We interviewed Guadalajara based skateboard photographer, Miguel Angel Lopez, to find out why he helped start Urbeskate Magazine, how he feels about the Mexican drug war and ultimately, about taking dope pictures.
(English version below...)
Entrevistamos al fotógrafo Miguel Angel López de Guadalajara para averiguar por qué le ayudó a iniciar la revista Urbeskate, cómo se siente acerca del narcotráfico en México y por último, sobre la toma de fotografías.
M.I: ¿Dónde naciste y actualmente donde vives?
M.A.L: Guadalajara y vivo actualmente en GDL (Guadalajara)
¿Cuántos años tienes?
28
¿Cuánto tiempo llevas como fotógrafo y como empezaste a tomas fotos?
Como 6 años, comencé a tomar fotos por el skateboard. Quería tomar a la gente que patinaba y pues aquí estoy tomando fotos de más cosas.
¿Por qué empezaste a tomar fotos de skateboarders?
Para comenzar a llenar una página local que tenia y por gusto al skateboard.
¿Cómo empezaste a trabajar con Urbeskate?
Era primero un proyecto de revista que iba a salir hace como 6 años y por ciertas razones no comenzó así. A Joel Benitez, mi socio, le comenté llevarlo a la internet y aquí estamos haciéndola via web y pues también salió un tiempo impresa. Como verás no solo soy fotógrafo de Urbe.
¿Cuál es tu experiencia más memorable que has tenido como fotógrafo?
Valla, creo que estar haciendo lo que me gusta y tratar de vivir de lo que me gusta. Pero hay muchas mas conocer gente, viajar y conocer lugares.
¿Para ti, cual es el mejor skatepark en Mexico?
Uu, hay varios la verdad por que todos son diferentes pero me gusta el nuevo del Distrito Federal que está debajo de un puente. Aquí en Guadalajara los bowls... me gusta la energía que se patina en esos lugares y los de Chihuahua pero nphotoo los conozco aun.
¿Has conocido otros skateparks en Latinoamérica?
No he viajado aun al extranjero.
¿Qué te prende mas, albercas ó minirampas?
Albercas de concreto duro, ahí hace a los patinadores con carácter.
¿Cuál ha sido el mejor concurso de skateboard en Mexico?
Jangua Irekua, y sobre todo por qué en uno de ellos me hizo darme cuenta de que tan feliz me sentía estar haciendo lo que aun sigo haciendo.
¿Cuál crees que es el mejor video de skate este año?
Aun no te puedo decir esa respuesta por qué vienen varios videos que van estar increíbles.
¿Qué piensas de la situación de patrocinio en Latinoamérica?
Pues como su economía, jaja, pobre y sin apoyos. Pero aquí aprovecho para decirle a la gente que es momento de creer en todo lo que se hace aquí en Latinoamérica, hacer nuestro propio movimiento y me refiero en todos los aspectos abajo el conformismo. Que nuestras monedas latinas valgan como una del primer mundo y para eso solo haciendo todo por nosotros, ya basta de depender.
¿Qué piensas acerca del futuro de skateboard femenino en Mexico?
Creciendo pero muy lento.
¿Qué nuevo patinador estas buscando para fotografiar en los siguientes meses?
Ni idea, no tengo así como una línea de quien sigue pero me gustaría tomarle fotos a Polo May en el D.F. o a Michael Scott en algún “spot” del sur o a Maima Morales allá por Oaxaca.
¿Cuántos pares de tenis tienes y todos son para patinar?
Sí todos son para patinar y son 7
¿Si viajarás a alguna ciudad del mundo, grande ó chica para documentar el movimiento de skate, cuál sería?
Egipto.
¿Las 5 álbumes que más te prende en tu Ipod?
No tengo IPOD. No cargo con cosas en mi, soy muy sencillo no reloj no ipod... ufff con mi cámara soy feliz y si no, pues observar.
¿Haz hecho alguna vez algo ilegal?...dinos que fue
jaaaa rayoss jajaja... pues no se si fue ilegal pero me metieron a los separos por tomarles fotos a alguien que patinaba en un lugar que no se podía.
¿Identifiques tú con alguna cultura nativa de México? ¿Tú crees en la teoría que el fin de mundo es el 12 de diciembre del 2010 como lo predijeron los Mayas?
Si, los mayas puede ser pero el fin del mundo nos llega a todos a su tiempo. Si los mayas dicen que se va acabar y pasa, pues que pase.
¿Te atemoriza el narcotráfico en México? ¿Crees que es necesario involucrar el ejército?
Mejor temerle al ejercito, jaja, ya ni sabes en quien confiar.
