Episode 27: J Grant Brittain / Legendary Skateboard Photographer and Editor

Legendary skateboard photographer, editor, and mentor J Grant Brittain joins us on the podcast.  Not only do we talk about his history with photography, but we talk about the history of skateboarding as a whole, and his ever-present role as it evolved into an industry.  Like a lot of kids who grew up in Southern California, Grant fell in love with surfing at an early age, but when the waves weren't good they would ride skateboards and pretend they were still surfing.  After high school he really just wanted to surf and skate, but started taking classes at the local Jr. College and wondered what would come next.  It wasn't until he took a job at the newly constructed Del Mar Skate Ranch that his life as we know it now started taking shape.  One day he borrowed a friend's camera to try and shoot photos of some of the skaters he knew, and from then on he was hooked.  He began to take photography classes at school, and soon was submitting photos to all the skateboard publications he could. This would lead to the opportunity to submit some of his work to the newly formed Transworld Skateboard Magazine and land him the position of Photo Editor and Senior Photograper.  Grant would go on to spend 20 years at Transworld and would be there to witness the rise, fall, and rise again of the skateboard industry.  From a young prodigy named Tony Hawk changing the world of vert ramps forever, to Mark Gonzales making street skating a work of art, Grant was always present with camera in hand. After his long stint with Transworld, Grant left to help create The Skateboard Mag, where he still is today.  At age 60 he's still going strong and remains a large presence in the world of skateboarding.  

To Learn More About J Grant Brittain Visit:

http://www.jgrantbrittain.com

To Learn More About The Skateboard Mag Visit:

http://theskateboardmag.com

 

About Visual Revolutionary

http://www.visualrevolutionary.com

Because we are interested in people's story, and not what type of gear they use, we introduce a new much needed podcast in the world of photography and filmmaking.  Featuring in-depth conversations with some of the world's leading photographers, filmmakers, and other visual artists, we are bringing you the backstory on how they got to where they are today.