The FUTURE of Skate Photography | Video Essay

[DISCLAIMER]: I love and greatly appreciate J. Grant Brittain’s work and his contributions to skate photography and skateboarding in general. In many ways, without what he has done for several decades, the art form wouldn’t be what it is today. However, it was disappointing to see that he has such a negative outlook on the future of skate photography, and my goal is to offer a different perspective on the situation, not bash him and call him out. Many people may see the state of skate photography in the same way he does, but they just did not voice it in an interview. This is much more a response to the general idea that skate photography will not adapt to changes, not a chastising of Brittain specifically. Shalom.
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With print magazines shutting down and the ease of photo creation and sharing through smart phones and social media, skateboarding photography has seen an intense amount of change in the 2010’s and it’s easy to see it as detrimental to the art form.

However, skate photography, and photography itself, have always adapted when the technology, culture, or economic situations around it have changed, and it will do the same with this dynamic shift as well.
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SOURCES
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Music
Eight Dayz - “What’s so strange about me”
She Wants Revenge - “Us”
Capella String Quartet - “Funky Town” Cover
Trevor Something - “Live for Tonight”
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Video
Lakai, “Fully Flared (Marc Johnson)” - https://vimeo.com/143221247
Santa Cruz, “Streets of Fire (Natas Kaupas)” -    • Natas Kaupas - Streets on Fire  
Pyramid Country, “Daylight World” -    • Pyramid Country's "Daylight World" Video  
The Nine Club with Chris Roberts, “Skin Phillips” -    • Skin Phillips | The Nine Club With Ch...  
Person People, “Golden Hour” - https://vimeo.com/265795906
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Articles and other sources
Jenkem: “What’s going on with Transworld” - http://www.jenkemmag.com/home/2019/02...
Wheelbase: “After five decades, Skateboarder Magazine is shutting down” - https://www.wheelbasemag.com/after-fi...
Jenkem: “The Berrics acquires the Skateboard Mag” - http://www.jenkemmag.com/home/2014/10...
Transworld Skateboarding 2017 Media Kit - http://3wcxa34aqoe1j6p3g23gcv11.wpeng...
Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Consumer spending and U.S. employment from the 2007–2009 recession through 2022” - https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2014/art...
Jenkem: “Tired of the Internet? Check out these printed skate mags” - http://www.jenkemmag.com/home/2019/05...
ewe: “Kick(flip)ed To The Kerb: How social media affected the printed format in skateboarding” - https://www.ewe.agency/insights/what-...
The New York Times: “Skateboarders Won” - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/07/st...
Skateism: “Skateboarding in Iraqi Kurdistan with Suli skaters | Collectives 03” - https://www.skateism.com/skateboardin...
See the No Comply Network interview with Brittain: https://www.nocomplynetwork.com/j-gra...
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