Tag: skatergirl

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Kristy Volcom Skatepark Session 2018

Kristy Volcom Skatepark Session 2018 On the night of November 16, 2018, Krisy invited me out to Volcom Skatepark for a night session. I usually shoot during the day, but I welcomed the challenge of working under mixed light. I always use flashes—because flashes give me control over my narrative.

This is Krisy’s home park, and you could feel it. There was a great energy between all the skaters. And when you bring a camera to a skatepark—let alone with flashes and stands—the session always heats up. People push a little harder, go a little bigger. That night was no different.

Kristy is one of my favorite skaters to shoot. She’s the kind of skater who rides whenever she can. And anyone who skates regularly knows the hardcore skaters. Kristy is one of those. She’s got amazing style and lands her tricks nearly every time.

We moved between the bowls and the street section. The ambient lighting at a skatepark always brings interesting color shifts.

 It was a fun session.

Kristy Volcom Skatepark Session 2018

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Push For Patti Mcgee

Push For Patti Mcgee
Push For Patti Mcgee
Push For Patti Mcgee, group picture by Ken Hada

Push For Patti Mcgee. When I heard that Patti McGee had passed, it felt like a disturbance in the force. My encounters with Patti were always brief, at various skateboarding events, where despite the bustling scene, she would effortlessly find me in the crowd and share a hug. Even though she was a prominent figure in the skateboarding industry, there was something refreshingly authentic and unpretentious about her presence.

Learning about the “Push For Patti” memorial, I knew I had to be there to honor her memory. I brought my 4×5 and 35mm film cameras, ready to capture the moment’s essence and the people gathered to remember her. With each photograph, I realized I was documenting more than just attendees; I was capturing Patti herself.

If you had any interaction with Patti, you know what I discovered through my lens: love. Each image became a dual portrait—half of the people who cherished her, and half of Patti. 

Thank you, skateboarding, for everything you brought me. And thank you, Patti, for being a beacon of kindness and love.

I thank Hailey and Brandon for allowing me to document these moments in skateboard history.

If you are looking for more of my skateboarding content follow this link.

Push For Patti Mcgee
Push For Patti Mcgee
Push For Patti Mcgee
Push For Patti Mcgee
Barb Odenaka
Push For Patti Mcgee
Bryce Wettstein
Push For Patti Mcgee
Eddie Robertson
Lawrence Limtao
Donna Wettstein
Lisa Whittiker
Laura Thornhill

2 days later I was lucky enough to capture a skate session for Patti at Wongside

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Lizzie Armanto Podcast complete interview

Lizzie Armanto Podcast skateboarding, fame

Lizzie Armanto Podcast
Lizzie Armanto Podcast Interview Conversation

The Lizzie Armanto podcast was a time machine for me. I first met Lizzie for a photo shoot back in 2012. And soon after our first shoot we began to shoot a lot. As a matter of fact there was a time when we might go shoot skateboarding pictures 3 times a week. And as some of you might know Lizzie Armanto became a very famous skateboarder.

There is a interesting story that happened before I met lizzie for that first session. At the time I was the kind of photographer who would plop my gear bag in my trunk for sessions. But not the type who always had his camera in the car.

And so one morning I decided to browse a local thrift shop. And for some reason I decided to put my camera rig in the car. Even more confusing I did not know why I put it in there. I mean I had no plans to shoot anyone. Well previously I had contacted Lizzie asking her to do a shoot. I had not heard from her so I thought there was no interest.

While in the thrift store my phone rings and displayed “Julie Van Duren” (a singer friend of mine). An so I picked up the phone and said “hi Julie”. There was long pause and a voice that said “this is not Julie it Lizzie”.

So Lizzie decided to shoot with me. And since I had my camera in the car we were off able to shoot that same day. And did it mean anything that I decided to put my gear in the car that day? Beats me but It makes a good story.

And I have a lot of stories about shooting Lizzie as well as Julie Kindstrand. But that is for another time. Maybe Ill write a book someday about my experience with this new wave of woman transition skateboarders?

For now check out this conversation with Lizzie Armanto.

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“Aloha” Hunter Long, a bail shot story

Ken Hada photography hunter long aloha skateboarding-1
Ken Hada photography hunter long aloha skateboarding

“Aloha” Hunter Long, a bail shot story. Hunter asked me if we could hit Pedlow skateboard park. And just a few hours after the session ended, Hunter was on plane bound for Hawaii.

The next day I edited the photos. And I felt she might like this “bail shot”. So I text her this photo along with some “makes”. And Hunter immediately text back that she thought this image was funny.

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Amelia Brodka, am session at Vans Off The Wall Skateboard Park

Ken Hada Amelia Brodka front d vans off the wall skateboard park-1
Ken Hada Amelia Brodka front d vans off the wall skateboard park-1

Ken Hada Sarah Kate vans hb back disaster-1
Ken Hada Sarah Kate vans hb back disaster-

Back in the day when change seemed like nothing but a fantasy, instead of giving into the way things were going she believed in women skateboarding and even built a refuge for it thrive in.

These images are from a skateboarding session Amelia Brodka invited me and my camera to on the morning of the Girls Global Qualifier Huntington Beach. Amelia has been a heroic figure for me ever since I heard about her movie and annual skateboarding event Exposure. You see when I throw a Skatopia reunion its me cooking chili dogs over a old coleman stove at Chino skatepark. When Amelia throws a event it is somewhat larger. So I am always honored to photograph her and always happy to pick her brain on things like Women’s skateboarding.