

Funny story about it, is that when I went to Japan again, I was flipping through TWS Japan, and saw that photo, I mean, not this one, but the same exact place, pretty much same framing. For a second I though it was mine, but then the lady on the bike wasn’t there. I was tripping. It was shot by Jody Morris, who had come on an Etnies Tour. I shot mine on a ES tour, so I guess, the same distributor put us in the same hotel, where it was shot from! It got me even more hyped about my pic, because I thought it was so much better with the bicycle.

Would you recommend digital or film?

It’s up to people. Both have advantages. It just depend on what you want to do. I’m sticking to film. Actually, yeah people, use film, so it doesn’t die, so I can still use it. I’ve heard Kodak is suppose to kill it’s photography film department in 2008, which would be really crazy, and a big shame, and a big problem!

What are the benefits of using film or digital?

Film for quality, printing, for real photography, the effects of light on chemicals. Nothing will EVER replace that. Digital for convenience, faster progression, and budget reasons.

What kit do you use?

Mostly a Nikon FM2, with a motordrive…I want to get new stuff, with better optics, but I haven’t found the camera that fully meets my demands. I’m really picky, and I guess it might not exist yet, I might have to design it!

Your photography website address if you have one?

www.frenchfred.com