I honestly don’t know if anyone cares about these photo features I’ve been doing over the last couple of months but snapping away has helped me savor the trips I’ve been so fortunate to go on. Maybe it’s more for me then it is for you? I’m turning into those people who create incessant zines, it’s like nobody *really* cares about your newest zine except you. Everyone else is just nodding along, throwing a couple supportive bucks your way and then burying that bitch in their bookshelf, never to be opened again. Do I sound like an asshole? Anyway, that’s my intro today. Maybe I’m just in a shitty mood. I apologize. Next intro will be better I promise.

Had a quick catchup with Jeremy Klein [founder of Hookups] over Korean BBQ and was surprised he invited Ben Kadow’s cousin along. Just kidding! The evil looking guy is one of the talented Brunner twins (Pierce to be exact). He has that bandit look that reminds me of when skaters looked more like criminals than tennis players.

Normies think only hobos chill on curbs, but skaters know what’s up. Skaters know that curbs are nature’s Lay-Z-boy.

When you’re staying in a different city, the best advice is to chat up every rando you meet. That’s how I found my way into Tom Jenkins‘ at-home print shop. Silkscreen printing — graphics applied one color at a time — are so much more inspiring than the big-ass sticker application that all factories use nowadays. Plus if you want a cheap way to get high, you can just stand in this room for a few minutes and breathe deep like Darth Vader.

When your parents send you to private school and don’t let you enjoy yourself in your teens this is what happens.

Beige hoodies make me think of Planet Earth clothing, which makes one think of the old skater Felix Arguelles. How’s he doin? Let’s see…rollerskating in a fedora? OK cool. Very tight.

Modern dog breeding trends unfortunately have a lot in common with up-and-coming skateboarders. They’re babied with a watered down version of reality from day one, grow up in gated skateparks to keep them safe from cops and Super Citizens, and as long as they post enough Instagram edits, some sugar momma/daddy will eventually scoop them up and pay their bills for the rest of their lives.

Whatever you think of Alex Olson, he made his life much more unique than most people born to a former pro skater would have. He’s tried a whole lot of different creative endeavors and he’s still not done exploring. In fact, his current hobby is growing his hair to be longer than Adelmo Jr.‘s. You got this, homie!

This looks like one of those impromptu family photoshoots where your parents bait you and your siblings into sitting together and go, “Now SMILE!!!!” as they try to take a photo of you for their Christmas card or whatever. The whole thing is so forced and fake you start cracking up afterwards. This is that moment.

One time a few years ago I was skating down the street with Mark Suciu and I wanted to ollie an especially large sewer cap. I wasn’t sure I had enough speed to make it, but I popped anyway, hoping I wouldn’t kook it. Shooting a photo of a real photographer like Sophie Day felt kind of the same. Didn’t know how it would turn out, but I’m glad I did it.

That ollie? Yeah I bailed it. So what.

Natural transition spots look like the funnest things ever, but nine times out of ten when you actually try to skate them they’re insanely difficult. Drop in to fly off the side is the only way to go.

Everyone loves to debate about the better city, LA or NY. Clearly it’s NY but if I were to be diplomatic I would say NY is better in your 20s and LA is better in your 30s. New York has spontaneity, excitement and a potential for fortune that always lurks in the background. Los Angeles is more luxurious, deliberate, intimate and can be equally as fortuitous but you have to put yourself in the right places.

Photos & Rants: Ian Michna
Share this with a voyeuristic photographer on Facebook
Report this as a breach of privacy on Instagram and Twitter