Behind the Lens - J Grant Brittain Talks Skate Photography

I was working for TWS in ’87 and was allowed on the "Gleaming the Cube" filming set, which was located at an empty swimming pool at a nice house in the Hollywood Hills. Upon arrival, I was stoked to see a few people I knew like Stacy; screen actor Tony Hawk, who plays Buddy; stunt double Mike McGill; stunt double Eric Dressen; screen actor Tommy Guerrero, who plays Sam; cinematographer Pat Darren (Animal Chin Filmer); and skater-actors Christian Jacobs and Max Perlich. I was given a few rules: don’t shoot photos while dialog by the actors is being filmed unless I have a camera blimp (a housing for my camera that makes it silent—yeah, like we use those in skate photography), stay out of the shot, and above all, enjoy the craft services (free food and beverages).

San Diego Magazine Skateboarding Feature

I gave my designer friend, Josh Higgins, the black-and-white photo of Kevin Staab's ollie shot from 37 years ago and asked him to design a pop-art-like collab silkscreened poster for Staab and me to sign and number.

Second printing of J. Grant Brittain's book PUSH is available at http://gingkopress.com/shop/push/

How the Nikon FM2 Changed My Skate Photography

The Story Behind The Push (and How It Almost Didn’t Become One of the Most Classic Skateboarding Magazine Covers)

A box marked “February 1985 Transworld Skateboarding Magazine” came into my possession a few months ago.

What does a skate photographer do with their time when they’re on lockdown and can't shoot? Like everyone else, I have had to get creative. Portraits & projects—2020 style.

It's All Coming Back To Me Now...or Not.

The Whole Story Behind “The Push” (and How It Almost Didn’t Become One Of The Most Classic Skateboarding Magazine Covers)

Bring a little Photographic Inspiration to your walls with some your favorite Skate Photos by J Grant Brittain. A variety of sizes and materials ar...

I have been working on my book feverishly for the last two years and I keep unearthing Photo Gems from my Garage Archive. This powerful photo of Natas Kaupas came to my light table and I did a quick dupe of it with my Macro lens. I ran it on Instagram and some of my followers went crazy, they had never seen it before. If anyone is seriously interested in purchasing a print, let me know and I will get it scanned. Shot in 87 in San Diego. Photo: Grant Brittain