Check the recap and join us next year!

Harold Hunter’s Birthday – All Star Jam Recap (2011) from NY Skateboarding on Vimeo.

Z.Y. Contributor and longtime friend Brian Woodward just dropped a nice feature in Acclaim Mag. Go pick it up and check for yourself.

Since its Springtime in NYC finally and we are doing some cleanup at the ZOO YORK INSTITUTE thought we would share some pictures of the office.  A lot of legends have passed through this very hallway, who can you spot?

Check out our homie FAF LARAGE from France who just dropped his album “WE LUV NEW YORK” a few weeks ago with AKHENATON. Peep these videos below and go pick up the album.

Longtime friend of the ZOO, NYC artist Julia Chiang has her first solo show in the City opening next week at Half Gallery – 208 FORSYTH STREET.  If you are anywhere nearby go check it out!

Friend of the ZOO, Adam Sandler rocked ZY again on the Tonight Show last night! We are big Sandler fans over here!

Dear Zoo Familia,

2010 has been an action packed year full of travel and and adventure around the globe. Spent the start to the year on the famous Northshore of Oahu where I battled it out amongst the worlds best. Then from there I took off to Fiji to stay at the incredible surf resort on the island of Tavarua. Spent Seven days surfing, fishing, and drinking beer. It was AMAZING!!!. After Fiji I went back to Cali to score the rest of the winter season. Had a handful of insane sessions and good times with friends and family, which was much needed. Summer came quick and once again I was presented with a great opportunity to spend the summer In norway to teach surf lesson in the Lofoten Islands. Without hesitation I was on it. Once In Norway I spent the long summer days teaching Europeans how to surf in the freezing arctic temps. With my location being so high up in the Arctic Circle the daylight stretched a full 24 hours so sleep was rare. Full days and full nights!!!. Some of the rawest nature I have ever experienced, to the Mid-night sun, fishing, and hiking. One of the best trips I have ever taken. Now I’m back home in San Diego working surfing and getting ready to do it all over again. Headed back to Hawaii late December and not sure after that but I will be sure to keep you posted on my travels.

-Millin

WATCH THIS VIDEO TO TAKE A PEEK INTO THE DAILY LIFE OF ZOO YORK OFFICIAL DOCTOR Z
THEN CHECK OUT MORE OF ZERED’S PHOTOS AT SHITSANDGIGGS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Where did you grow up?
Hamden, Connecticut. Right next to New Haven.

When and how did you get into skating?
I started in 7th grade, so I’m pretty sure it was the fall of 1984?

What was skating like for you as a kid?
Skating as a kid was awesome. My parents were really cool, and put up with me having a half-pipe in the backyard. It was 8 feet tall with 7 foot tranny’s. 12 feet wide. We had a roll-in on one side, cause all the ramps you saw in the mags had roll-ins. Stupid. We all learned how to drop in blindfolded, ’cause my friend Greg thought it would be less scary that way. He had a bandana, and we all took turns. It was ridiculous. My friends and I had no idea what we were doing. No internet back then.

I know you used to train into NYC as kid to skate the city. What was that like as a kid?
Awesome! At first, it was because I was going to hardcore matinee’s at CBGB’s. Take the train in early (cause none of my friends and I drank at the time and we would all be up super early), skate around, go to the show, skate around some more, then go home. It’s only an hour and a half away, so it’s not a big deal. After a bit it turned into going to the city any chance I had to go skate.

At what age did you get into photography?
At about the same time that I started skating. I was able to use my dad’s old camera, and I would just take pictures of my friends whether they were skating, riding bmx, or in a hardcore band.

Who were some of the first people you shot with that you were hyped to shoot photos of?
So many. I started out just shooting photos of my friends. It just happened that my friends were Jim Greco, Tim Upson, Jim Gagne, Mat O’Brien, Brian Gaberman, A bit later it expanded to Donny Barley, and Brian Anderson. All these guys were from Connecticut, and as they were starting to get sponsored, I just happened to be the friend with a camera who kinda knew how to use it. We would all meet up at a skatepark called the Playground, which happened to be centrally located in the state

You went to collage in NYC. What school did you attend and how did it go.
SVA. I went for one year. It was a waste of time.

I remember you telling me that one of your profs told you that “you weren’t going to amount to anything doing skate photography”. What exactly did he say and how did it come up?
It was during a weekly critique. He told me exactly that in front of the whole class. He said that it was all fisheye photos of some guys jumping in the air. He told me that there was no skill involved. I told him that he had his head up his ass. That didn’t go over so well.

You lived out West for a while. What was that like? What were you doing out there?
It was really good. I enjoyed it a lot. I worked as the staff photographer for Tum Yeto. I was responsible for shooting the ads for Foundation, Pig wheels, Hollywood, Ruckus, Dekline, and sometimes Toy Machine every month. As well as shooting interviews of all the guys for all the magazines and going on all the trips. It was non-stop shooting for almost four years.

What brought you back East?
My wife wanted to move back East to be closer to family.

You are the Staff Photographer for ZOO. What’s it like to shoot with the ZOO crew?
Really awesome, and I’m not just saying that. I’m friends with everyone on the team. I like to think that we are friends first, and then we have to shoot stuff second.

What are some rad places you’ve got to travel with ZOO?
China, South Africa, Europe multiple times, Australia, all over the US, Japan, I’m sure there is more, but it’s all a blur.

