Photography Practice: Venice Beach Skate Park

While I still call myself a photographer, for the last year or so the only thing I’ve really shot is stuff for my blog, I never really take photos for the sake of artwork, rather than for a blog purpose, though I have my camera on my person more than I ever used to before the blog. I think it had a lot to do with lack of inspiration, but when I was down watching the skaters in the skate park at Venice Beach the other week I decided they would be some good technical photography practice; I used to be very good at motion and sports photography. Ironic really, that I’m so happy with some of these shots I’ve decided to make a blog post out of them!

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I think this has to be my favourite shot of the bunch I took, mid motion as this guy wiped out after I think his third attempt at landing after a particular jump. Repetitive failure at this bit aside, I was in awe of him as he had some serious skills. However, he has not as impressive as some of the small kids, the youngest of which was only 7 years old, who were absolutely fearless and more skilled than a lot of the adults!

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I don’t know why, but I think I prefer some of the motion shots of the guys falling off than doing successful jumps and tricks… maybe because you get better body positions, movements and postures? 

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Next? I want to buy or borrow a long distance zoom lens so I can stand with my feet at the edge of the water and shoot the surfers riding the waves just off of the shore. I really wish we had places like this in London! 

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