¿Pagarías para tomar clases de skate en el Black Pearl, en las Islas Caiman? www.blackpearly.ky ¿Pagarías el permiso para tomar fotos?
ha... no creo, jaja
¿Qué nueva marca de skate de Latinoamérica es tu favorita?
No tengo una preferida por qué de cada una, hay algo que me gusta. No tengo una preferencia pero así que me gustan lo que andan haciendo las nacionales como Tricolor, Casta Footwear, en el sur no es marca pero es revista Blast, los de Ojo de Pez en Argentina (video de skate), y me gusta todo lo que hacen en Brasil con las marcas que han hecho... que su industria crezca.
¿Cuál es uno de los mejores fotógrafos de skateboard para ti?
J. Grant Brittain
¿Nos puedes platicar un poco de tu siguiente proyecto?
ooo es secreto de estado, jaja, no pues mira son tantas cosas. Trabajo de lleno en Urbeskate y pues ahí hay muchas cosas que estamos haciendo pero el siguiente la revista No. 16 en línea ya la estamos armando.
¿Tortas ahogadas ó tamales oaxaqueños?
Como aun no pruebo los tamales Oaxaqueños me quedo ahorita con las Tortas Ahogadas.
You can find more of Miguel´s photographs at DeviantArt and at Urbeskate Magazine
The English version...
M.I: Where were you born and where do you live now?
M.A.L: Guadalajara and I live there now.
How old are you?
28
How long have you been taking pictures?
About 6 years, I started taking photos of skateboarding. I wanted to capture people skating, and here I am taking pictures of other things as well.
Why did you start taking pictures of skateboarders?
It was in order to build content for a local magazine and because I like skateboarding.
Can you tell us how you got started with Urbeskate?
At first it was a magazine project that was supposed to come out about 6 years ago but for various reasons, it didn´t. I made a comment to Joel Benitez, my associate, that he should put it online and here we are, doing it via web, although at one time it was in printed version. But as you can see, I am not just a photographer for Urbe.
What has been your most memorable experience as a photographer?
There you go, I think it is about doing what I like to do, trying to live the way I want to. But it is also about meeting people, traveling, and seeing new places.
In your opinion, where is the best skatepark in Mexico?
Umm... there are several, really, because they are all different but I like the new park in D.F. (Mexico City) that´s under a bridge. Here in Guadalajara it´d have to be the bowls. I like the skate vibe in those places. I would also say parks in Chihuahua although I haven´t been to them.
Have you been to any other skateparks in Latin America?
No, I haven´t been outside the country.
What gets you more stoked, pools or mini-ramps?
Pool s with hard concrete, that´s where the style is.
What has been the best skateboard contest in Mexico?
Jangua Irekua, and more than anything because during one of those, I realized that I was totally happy doing what I was doing, what I´m still doing.
What do you think is the best skate video of the year?
I can´t answer that because there are still several videos coming out that are going to be incredible.
What do you think about the sponsorship situation in Mexico?
Well, like it´s economy, haha, poor and without support. But I will take advantage here to tell people that now is the moment to develop everything we do in Latin America, make our own movement and I am referring to all aspects under conformism. We must make our national money worth something, like in the developed world, and in order to do this we have to do it ourselves, enough already with dependence.
What do you think about the future of female skateboarding in Mexico?
It is growing, but slowly.
What new skateboarder are you looking forward to shooting in the next few months?
No idea, I don´t have a lineup of who is next but I would like to take photos of Polo May in D.F. or of Michael Scott somewhere in the south, or of Maima Morales in Oaxaca.
How pairs of shoes do you have and are they all skate shoes?
Yes and I have 7.
If you could travel to any city in the world, large or small, to document the skate scene where would it be?
Egypt.
What are the five albums you have playing most in your Ipod?
I don´t have an Ipod. I don´t carry things with me, I am pretty simple, no watch, no Ipod… just my camera and I´m happy, and if not I just watch.
Have you done anything illegal? ....can you explain?
haaaaa, funny.... well I don´t know if it was illegal but they put me in a holding cell for taking photos of someone skating where they shouldn´t be.
Do you identify with one of the ancient cultures of Mexico? Do you believe that the world will end on December 12, 2010 as the Mayans predicted?
Yes, could be with the Mayas, but the end of the world will hit all of us at its own time. If the Mayans said it will end, and it happens, then let it happen.
Are you afraid of the Mexican drug war? Do you think it´s necessary to involve the military?
It´s better to be afraid of the military, haha, you can´t trust anybody.
¿Would you pay to go to skateboard camp at the Black Pearl in the Caymen Islands? www.blackpearly.ky Would you pay for a permit to take photos there?
ha... I don´t think so, haha
What Latin American skate brand is your favorite?