What’s a skate photo that you’ve taken that you are proud of or is special to you.
I really like the Aaron Suski Wallie Back 180. I just think it’s a classic looking NYC photo. Another is the Donny Barley Back Nosepick. We drove around for hours looking for that spot. It was a really cold winter day too. It’s hard to take a bad photo of Donny.

Do you like to shoot non-skate photos? If so, what do you like to shoot?
I like to shoot landscapes, cityscapes. I like to shoot photos of my son. Honestly though, I shoot so much skating, and stuff for work, that I don’t really shoot too much other stuff. Sometimes you just need to take a break.

Zoo just released the Cronan Series, featuring your photos of NYC. How did that come about? What do you think of the series?
Whenever I’m out with the guys I always tend to shoot scenic stuff, usually when people are warming up, and I’m just sitting around waiting. I think it all started with the photo on Zered’s board. Everyone at Zoo really liked that photo, and the idea came to build a board series around that photo. It took probably eight months or so just because of my travel schedule, but I think the series came out really great.

What would you say to the prof who said there’s no future in skate photography if you had the chance right now?
I wouldn’t even waste my time. People like that just have no imagination, which is really pathetic because he teaches at an art school. My advice is to just do your thing, and don’t worry about what other people say or think. It’s your life, and you only get one shot.

For more on Cronan, visit: seancronanphotography.com.

Our homies in Canada the Dooze Jackers have a show upcoming – secret location to be announced 48 hours beforehand. If its anything like their other shows its going to be popping off.

You grew up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. What were the exact cross streets? What were your surroundings?
La Guardia housing projects on Clinton St., between Cherry St. & Madison St. is where I grew up. My surroundings had some good elements and some bad ones obviously. I was young and I kept myself busy playing sports, being active, so I never really had time to pay attention to the rest of the bullshit going on.

What was it like growing up in the city at that time? What was the environment like?
Well, my grandparents raised my sister and I in a one bed room apartment. I spent most of my time outside because they let me do what I wanted. I’m not going to sit here and say my environment was the best, however, I wouldn’t have wanted it to be any different.

How did you first get into skating? How old were you?
My friend had stole a board from someone, and I ended up trading him my baseball bat for it. I had to be around 12 or 13 years old at the time. There was other kids in my neighborhood who rode and I would always see them skate by heading to The Banks (which I didn’t know at the time). After the trade, that was that.

What was the skate scene like in the city back then? Who did you roll with?
Man, those where the days! We would link up at The Banks, session for awhile, skate downtown/Water St. area and work our way up to Midtown at some point. It became some what of a routine after a while. I mean that’s just what we did in the summer. My crew religiously was Keith Harrison, Ricky Li, Chow, Rodney Torres, Moya, David, Mal/Jeff(R.I.P). That was my crew, but seriously back then everyone just skated together.

Long before you became a photographer, you were a videographer. How did you get into filming? Did you only film skating?
There was hardly any filmers back then in NYC. RB was the only one filming and he was always busy on the road, working on Zoo videos etc. So I ended up buying a cheap camera so my friends and I could film each other, but I ended up doing most of the filming anyways. This was fine by me because at that point I really enjoyed trying to record something I loved to do. I worked on other stuff, but most of my stuff is skate related just cause it’s something I grew up around.

How did you transition into coming strictly a photographer?
Well, I wasn’t doing much at the time and my boy had just gotten a new camera and had his old 5d laying around the house. I asked to borrow it one day and I ended up using it for the whole year. Good for looking out D, he’s the one that gave me the encouragement and support that lead me into photography. I was going though some rough times and that camera became my outlet and hasn’t left my side yet.

How would you describe your photographic style. Tell me about your photos. What are you trying to capture?
I wouldn’t know how to describe my photos, but when I go out shooting I’m always looking to capture some sort of moment. A feeling, that’s what I’m trying to get across.

What kind of equipment do you use?
Canon 5D.

What are your favorite things to shoot?
I guess people, but I don’t really have a favorite thing to shoot. As long as I’m out there I’ll work with what I come across.

What is NYC like as a subject matter?
NYC is great. There are so many different things to shoot, so many different people, buildings. Not every corner is alike and not to mention the great landscape as your back drop. I couldn’t ask for anything better as a backdrop.

In your work, you often document people out in public. Have you ever been confronted? Ever offend someone?
Not really, I try to do things when subjects are not aware. Only in the bad neighborhoods is where they get more protective of their privacy.

How do you go about shooting your photos? I mean, do you get inspired and go out looking for something in particular to shoot, or do you simply explore the city looking for something that catches your eye?
When I normally go out, I’m on my bike or skateboard looking for something interesting to shoot. It’s hard to say cause I’m always looking for something, but I never really know till it jumps out at me.

Do you think of photography as an outlet for you? What, if anything, do you hope a viewer takes away from your work?
Photography is definitely an outlet for me, it’s still really young in my life, so there is tons I need to learn. To be honest, I want the viewer to have some sort of feeling whether it’s good or bad.

Tell me about the Locals Only Pro Series that ZOO YORK just released. How did it come about?
I got a DUI last summer and started to hustle some of my print to help pay for lawyer/court fees. Anyway, I ran into Kimou Meyer who was working over at Zoo, he spoke to Seamus, and here we are today.

I know you lived in Cali for a period of time, but returned home to New York. What keeps you here? Would you move again?
I can always move around. I love new adventures. Home is always going to be home though and my family and all my best friends are here. There isn’t one thing that keeps me here but its the combination of them all!

For more on Jay, visit jaymaldonado.com.