Photography

As Photo Editor and senior staff photographer of Transworld Skateboarding for over a decade, Grant Brittain had the opportunity to photograph some legendary icons in an exciting time. Grant took this shot of Natas doing a backside ollie grab at Venice High in 1988. Natas Kaupas, (along with Mark Gonzales), basically created street skating at a time when there was only vert skating. So naturally, Natas and Gonz didn't have much of a reference point while inventing all of their tricks - just a high level of creativity and sometimes superhuman abilities that still blow minds when looking back upon old videos, such as Wheels of Fire and Video Days.

This print is now a proud addition to the studio and serves as a reminder to me personally of a time in life that is deeply cherished - skateboarding with good friends around the streets of San Francisco and San Diego, doing it simply because it was fun.... beyond words.

Since 2004, Grant has been Director of Photography and senior photographer at The Skateboard Mag and continues to leave his mark. Have a look at Grant's photography and get inspired. If you're involved in skateboarding or used to be, then you've most likely enjoyed so many of Grant's great images over the years, some of which you may not have known were his. We thank you Grant.

I've always been attracted to old cameras and especially when they work. And the piece that can make it really sweet about using a certain old camera is when they're is film available for it! Polaroid filed for bankruptcy in 2001, eventually abandoning instant photography early in 2008. Some photographers scrambled to buy up any Polaroid film they could, specific to their favorite cameras. Others like myself just got sad and figured that these objects of beauty with simple yet amazing function would become dormant items of nostalgia. Then came the Impossible Project - the company rescued from the ashes of the Polaroid manufacturing plant based in The Netherlands. They have been producing and selling specific types of film for some Polaroid cameras for a few of years now. Many thanks...... and please don't stop.

As for the "toy cameras" that use 120 type film, there currently are no worries. I took my first black and white photography class at SDSU in '91 from the late (and infamous) Walter Cotton. Our first assignment was to take photos using a Holga, which we each bought for $10. Walter wanted us to experience the struggles and joys of the Holga's signature irregularities like light leaks and the delicate plastic parts that break without much effort. Fortunately the school had a dark room and we got to develop our own film. I'll never forget Walter telling us cocky young students that if we got ONE good photo in an entire roll, we should consider ourselves lucky. He was wrong.... considering that we were developing the film as well, it was more like one good photo in three to four rolls. Sheesh... RESPECT! The toy camera trend has been on the rise in the last few years and there are other options to the Holga. Beware of artificial iPhone toy camera apps! I guess they serve a purpose as a fun, easy option, but not a replacement.

Check out Lomography - a company that has created an entire brand from the trend - offering different models, even SLR with a variety of lenses, flashes and an online community to inspire and support. Plan on paying more than $10.