DVS Photographer Series - Round Two

DVS recently delivered to us a stack of shoes and goods from its second Photographers Series offering and we’re overwhelmed and impressed with the amount of effort, creativity and detailed execution that went into the project. And as with their first effort, DVS has selected four of the most influential and creative skate shooters of the bunch this time around. In the line up are The Skateboard Mag’s Dave Swift and J. Grant Brittain, TWS’ Skin Phillips, and Thrasher’s Michael Burnett.

Let’s start off in order with the shoes we’d received. Dave was graced and laced with the Munition CT in a white suede colorway. The sock liners include collages with his photos of Steve Berra. The fit, look and feel of these kicks are right on point and the camera artwork with Swift’s name on the tongue are the icing to the sweetness of these low cut skate boots. Grant comes up cozy and relaxed after a day of shooting with his Francisco slipper, produced in luscious black suede and features several of his fine art images on the foot beds. Embroidered JGB initials grace the top panel of these specimens for a prize fighter finish. The Doze shoe was awarded to Skin and it comes in a green suede, but since they weren’t available at the time of this review, I couldn’t check them out first hand. Basically, they look like a minimal, yet functional deck shoe of the vulcanized variety. Look for photo infused sock liners with Skin’s flicks on these dogs as well. Last and certainly not least, Burnett’s shoe is constructed with the Tim Gavin Classic silhouette and boldly reflects one of his KOTR Carbondale lifestyle images wrapped around the lateral side of both the right and left shoes. As with the other shoes in this collection, the sock liners feature a couple of Mike’s photos as well and an embroidered camera sits on the tongue with the words, “Fill The Frame”. Solid words of advice right there.

Also included in the DVS Photographer Series collection we received several custom screened tees with multi-photo prints from each of these artists, a fitted New Era ball cap, a 35mm disposable camera and importantly, the second photo book from the DVS Photographer Series. The photo book measures in at 12.5 X 9.5 and features 80 pages of visual goodness within its covers. An insightful preface by Matt Deak kicks it off and drops a historical link of importance between skateboarding and photography. Intros to each of these celebrated lensmen are crafted and presented by their friends and skaters Ed Templeton, Kevin Wilkins, Mike O’Meally and Miki Vuckovich. The bulk of the book’s pages features Burnett’s lifestyle and action imagery, Swift’s photographic collection of DVS rider and longtime friend Steve Berra, Skin’s brilliant images of skateboarding greats and Grant’s beautiful fine art and landscape images. These are four of skateboarding’s master photographers and their work is respectfully and colorfully celebrated in this book. The last page seals the deal with short interviews that cover their attraction and inspiration both inside and out of the world of skateboarding.

Have a look at DVS’ dedicated Photographer Series - Book Two website to view the shoes and photos and read the intros and interviews. This is the stuff that truly inspires the future skaters and shooters. Hats off and heavy high fives to all of those involved with this project.

- bk

04/14

04/22 - Coda Skateboards Video
04/14 - DVS Photographer Series - Round Two
04/07 - Light, Love and Death DVD
03/31 - Pitcrew Video - Feels Like the First Time
- Full Archive




May 17, 2008