‘It basically shaped my entire youth and was one of the best experiences of my life.’
Dennis Harwardt
June 2026
What is the skate scene like in Hagen, Germany?
The skate scene in Hagen is quite small these days – probably around 30 people, and most of them skate only occasionally. Back in the 2000s, when I started, it was a lot more active. We had local spots where 25 or more kids would be out skating daily. That energy has faded a bit, but there are still a few passionate skaters keeping it alive – shoutout to my dawgs! Fortunately, bigger cities are close by, so there’s always someone around to skate, film, or shoot with.
Assuming you started off skateboarding at what point did you move to photography and why?
Photography came into the picture fairly late for me. After many years of filming with the classic VX1000 + MK1 setup, I eventually made the switch to a Canon 70D around 2017. It wasn’t ideal for video – shitty zoom, limited feel, but it gave me the opportunity to experiment with photography. Looking back, that switch had a purpose. I quickly fell in love with shooting photos and for a while I was actually taking more skate photos than filming. These days, I always carry two setups – one for video, one for stills – and I really enjoy having both options at hand.
Is there one skateshot you wish you had taken?
You mean a famous one? Geoff Rowley’s Thrasher Cover shot by Daniel Harold Sturt. The black and white frontside boardslide down the 16. I remember when I saw it I was so blown away by the perspective and the feel of it.
As of 2009 you started filming and taking shots for skate brands. How did all start?
It all really began in 2006 when my friend Philipp Brenscheidt got sponsored by a local skate company called Freedom Skateboards. I already had a lot of footage of him, filmed on my little dv camcorder, so together with Bartosz Ciesielski – still the owner and rider of Freedom – we put together a short intro part for Phil. We clicked right away and had the same vision. From then on we started working on small projects and eventually a full-length video together. I became the main filmer for Freedom – a brand I had looked up to and studied as a kid. We ended up filming for about ten years, creating our full-length video Psychedelic Penetration. It basically shaped my entire youth and was one of the best experiences of my life. Huge thanks to Bart for believing in me at such a young age! Through our travels and projects, I met a lot of great people and had the chance to work on various other projects for us and their sponsors.
What is your take on skateshots that have not been landed?
I’m not a fan of publishing skate photos if the trick hasn’t been landed. That said, since I often handle both filming and shooting during a session, I sometimes have to shoot the attempt until it’s really close, then quickly switch to filming to capture the make. Ideally, I try to get the make in both formats if the skater can do it again.
‘I remember when I saw it, I was so blown away by the perspective and the feel of it.’
Any inspiring skate photographers?
Absolutely! I really admire the work of Jake Darwen, Fred Mortagne, Daniel Harold Sturt, Arto Saari, Matt Price, Dennis Scholz – and many more. Each of them brings a unique perspective to skate photography that continues to inspire me.
If could any skater in the world to shoot a session with, who would it be?
Probably Andrew Reynolds or Bryan Herman, because I grew up admiring their style, skating, and personalities. They’ve had a huge influence on me and sharing a session with either of them would be a dream come true.
You started a board co called Dawglife where you offer sustainable decks. Can you tell us more about it?
Of course! You remember Philipp from earlier? Over the past decade, he’s mastered the art of crafting high-quality skateboards. All our decks are handcrafted right here in Hagen, which gives me confidence knowing exactly how and where the boards I ride are made. Like many skateboarders, I always dreamed of creating my own boards for my friends and me to ride. Since 2020, a lot of my friends have been riding our Dawglife decks, and we’ve all been really happy with them. Occasionally, people asked where they could get them, so I thought about making it more official. I really enjoy designing graphics and working on personal projects, so starting a small local skate company with my friends was a no-brainer. Check us out at www.dawglife.de.
Last question. If you could interview one person?
Shane Cross – he came across as such a positive, vibrant person with a genuine love for life and skating. I think he would’ve offered an inspiring perspective on the world – the kind that sticks with you long after the conversation ends.