All Hail Cardiel

January 15, 2010 | In Cycling, Inspiration, Skateboarding, Video

So it must have been 2008 when someone handed me a dvd version of Epicly Later’d John Cardiel. I’ve been skateboarding for years and years and still do but sort of stopped reading magazines and keeping up to much with pros and industry stuff. So I had no idea what happened with Cardiel.

Not to spoil anything, but after an injury a couple years ago he’s been no longer able to skate as he used to and instead has turned his energy to riding bikes which is great. He just has to be such an amazing athlete to be able to come back from these injuries, and though he didn’t regain full function exactly like before the injury he’s well resilient enough and strong of will enough to get back and put his energies into something he loves like cycling. So great.

Watch his part in Sight Unseen from 2003 or something. He’s definitely one of the fastest most impressive guys on a board I can think of. I’ve always loved this part. Mark Gonzales on Cardiel from the part:

The way he skates is amazing cause he’ll skate so fast but it seems like the faster he goes the more control he has… which is you know, unexplainable. Yeah he’s unbelievable. I’m not tryina kiss too much butt but he’s a ripper. An original ripper. He’s an original Coors. (laughs)

Now that you’ve seen that, take some time and watch through the Epicly Later’d series. It was meant to be just 2 or 3 short pieces on Cards, but his story is just so good and amazing that it turned into a feature documentary. Seriously Cardiel is one of the absolute most inspiring people around. He’s just so positive and earnest. You just want to hang out and give the guy a fucking hug.

Hero Status. For sure.

Hamburger Eyes

January 14, 2010 | In Inspiration, Mixtape, Photography, Zine

Photo by Dave Potes. More here.

Another source of inspiration for photography of mine is the San Francisco based Hamburger Eyes. They publish a magazine of photographs and also operate a dark room in the city. They also have a hard cover book out as of 2007.

Check out this recent post on their blog about photography and the future of photobooks:

Notice the decline in big publishers, yet the massive birth of brand new small publishers in this year alone. At one time print on demand services were a sketchy idea, now it’s pretty normal.

They talk a bit about photographers getting rid of blogs and flickr account in favor of publishing which I’m not sure I agree with (keep in mind I’m only a hobbyist photographer, maybe its different if photography is you vocation). I just find so many amazing things and photographers and things via blogs and flickr. I suppose they’re just saying that’s nice, but if you want to be serious, you need to be published. I do fully subscribe to the diy ethic of just making stuff and putting it out and the power of the printed page in the world of digital media. Make your own books. Shoot your own photos. Just like Hamburger eyes.

I’m also listening to this Heartbroken mixtape. Man, photos, zines and mixtapes. The good life.

Carlos Esparza

January 13, 2010 | In Art, Friends, Inspiration, Music, Photography

So if you know me or read the previous blog or are paying attention, you probably have noticed that really really really like the photos and work in general of my good friend and colloaborator Carlos Esparza. A composer, musician, fine artist, designer, photographer and nice guy…

And now he’s getting three years of backlogged filmed developed and processed. This will be good.

Keep an eye out on his personal flickr and on This Here Adventure as well.

Clay Kessack

January 12, 2010 | In Cycling, Inspiration, Photography, Skateboarding, Zine

A couple years ago, just looking for photos of skateboading back home in Denver, I came across the photos of Clay Kessack who’s done a great job just documenting his life. The work seems to be all fun and youth and irreverence. A very nice documentary style. Clay is also a skateboarder and cyclist, originally from Denver now surely enjoying his time in New York City.

Have a look round his flickr and check out his Chowder Zine Blog. There’s also  one issue out of the zine itself out, though it looks like his site in general is down, so you’ll have to wait on that one. Check out the flickr instead. Good things.

Inspires me to do two things: Shoot more photos, and have more crazy fun running around with friends.

Nice work, Clay.

Pete Halupka

January 12, 2010 | In Cycling, Inspiration, Photography, Skateboarding

20 year old bike messenger and skateboarder Pete Halupka takes some pretty amazing photos.

Got any plans for the coming decade?
Finish school, buy a farm, get as many plaid wool jackets as possible, buy more boots, keep my leatherman on my belt at all times, continue making work, start a skateboard co-op for kids who can’t afford boards, learn French after I learn Spanish, get a dog, become less extroverted, learn to fly fish, open up my Boy Scout handbook again, become closer to my family because they’ve been amazing to me, have a rabbit, fall in love permanently and make work with that person, get a brand new road bike from that year custom fitted for myself, make mistakes and learn, learn to play harmonica, get bit by a snake, continue to be a bike messenger here, own a print of that photograph Sally Mann did in Deep South of that scarred tree… and probably meet Sally Mann, photograph a priest, go take communion and slip it into my pocket, take an agricultural science class, downhill mountain bike a lot, skateboard forever, see Spike Jonze nollie heelflip with or without loafers, see the Gonz hippie jump something, bomb a hill with Dennis Buzenitz and follow his line, and last but not least, continue to move forward in life in a positive manner.

Read a lil interview over at We Love You So.

I Give Up (Sad Jams)

January 12, 2010 | In I Made This, Mixtape, Music, Photography, Zine

More previews from my never ending and always on hold upcoming zine SAD JAMS / GONE SONGS. This one was pretty much just a joke combining a few of the ideas I’d discussed with my good friend dlew about his submission. With all his reluctance and angst about the project I just took these unrelated shots of his dog and comped up a little piece that might actually make its way into the book.

I quite like it. Next month I swear I’ll get this thing out.

The Morning Benders

January 11, 2010 | In Cover, Live, Music, Video

Had the distinct pleasure of stumbling on The Morning Benders (from Berkeley) when they opened up for Girls at the Troubadour in december. Apparently they have a whole album of covers that I need to get my hands on. This Cardigans song, as well as a cover of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac that is amazing.

These guys look to be about 17 years old and manage to make some really solid pop songs. The most ambitious and talented band geeks you never knew. Who knows, they’re probably 30. Great music regardless.

I’ve been listening through Talking Through Tin Cans. They have a new record coming out in March called Big Echo. Should be great.

Twenty Ten / Begin Again (MMX)

January 11, 2010 | In Thoughts

So I’m starting over. After two and a half years writing about nonsense and inspiration over here at zeroversion.blogspot.com I’m moving everything here.

This year, this new blog is going to be much more streamlined and more about sharing music and inspiration, and photography. More writing. People like writing I think. Less random things to share and more writing? Maybe?

Just trying to get everything together and organized. It all takes time. There’s tons of things I’m looking forward to sharing with everyone this year. If it’s anything like this last year, 2010 will be amazing. Just gotta hold my speed and hold my line.

Not get distracted and FINISH some of these projects I start. I still have literally hundreds of photos from Europe and Japan I’ve not shown anyone, A giant zine collaboration that has been languishing in limbo for nearly 9 months, a reel to cut that I was going to release LAST SPRING, and all kinds of other things.

Pleased to meet you, 2010. I look forward to seeing what you have in store. Let’s make some fun.