So, you Wanna Get Flicky

So you've gotten tired of shooting crappy pictures and you want to live romantic, dangerous, and exciting life of a skateboard photographer - taking pictures, travelling around the world, seeing your photos published and getting paid for it. Now it seems you can afford some good equipment. Once you do, you'll be broke, and there's no turning back after that. You are taking a brave step towards serious dedication. Cool, I am doing the same. Let me share with you, my fellow future flick star, some basic principles or golden rules to follow on this path. Some badass photographer passed them on to me.

Your backpack is now filled with expensive equipment. Never separate yourself from it. Never leave it in the car, not even for five minutes. On airplanes, always take it as a carry-on, no matter how bulky it is. On tour, sleep with one eye open; use your bag as a pillow if necessary. Remember how difficult it would be to save up the cash to replace "lost" equipment. From now on, your camera bag is an extension of your body.

Take time each day to check every part of your photo bag. Make sure that everything is there and switched off. Clean your lenses regularly with love and zen discipline. Have your equipment ready to be used at all times and under any circumstances.

The best light hours for photography are early morning and late evening. Night is great too. Don't shoot if the light is shitty. Trust your judgement.

Unless you posses deep photographic knowledge, you're gonna be forced to experiment as much as possible with you new equipment. Make sure you take notes on everything you do to learn quickly from your mistakes.

Skateboarding photography is not just about documenting a rad maneuver, but also about composition and good taste. Look for beautiful architectural backgrounds for your pictures and have the skaters dress colorfully. What you want is to make your images interesting. Go where no one has shot before. Motivate skaters to push their limits.

Fernando Elvira
SLAP