Lifestyle?

It didn't take too many portrait shoots to realize that I'm really awkward taking pictures of people who aren't doing something, and that that awkwardness translates into the picture. So instead of straight portraits I am slightly redirecting myself to shooting "lifestyle" photos. If this image of Adam Mills filming Dalba is any indication, I think I am going to like making these pictures a lot more and I think they will look a lot better in my portfolio as well. Now Chicago just needs to warm up so I can get people out skating again!

Another Friday at The Beerics

It's winter in Chicago. Still. And there is plenty of snow on the ground to prove it.
With tediously long winters and the nearest indoor park being a 45-minute drive (and $12) away, skateboarders in Chicago have to take things into their own hands to avoid hibernation. One example of this DIY effort is The Beerics. Basically a bunch of dudes moved to Chicago from Michigan, got a house in unassuming Roscoe Village, and built the best ramp their 15'x15'x8' garage would allow.



In addition to building this ramp, they started a website lightheartedly spoofing Steve Berra's Berrics, and putting a Chicago spin on it. www.TheBeerics.com is the result. Every Friday skaters and onlookers cram into the standing-room-only garage with beers in hand to skate or watch their buddy attempt a trick for Fifth Try Friday, who has to shotgun a beer after each failed attempt.



I could go on about how much fun it is and how psyched I am to get to ride my skateboard in the dead of winter with a bunch of good dudes, but instead just go to the site and watch a couple videos and I think you'll understand for yourself.

Skateboarder Portraits

It is my last semester of college so I am making my best effort to round out my portfolio and make it the best it can be. When I visited some photo editors out in California I was reminded more than once of the glaring hole in my portfolio - portraits. So, this semester I am focusing on that. This is the first shot of that effort. Lots more to come...

On the Road

For about two weeks now I have been gone from the icy Chicago winter on a western adventure. Tucker Phillips, Paul Stacey and I piled into my Cr-V and just drove. You can check out our trip thus far and keep up with the rest over at http://MidwestToWest.tumblr.com

New website! www.PhilBlairPhoto.com

I spent the past couple months working on a new website. The design and building of it took a long time but I also spent a lot of time going through my portfolio and deciding what to put up, so I am pretty happy with how it all turned out. Take a minute to check it out and let me know what you think!

www.PhilBlairPhoto.com
www.PhilBlairPhoto.com
www.PhilBlairPhoto.com

Z! One from Orange County

(Click for Larger view on flickr)

In between the first and second legs of tour this summer Mark Waters graciously let me and a few of the other Game of SKATE guys not only crash at his house, but also skate his amazing backyard bowl well into the night. Here, Matt Zweisler, an Indianapolis local and recent transplant to Long Beach, floats a frontside ollie over the bump into the deep end.


And looks like after posting this photo on flickr, Z got some attention from overseas, being featured on www.EuropeSkate.com as the photo of the day. Nice!

Productive Fall Day

Almost halfway into November here in Chicago the days are getting shorter and the air is getting a lot cooler, so any chance to get out and shoot some skating is great, but a weekend of warmth is even better. Last Sunday I got out with Andy Patterson, Eric Thomas, Nick Merisko, Thomas Hawver, plus a few more, and wound up with almost more photos in that one day than the sum of what I've shot since getting back from tour. I shot 4 or 5 rolls of Velvia, but here are a couple of digi shots from the day..

Nick Merisko tossed a crooked down this previously untouched metal rail/hubba in Chicago. Andy and Eric also both threw some crazy tricks here, the film of which is at the lab. This spot is going to blow up, but these three laid down an admirable foundation of tricks for kids to step up to.

At the last spot of the day, Bank One, I had pretty much packed up for the day, satisfied with my pocket full of 120 film, when I saw Thomas trying this Pop Shuv off the bench and into a slightly banked wall. I threw up some flashes and Thomas rolled away in a few tries.

Also, if you haven't checked out http://PhilBlairPhoto.com since its redesign last spring, check it out, because I am tried of the layout again and am working an all new redesign. The new site will most likely include a blog page so further content will be over there, but I'll post here when that is ready to go. Enjoy the autumn air, everyone!