This project is a series of portraits of skaters. Across these works I explored various skateparks and urban environments in the Chicago area, capturing the subjects within them. By representing a diverse range of skaters and their individual styles and approaches, this project aims to highlight the rich and vibrant culture of skateboarding. Skateboarders are known for their passion and willingness to take risks in pursuit of their passion. Skateboarding requires dedication, skill, and the willingness to push oneself to new heights in order to overcome challenges. Skaters are often seen as very expressive and free-spirited individuals, and capturing their natural essence is important and exciting. Seeing how they dress to par, their skateboard design choice, and their shoe choice are just a couple of things I chose to emphasize that can tell you so much about a skater. When I see the clothing of a skater I think of it as armor. Being such a dangerous high-risk high-reward sport, the choice of attire is vital for the protection of the skater as well as for their personality. Some skaters are willing to put everything on the line for the love of the sport and to one day be the best, while others just wish to get to their destination quickly or to catch a breeze. Treating several subjects with differing lifestyles and perceptions of the sport with the same scrutiny as one another gives the viewer a personal analysis beyond all subjects. This collection provides a window into the skateboarding community and its various subcultures and highlights the inventiveness and enthusiasm of skaters all around the world.
