How Skateboarding Unites the World with Atiba Jefferson

Julia Gunnesch: Could you inform me about your journey as a photographer? Where did you come from, the place have you ever been, the place are you going?

Atiba Jefferson: My journey began within the darkroom after I was a junior in highschool. So, about 1992. When I noticed a print being made, it modified my life. I discuss it on a regular basis. That was the second the place I used to be like, okay, I really like this. And it was the very first thing outdoors of skateboarding—that was the very first thing I obsessed over. And pictures grew to become the second factor. Besides video video games. And then, that journey took me from Colorado, the place I grew up, to San Diego then Los Angeles, the place I’ve been since 1995. I at all times say pictures has given me the very best seats to every thing I really like, whether or not it’s a basketball sport sitting courtside, the underside of 20 stairs and seeing the very best skateboard trick, or the picture pit of my favourite bands. A digicam could be your passport to no matter you need to see. Even the world, going from South Africa to Tokyo to you identify it. The digicam has introduced me all over the place. And what’s developing subsequent is one other assortment with Vans. Obviously, pictures introduced me there. And my first guide is developing, hopefully on the finish of subsequent 12 months.

JG: You’ve been energetic in skateboard shoots for therefore lengthy. Do you continue to get pleasure from it as a lot as earlier than?

AJ: Oh, sure, and I discover it with lots of people. I by no means acquired out of skateboarding. I at all times loved skateboarding as a result of I’m a skateboarder. I nonetheless take a couple of day every week to go skateboarding for myself. I’ve at all times loved the group, my mates, the creativity. So, I by no means I by no means fell out of affection with skateboarding. But I believe the older you get, the extra you truly respect issues. Whether it’s skateboarding or in life, you type of understand that every thing doesn’t final endlessly.