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Grey Skateboard Magazine.
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JB Gillet, Frontside Bluntslide. Photo Benjamin Deberdt.
Résumé is a photography book chronicling the history of Cliché Skateboards since it was founded back in 1997. As a collector of photography books, I am probably more critical of books about skateboarding than most. Maybe this is because skateboard photography generally does not fit the context of an expensive coffee table book; it is sports photography after all. Books documenting the lifestyle attached to skateboarding rather than the action itself tend to be more successful. Résumé, however, manages to successfully present skateboard action photography in the context of a high-quality photo book. This is in no small part down to the photography, which is stunning.
Résumé includes some nice portraits and interesting lifestyle stuff but the majority of images are action. Inside you will find portfolios from some of the best skateboard photographers of the past decade, including Oliver Barton and Mike O’Meally, who are both known for their crisp, perfectly lit colour photos. Two personal favourites of mine – Benjamin Deberdt and Fred Mortagne – also have portfolios. Both approach skateboard photography with a refreshing simplicity. Their work is less concerned with technical prowess and expensive equipment and more so with careful composition and making the most of their surroundings. Deberdt’s images have a spontaneous, natural feel while Mortagne uses strong graphic compositions and unusual viewpoints to create his striking, abstract images.
Jeremie Daclin, Frontside Grind. Photo Fred Mortagne.
Photography aside, the art direction and production are top notch. The layout is clean and uncluttered and the paper stock and print quality would not look out of place in the most exclusive art bookshops. Mackenzie Eisenhour takes care of the writing and keeps things short and sweet, leaving us more time to appreciate the photographs.
If you want to get hold of a copy of Résumé, and I strongly advise that you do, you have two options: either contact your local skate shop and ask for a copy or enter the competition below.
Nicolas Caron, 50-50. Photo Benjamin Deberdt.
Competition
We’d like you to send us your best skateboard photographs for the chance to win a copy of the Cliché book as well as a Cliché board of your choice from the new Keystone series (see below). One runner up will also receive a copy of the book. The winning photographs will be featured on the Grey site with a link to the photographers’ website, blog or Flickr account.
Guidelines
Images should be skateboard action shots, and can be taken anywhere, not just in London. We are looking for creativity over technical prowess. Entrants should be amateur photographers (not regularly published). Emailed submissions only – no prints please – and a maximum of five images per entrant. Winners will be judged by the Grey team. Last date for submissions will be February 11th, 2011. Please send low res jpegs 1000px wide to henry@greyskatemag.com
Disclaimer
By entering you are granting Grey Skateboard Magazine non-exclusive right and license to publish your work online. You will not receive any remuneration for usage.