Skateboarding. It’s risky, scary, exciting, and mysterious. Skateboarding is no joke and you never know what you’re going to get. Getting hurt and upset is a big part of skating. Chris Angeles, the Franklin wildcat knows. There is a lot that goes into skateboarding, finding the right place, being patient, being careful, and as well as being positive. Photographing skateboarders is not easy. It takes a lot of skill and patience, and practice, as well as perfect timing, and a good factor is angle. The angle of the photo makes a big difference, taking multiple shots just to get one good picture will happen. Having lots of sunlight is optional, and can really bring out the subjects tricks and movements, shooting at night is also a good idea.

Christopher Jacob Angeles; a.k.a. Suspicious Chris

However before you can start snapping photos, you need to get to that one skate spot that you feel comfortable in. Not all skaters like skate parks, some prefer the streets. Risky, but worth it. It gives a more natural feel and it is very creative when a skater can use his natural surroundings.

Finding the spot

Journey

Finding the spot doesn’t happen right away, there could be multiple spots; any area where you feel as if you can get a good trick or two. You could grow on that spot and end up going there occasionally. It all depends on the rider. Finding your spots make time some time but it is all worth it once you do. Photographing Chris finding his spot was not very hard, just a simple cruise around elk grove.  After finding the spot, you might want to warm up with an ollie or two.

Chris started off simple, since he has not been skating for about 6 months due to an injury in his arc. However he kept it simple, but smooth.

Ollie Ollie Ollie

Notice that foot placement and timing is very important. as for the photographer, timing is also the key, trying to get the right position and movement capturing the trick, not the before or after.

Nose slide

Even after being off the board for so long, Chris still has a few tricks up his sleeve like the nose slide. Again, capturing the right movement is key.

Manual

Here, Chris is showing off his manual, the key to this is balance and leg muscle. seems like these tricks were easy, right? Wrong. Some tricks take tons of practice, and even results in failure.

errors happen

Errors pay off, so if you mess up don’t worry, you’ll get it soon enough. Photographers that tag along and take photos of skaters have to realize mistakes will happen, and if you snap a picture of them messing up, relax, just give them time. Not all pictures come out great; not all tricks come out great.

After a long days of work for both the skater and photographer, you feel accomplished and tired. A lot of mistakes, but a lot of memories and achievements.

Good day of work

Candid