I have known Zach off and on for over 10 years now. He probably doesn't remember, but I first met him on 6th and Clement and we went skating, then I saw a photo of him in Thrasher and was like 'woa, that's that dude!' apart from just skating Zach has been documenting the lives of the skateboard world in and around San Francisco paper and screen, so here it is...an interview.

 

How old are you?

33

What's up with Mission Skateboard shop?

Mission Skate Shop on 24thst. is a good place to get your board gripped while you enjoy a tasty burrito next door or perhaps a cold beer across the street. Just don't leave your stuff laying around, the staff might rummage through it.

[John, Sean, Jordon]

Remember the old Jersey Barriers near Embarcadero? Those were sick!

Remember? fuck yes! that was one of the sickest and short lived spots in the city. Phil Shao backside tailslide through the corner. thank you Dan Drehobl and Magnethead. How long have you lived in SF? I first flew into sf in 1978...I lived back and forth from the burbs in the east bay with my dad and Austin Texas with my mom until 1994...that's when I turned 17 and moved to the city...so, 16 years.

[fishnet]

So you skate...and you also take photos, how did that come about?

Marty Mcfly and plastics got me into this life of pain. as far as photography goes...I’ve always been a visual thinker and attracted to photo images. I’d had point and shoots...then in 2003 I took an intro to photography class at City College of San Francisco and learned shutter and aperture and black and white printing. Your photos are pretty raw, so do you consider yourself to have style? I shoot what attracts me or compels me or what surrounds me...and I am usually attracted to and surrounded by a little bit of chaos and/or goodtimes/badtimes...I just look for the light... do I have style? uh, I hope so..., that's fucking subjective is'nt it?...

[Tony Trujillo, necktie]

Speaking of style, what was the last photographer you saw that stoked you out?

You mean photo or photographer? Eugene Richards goes to hell and creates these unspeakable images. Avedon makes a B-line for your soul...I think Tobin has some of that magic, too...so, anything that they shoot. What's more important, equipment or skill? If you want to call it skill...then skill. Ive always kind of thought that a photo takes itself...I mean there's the moment and there's the camera...all your doing is deciding when and how to operate the machinery. but I also remember a certain successful photographer saying--I didn't shoot a good photo until I got a good camera. A interesting subject helps, too.

[Tom]

What is your equipment? Short and skinny...

Is photography something you have considered making a living off of?

Well, walking dogs and scrubbing dishes is also an option. It's good work if you can get it, yeah.

[How Dare You #10, Emily]

Generic question..film or digital?

Nothing like true black and white film prints...but it’s goddamn expensive and time consuming. Also with digital you can fit an entire darkroom on your desktop or in your back pack. the digital images are getting really good, too. It all boils down to the image...that is-- the end...not so much the means. Shout outs? Anyone who ever gave me a ride, let me crash on their floor or helped me move. Via con dios...

[Hosoi, BSA]