I don´t have a preference for anyone in particular, because there is something from each one that I like. I really like what the national brands are doing, such as Tricolor and Casta Foorwear. In the south there is a magazine called Blast, in Argentina there is a video called Ojo de Pez, and I like everything they are doing in Brasil with their own brands… let the industry rise up.
Who is one of your favorite skateboard photographers?
J. Grant Brittain
¿Can you tell us about your next project?
Ooo, it’s top secret… no but really I have a lot of things going on. I am still working with Urbeskate and there is a lot going on there, and issue No. 16 comes out online soon.
Tortas ahogadas or tamales oaxaqueños?
Since I have never tried tamales oaxaqueños, I´ll go with tortas ahogadas.
M.I: Where were you born and where do you live now?
M.A.L: Guadalajara and I live there now.
How old are you?
28
How long have you been taking pictures?
About 6 years, I started taking photos of skateboarding. I wanted to capture people skating, and here I am taking pictures of other things as well.
Why did you start taking pictures of skateboarders?
It was in order to build content for a local magazine and because I like skateboarding.
Can you tell us how you got started with Urbeskate?
At first it was a magazine project that was supposed to come out about 6 years ago but for various reasons, it didn´t. I made a comment to Joel Benitez, my associate, that he should put it online and here we are, doing it via web, although at one time it was in printed version. But as you can see, I am not just a photographer for Urbe.
What has been your most memorable experience as a photographer?
There you go, I think it is about doing what I like to do, trying to live the way I want to. But it is also about meeting people, traveling, and seeing new places.
In your opinion, where is the best skatepark in Mexico?
Umm... there are several, really, because they are all different but I like the new park in D.F. (Mexico City) that´s under a bridge. Here in Guadalajara it´d have to be the bowls. I like the skate vibe in those places. I would also say parks in Chihuahua although I haven´t been to them.
Have you been to any other skateparks in Latin America?
No, I haven´t been outside the country.
What gets you more stoked, pools or mini-ramps?
Pool s with hard concrete, that´s where the style is.
What has been the best skateboard contest in Mexico?
Jangua Irekua, and more than anything because during one of those, I realized that I was totally happy doing what I was doing, what I´m still doing.
What do you think is the best skate video of the year?
I can´t answer that because there are still several videos coming out that are going to be incredible.
What do you think about the sponsorship situation in Mexico?
Well, like it´s economy, haha, poor and without support. But I will take advantage here to tell people that now is the moment to develop everything we do in Latin America, make our own movement and I am referring to all aspects under conformism. We must make our national money worth something, like in the developed world, and in order to do this we have to do it ourselves, enough already with dependence.
What do you think about the future of female skateboarding in Mexico?
It is growing, but slowly.
What new skateboarder are you looking forward to shooting in the next few months?
No idea, I don´t have a lineup of who is next but I would like to take photos of Polo May in D.F. or of Michael Scott somewhere in the south, or of Maima Morales in Oaxaca.
How pairs of shoes do you have and are they all skate shoes?
Yes and I have 7.
If you could travel to any city in the world, large or small, to document the skate scene where would it be?
Egypt.
What are the five albums you have playing most in your Ipod?
I don´t have an Ipod. I don´t carry things with me, I am pretty simple, no watch, no Ipod… just my camera and I´m happy, and if not I just watch.
Have you done anything illegal? ....can you explain?
haaaaa, funny.... well I don´t know if it was illegal but they put me in a holding cell for taking photos of someone skating where they shouldn´t be.
Do you identify with one of the ancient cultures of Mexico? Do you believe that the world will end on December 12, 2010 as the Mayans predicted?
Yes, could be with the Mayas, but the end of the world will hit all of us at its own time. If the Mayans said it will end, and it happens, then let it happen.
Are you afraid of the Mexican drug war? Do you think it´s necessary to involve the military?
It´s better to be afraid of the military, haha, you can´t trust anybody.
¿Would you pay to go to skateboard camp at the Black Pearl in the Caymen Islands? www.blackpearly.ky Would you pay for a permit to take photos there?
ha... I don´t think so, haha
What Latin American skate brand is your favorite?
I don´t have a preference for anyone in particular, because there is something from each one that I like. I really like what the national brands are doing, such as Tricolor and Casta Foorwear. In the south there is a magazine called Blast, in Argentina there is a video called Ojo de Pez, and I like everything they are doing in Brasil with their own brands… let the industry rise up.
Who is one of your favorite skateboard photographers?
J. Grant Brittain
¿Can you tell us about your next project?
Ooo, it’s top secret… no but really I have a lot of things going on. I am still working with Urbeskate and there is a lot going on there, and issue No. 16 comes out online soon.
Tortas ahogadas or tamales oaxaqueños?
Since I have never tried tamales oaxaqueños, I´ll go with tortas ahogadas.
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