filmporvida

Common Places is a three part documentary series centered around Drama in a Common Place, a recent street photography show at Book and Job Gallery in San Francisco California. The series takes a closer look at the correlation between street photography and skateboarding, proposing the idea that both skateboarding and photography lend each other a hand when approaching and appreciating the day to day treasures that surround us.

The first installment of « Common Places » begins with two up and coming street photographers Chris Taylor and Brandon Getty. Both behind the lens and on the board, Taylor and Getty bring forth a unique sense of creativity while working within the boundaries of their aesthetic environment.

Chris Taylor, originally from Newark Delaware, has become a native to San Francisco over the past three years. Having developed a photographic style that stands out amongst the rest, Taylor’s black and white images envelop a feeling of the past and incorporate a sense of nostalgia and solitude within their frame. Initiated from a creative eye while skateboarding and looking for spots, Taylor’s photography is representative of someone who embodies a constant wondering eye.

Brandon Getty resides in a town that has established itself as being the most miserable city in the United States, Stockton California. Selective in both what he skates and what he shoots, Getty’s style is derivative of his sparse and somewhat desolate surroundings. Behind the lens, Getty chooses to capture and embrace a sense of loneliness and individuality within every shot. Though many would say that he is restricted by his choice to live in Stockton, Getty would assure any critic that his style and aesthetic eye for photography is rooted in towns like Stockton where society seems to have been forgotten and time stands still.

Shawn Whisenant has been a good friend and an inspiration to myself for the past 8 months. A local to the Bay Area sense the mid 90′s, Shawn has witnessed first hand the on going progression of the skateboarding community in San Francisco and the monumental legends that formed the backbone of what street skateboarding has become today. His creative eye, both on an off the board, shines endlessly through his photographs, capturing the true feeling of what it is like to live the life of an artist and a skateboarder in San Francisco today. Unlike any of the other photographers in this series, Shawn’s photography sheds light on a sometimes very dark city, producing the vibrant feeling of the streets that we skate from day to day.

Ben Goreis most known for his stylistic and creative abilities on a skateboard, but in recent years his photographs have risen to the respectable level of his skill set on the board and have formulated their own position in the world of street photography. Selective in what he skates on a day to day basis, Ben’s eye for creativity and beautiful imagery bleeds through his photographs as it does in his style of skateboarding.

Jai Tanju has been in the game for more than a minute. If you were to ask anyone in this series who an inspiration for their photography was, Jai’s name would most definitely be one of them. As a native to San Jose and one of the most influential photographers in the skateboarding industry to date, Jai Tanju preserves a stylistic approach to both his street and skateboard photography that stands out amongst the rest. Now the owner of Seeing Things Gallery in San Jose, Jai continues to produce his own work while giving others, both friends and strangers, a chance to showcase their work in a gallery setting. In all, Jai is one of the most genuine people and photographers I have met to date, so if you’re ever in San Jose keep your eyes out for this guy, he’ll probably be walking his dog Frieda and taking your photo without you even knowing it.
jaitanjuphotography.com

Nich Kunz is still somewhat of a mystery to me. With an aesthetic both on the board and behind the lens that embellishes its own style, Kunz manages to keep himself below the radar while producing work that holds its own amongst the rest. I think we are all going to see a lot more of this guy in the future, so keep your eyes out.
portlandnich.blogspot.com

Filmed & Edited By:
Jarod Taber

Super 8 Footage By:
Jarod Taber
Shawn Whisenant

Featuring:
Chris Taylor
Brandon Getty
Shawn Whisenant
Ben Gore
Jai Tanju
Nich Kunz

Presented By:
Desillusion Magazine
Book and Job Gallery
The Sleeping Horse
Seeing Things Gallery
View Finder Productions