Skateboarding in the underpass

Street Photography
Written By Mark Moran

When a photo opportunity presents itself try to have more than one roll of film.

I’ve always liked the idea of being able to skate. Shimmying along, looking cool flipping the occasional Ollie.

But my best effort was standing on a deck and effortlessly making it shoot out sideways from under me like a bullet. Fortunately the thick Christmas jumper I was wearing at the time cushioned the impact as I hit the floor like a sack of Christmas puddings. I stuck with two wheels and now get my adrenalin fix throwing myself down steep sketchy mountain tracks (sans-Lycra!).

I could hear the sound of skating coming from the underpass and I asked if I could take some shots as they skate. The harsh fluorescent lighting and glossy panelled walls should make a good backdrop.

I had a couple of frames of Ilford HP5+ left in the camera and only one more roll with me. I rated at 3200 to keep a decent shutter speed for the movement and a 50mm f1.4 lens would allow plenty of light in.

This wasn’t going to be one of those shoots where I lie on my belly and shoot with an ultra wide angle lens as they jumped over me. I just wanted to document some local lads mucking about on their decks with their mates.

So here are Joey, Harry and Oscar, mucking about on their decks in the underpass on a cold wet night, flipping the occasional ollie and looking much cooler than me in a Christmas jumper.

Shame I only had one roll of film but I’d rather run out of film than megabits.

Camera: Nikon FE2 / Nikkor 50mm f1.4
Film: Ilford HP5+ rated at 3200iso
Development: Ilfotec HC, 1+15 dilution for 11 mins @ 20°C

Ilford HP5+ rated 3200 / Negative contact sheet

Mark Moran https://www.markmoran.co.uk
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