For generations of young people (including an increasing number of girls), the 30 by 8 inches of a skateboard have been a way of expressing an
How far back do the photos in this portfolio go?
The oldest is the one of the burning car from around 1997. I wasn’t even working in skating yet. We were driving from Philadelphia to San Francisco, and I’d taken the early morning shift at the wheel. I only had a disposable camera and I took the shot while I was driving. I just happened to capture it. The most recent photos are from a few weeks ago. They’re about my work with the Supreme guys, which began in 2014.
As well as awesome tricks, your photos and videos show skaters failing and getting straight back up. It’s like our defeats shape us more than anything else...
I want to capture things in a way that doesn’t just feel like here’s the trick and we’re onto the next. When I’m filming, I want you to feel like you’re part of the crew while you’re watching, like you’re hanging out with people you would never normally get to hang out with. It’s not like these kids are going to let you into their circle. And I don’t want to force the guys. They’re independent because they know what’s cool and what’s not.
What has skateboarding given you?
It’s something that you can do individually that feels individual. Even when you’re with a crew of people, you’re still an individual in the group. In life it can be really hard to be yourself, but it’s one of the most beautiful things when you manage it. I was shy myself, but thanks to skateboarding I was able to be around people I felt comfortable with, and that helps you find yourself quicker. It’s one of the only sports where you stay an individual even in a team.
How do you relate to skaters today?
I’m very much a people person and I want to showcase people and make them look bigger than life. I started in Philadelphia and haven’t stopped since. I find these talented kids and try to speed up their path to greatness.
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The photographs were all taken by American filmmaker William Strobeck over the past 25 years, between New York, Philadelphia and the West Coast. They are the most personal outcome of his passion for skateboarding culture that led him to direct legendary videos such as Blessed, Pussy Gangster and Candyland.