‘I got the glare from Sergio and everyone else on both sides of the deck after his run. Yeah, I didn’t do that again.’
Graham Vickers
June 2025
Assuming you started off skateboarding at what point did you move to photography and why?
Started skating around 1981. My uncle gave me an old Minolta 35mm and I started shooting my friends around 1990. After I graduated high school. My art teacher let me come back to use the darkrooms whenever I wanted…even though I already graduated. That’s when the love for photography really sparked. Enrolled in photo school in 97 and got my diploma in photography in 98.
Proudest moment as a photographer?
Proudest moment shooting skateboarding was probably getting a double pager of Jackson Pilz in Australian Skateboarder’s Journal for Billabong. Greatest feeling holding it in your hands knowing you created that image, and that it’s covering both pages is pretty rad.
How did you end up shooting for Billabong in Australia?
Ended up meeting some of Jackson Pilz friends at the Coolum skatepark. Got invited out to the Billabong vert ramp one day and met Jackson, and the Billabong skate team manager at the time Bart Carnes. We all just started hanging out. That’s how the opportunity came up to shoot an add with Jackson.
Most embarrassing?
Most embarrassing moment in skateboarding photography was probably my first time shooting at Slam City Jam in Vancouver. I was on the vert deck shooting 35mm fisheye shots with an off-camera flash. I was so new to shooting big contests, nervous and excited. Not supposed to shoot during judged runs. Well, I totally forgot, and blasted a flash shot mid run of I think it was Sergio Ventura. I didn’t mess up his run, thankfully. But I got the glare from Sergio and everyone else on both sides of the deck after his run. Yeah, I didn’t do that again.
What skate photographer did you look up to when you were started out?
I looked up to Rick Kosick a lot when I started shooting. When he was photo editor for Big Brother magazine. His style of lighting seemed so surreal to me. I’d stare at his photos for hours trying to figure out flash placements and lighting scenarios. Atiba Jefferson was a huge inspiration as well.
‘Some of the best times of my life were shooting with my friends.’
What is your take on skate shots that have not been landed?
I’ve got a pretty old school opinion about skate shots that haven’t been landed. If it’s an artsy shot where trick and spot don’t really matter than yeah, no biggie. But if it’s a banger flip trick down a 15 stair then yeah. If the photo’s a keeper it better have been a ride away or it won’t get seen. That’s just my opinion and I’m sure others feel different. We’ve all been back to certain spots multiple times to get that “land” to make it count. Sense of pride for the rider, and of course snapping the “land” feels pretty good too.
Are you still shooting skateboarding?
No, I moved from shooting skateboarding and catalogue/fashion stuff and just wasn’t stoked on it anymore. So, I put my camera down and started commercial painting for almost 10 years.
What are you up to now?
I’m living on the Sunshine Coast of B.C. with my family of 2 boys (6&8) and my amazing wife Carrie. I was stay home dad for almost 4 years so the wife could bring home the bacon. I have a pretty bad motorcycle disease, so I spend a lot of time wrenching on my bikes and riding as much as possible. I’ve just recently been making a photography comeback which I’m pretty stoked on. Upgraded all my gear and started shooting lots of bikes. I’d love to shoot some skateboarding again one day if anyone would trust and old fart with their tricks. Some of the best times of my life were shooting with my friends. So, it feels pretty good to have the photo stoke alive again. Let’s see where it goes!
Last question. If you could interview one person, who would it be and why?
Not really interested in interviewing anyone in this messed up world after knowing how it’s run. Makes one embarrassed to be a human being living on this planet. The exception maybe being our tyrant of a Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but pretty sure I wouldn’t want to hear any of the answers anyway.