Make america skate again

Photography By Cameron Hoerth

Photographer Cameron Hoerth opens up about shooting skate culture in a rural town, his publication Hug Crew Skate Mag, and how the camera allows you to keep a moment forever.

Manitowoc, USA

How did you begin your photography journey?

Well I actually started filming skateboarding video about 14 years ago. After about 6 years of that the group of friends I hung around with kinda drifted away from skateboarding. Around that time I was rummaging through my parents closet and found a Canon A1 and 50mm, which was my grandpa's back up camera when he shot for the local newspaper. I burned through a roll the day I found it and demanded my mom bring me to the Walgreens to get it developed and get 4x6 prints. I was hooked after that.

What are some things you learned along the way? How have you grown?

Honestly, looking back at it, I wish I knew what I know now about composition, lighting, angles, and everything you learn with photography for video. I think the most prominent thing I've learned is not how to take photographs or anything like that but more so how important it is to just take photographs of everything. You never know when a photo will have meaning. I've looked at the last 10 years of shooting film and remembering photos that had no meaning when I took them have a totally different feel now. The camera allows you to keep a moment forever.

What makes your style unique?

I believe a couple years ago I would have said the intimacy and calmness that is present within my photographs. My late teens and early 20s were very emotional and full of exploration of what I felt the world had to offer, the people who I felt I needed in those moments and certainly figuring out who I was as a person. Now at 26, I still want to be able to capture those types of moments but as my life has settled down somewhat they aren't as frequent. I just enjoy photographing what I'm into now and the people who I surround myself with.

How does growing up and living in rural Wisconsin influence your photography?

It influenced it almost entirely. Where I live, it's a small town where everyone knows everyone. It's not one of the big metropolitan areas where street photography can be done. So that really led me to photograph what I was involved in, which was skateboarding.

Tell the story behind one of your favorite images.

It's a photograph of two people in a messy room, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 2017. One is a great friend who I grew up with in Manitowoc and the other a girl I went on to date for 3 years. At the time I remember wanting so badly to move down to Milwaukee. I wanted to experience everything that a bigger city had to offer and the new people I would meet. I would go down there almost every weekend because I loved it so much. That's the initial thought on why I love it but the other is just the feeling it gives off. The mess, my friend drinking his beer and the girl's silhouette getting blown out by the light. A sort of somber moment.

What inspires you to shoot skate culture? Why is it important?

Skateboarding has been a part of my life for the last 20 years. I identify myself as a skateboarder. So it was just natural to always be documenting the subculture. For me the most important part is the friends that I've made through skateboarding. I wouldn't be where I am today if I had never picked up a skateboard.

You have a skateboarding magazine called Hug Crew Skate Mag. What is this about? How did it come to life?

Purely a magazine based around the subculture of skateboarding! Music, Art, Skateboarding, Interviews, etc. It came about because a couple of my friends had started selling boards, shirts, stickers and other merch for what's called Hug Crew Skateboards. I wanted to be a part of it and decided to make a skate mag under the name Hug Crew. We've made 2 issues so far and im working on Issue 3 now. Which will feature an interview with Pro Skateboarder Cairo Foster which I was stoked to land thanks to a good friend randomly running into Cairo in a taco joint in Tulsa, OK.

Coming this Fall, you will be releasing your full length skate film, "Friendly Yeller". What is the story behind this film?

It's a full length skate video being made by my friend Kris Kouba. Last year was a skate video that was called "Party Button '' that he had filmed and edited. Layered within all the skateboarding was a Taxidermy Deer narrating the film. Hard to explain but it's a good time and up on youtube. Just search "Party Button Hug Crew Skateboards''. This year we decided to make the full length Friendly Yeller video. It’s essentially a crummy dude yelling at you from his car, but yelling nice things at you instead of being a dick. Again, look out for it. No explanation, you just have to watch it. And I have a part myself in there.

What's next for you? What do you hope to accomplish in your future career?

Not sure what's next except doing exactly what I'm doing now. Skateboarding and shooting photographs. I hope to just stay true to myself and really photograph what I want to in the future. Having an art show with my photos and having a band play would be rad.