Matt Shail, who shared how his love for skateboarding and visual storytelling came together behind the lens.

We interviewed skateboard photographer Matt Shail, who shared how his love for

skateboarding and visual storytelling came together behind the lens. "I enjoy skate photography

because it allows me to express myself in skateboarding off the board, while simultaneously

taking the focus off of me and putting it on someone else. I get to choose my angle, the lens,

and my settings while they do the rest."

Shail didn’t originally plan to pursue photography. "I always wanted to be a video guy," he

explained. ‘One day my friend Greg Harbour and I were filming at a spot and he was like “you

can take pictures too, right?” and for some reason I said yes. I shot a photo of him that day and

surprised myself. It’s all downhill from there.’ From that moment, Shail began shooting regularly,

eventually becoming the staff photographer at Skatepark of Tampa.

A lifelong skateboarder, Shail has been skating since 2000. "My relationship with it has changed

over the years but it’s always been there for me. I’ll be down to hop fences and get in the dirt for

a fisheye photo until I can’t anymore." When asked about other photographers who inspire him,

he mentioned Adam Hadden from St. Petersburg. "He’s got a solid crew of dudes and he’s just

out there doing it for the love of the game."

Credits :

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MATT SHAIL.