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).

How the Nikon FM2 Changed My Skate Photography

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.

One rainy day in September 2017, walking around with a Leica in a cemetery in Buenos Aires while on a demo tour with Tony Hawk's Birdhouse crew

New York Times ran a story on J. Grant Brittain's Skate Photography

A Tony Hawk at the Del Mar Skate Ranch Moment Captured