Greg Hunt Interview

Greg Hunt is a Pro Skateboarder turned Film maker and photographer currently residing in LA.
During his time shooting some of skateboarding’s pivotal video’s, he has shot photo’s extensively. The result is an archive of imagery that captures the people, the places, and the often obscure occurences of a lifestyle predominantly spent in the streets.
We decided to catch up with Greg to find out more about his practice, and how he is finding the run up to his first solo show….Keep reading to find out more.

Firstly, for any one who doesn’t know…
What is your name, primary occupation and where do you currently reside?

My name is Greg Hunt and I’m a filmmaker who resides in Los Angeles.

What have you been up to lately?
I understand you are soon to be showing your first solo exhibition.
How are you finding the preparation, I would imagine to have been a long editing process?

I’ve been shooting a lot around LA and getting ready for this show. Yeah it’s my first, but I don’t know if it’s technically an exhibition because it’s only up for a night. Or maybe that doesn’t matter? I’m not sure. But it’s been fun to prepare. I don’t have any clue as to what I’m doing, but selecting the photos has been exciting because there’s so much material from the last 15 years. The only challenge is editing it down to what’s affordable to print and frame. Also I have no idea how to hang this thing so hopefully I can find some help.

You have been responsible for the creation of some seminal skateboarding videos,
Thus being provided with the perfect fodder for such a large documentary photography project.
How do you find the working process and the balance of photographer vs film maker?

The balance is simple because filmmaking is my job and photography is something entirely personal. When I’m working on a big video project photography becomes just about the only creative outlet that’s entirely my own. I can do whatever I want with it and I never have to shoot a photo unless I feel the desire to. That in itself creates an important balance. Filmmaking is also very personal and there’s a lot of me in there but without the freedom of photography I think I’d completely burn out.

As a Film maker, you are using top of the range digital equipment, yet you are clearly a keen analogue photographer….
What is your go to camera, video and still, and what is your opinion on the increasing market and usage of digital photography?

My go to video camera is basically whatever’s the best for the job. I never buy them, and I never become attached to them. They are just tools that belong to the company or project I’m working for. With the still cameras it’s a bit different. My main still camera over the last decade has been a Leica M6. I really love that camera, it’s so tough and captures such incredible images. I’ll bring it into the rain or skate all around with it, I don’t care. I know it’ll survive. As for digital photography, I don’t shoot it much but I’m totally open to it. What it really comes down to is that I don’t like having a ton of cameras. It creates way too many choices when there’s a moment to photograph. “Should I shoot film? Digital? Medium format? Panoramic?”. That drives me nuts. Plus by the time you finally decide the moment is gone. So I like to limit myself to a just a couple of cameras and try make the best out of that. Usually an SLR and the M6. A 50mm and 35mm lens. That’s about it. My first camera was a Minolta SLR with a 50mm lens. I used just that for years. So maybe when my current setup breaks down or film is gone I’ll move into something else.

I have seen your work appear numerous time of Film por Vida.
Obviously Jai has an interesting project that crosses the boundaries of analogue and digital technology,
How do you feel the Internet and new media has effected the work you produce, and your output in both mediums?

Jai’s stuff is great! It’s funny because the Film Por Vida site is all about mail, analogue film, and exchanging prints but it’s also what totally got me into the internet side of sharing photos. I love getting stuff out there in that way these days, it’s easy and you reach so many people. It’s a trip. I don’t know if the internet has effected my work specifically, but it’s definitely been an awesome way to get stuff out there and meet a ton of new people in the process. If anything I think I produce a bit less in the internet age because I spend so much time online looking at others people’s work and whatever else I may find down there. It’s so easy to burn hours.

(double exposure collab with jai tanju no. 9)

Obviously skateboarding has a wealth of photographers who have documented the lifestyle throughout the various eras….
Who do you feel has had the biggest influence on your practice, and who do you still look up to now?

The biggest influence has without a doubt has been Gabe Morford. Anyone who’s looked at a skateboarding magazine within the last 20 years is familiar his photos. He has by far the largest archive of skate photography in history. He’s shot some of the most timeless skate photos as well as portraits. He’s just been shooting constantly the entire time. And beyond photography he’s also been incredibly influential: fixing cracks with Bondo and using generators to light spots at night just two now common things that are directly due to Gabe. He’s a workhorse. Plus on top of everything he gave me my first camera and taught me how to shoot and print. Gabe operates at a level that I will always aspire to. I’m sure many others would say the same.

As a skateboarder, did you always aspire to become a videographer/photographer?
If not, what were your aspirations or career plans, and who/what led you to start shooting?

No I never had those aspirations early on. I just wanted to skate and be a pro skater. Ironically once I finally became a pro skater was when I then wanted to be a photographer. But not a skate photographer, I just wanted to shoot photos all the time. I had no professional aspirations, I was just young and not very focused. But my love for photography was real, and if anything that sidetrack got me here. My first career aspiration after skateboarding was to be a cinematographer, but again that wasn’t in the direction of skateboarding. I wanted to shoot feature films and documentaries. Eventually skating came back into the picture.

You must have hung out with a great variety of names from within the sport,
If you could choose to spend a day shooting, skating and drinking with a select few, who would you choose and why?!

To be honest I’m with those people almost every day. I’m lucky to have the job that I do.

Outside of skateboarding what would be your dream commission regarding your video or photography work?

I don’t really have a dream commission. I think I do better with straightforward jobs. I’d like to make more music videos. I really enjoy that. And I’d love to eventually direct a feature, but that might be a while. I guess one thing that I always think of after a big two or three year video project is that I’d love to take a few months off and just follow a select group of creative people around and document their lives. Musicians, artists, pro skaters… just interesting people doing whatever they do. A moment in time type of thing. So I guess that’s where a commission might come in handy.

M38 Album Teaser-2011

After your show, do you have anymore projects, jobs or further exhibitions in the pipeline?

After the show I don’t have any exhibitions planned. As for other projects, I’ve been wanting to make a book about my friendship with Jason Dill for quite a while, and I think that’s finally getting started, or at least it is in my own head. I’m also doing a music video project with Duane Pitre early next year. But really all I’m focused on for the next two years is the Vans skate movie. We’ve been chipping away at that for the last year or so, but I’m about ready to put everything else aside and focus completely on that project until it’s finished.

Obviously, to many people, you might appear to be living the dream….
Is there anything regarding your work that you would rather not have to deal With?

I like almost every aspect of my job other than the driving. That is just miserable. There are a few aspects that I would prefer to do less of, editing being one of them. I love the craft of editing but ultimately it’s just way too much to handle when you’re also shooting, producing, and directing a project. It’s overkill for only one person and it completely drains you. Of course I always want to be involved in the editing process, but not singlehandedly. Filmmaking is best as a collaborative process.

In the world of skateboarding or photography, are their any upcoming artists that we should be aware of?

I would take a look at Jerry Hsu’s photos if you haven’t already. He’s got a very special way of looking at things I think. Also Fred Mortagne aka French Fred. He’s just gifted I don’t know how else to explain it.

I think that’s about it, do you have any last words, links you would like to share or shout outs etc?!

To any young photographers I would just say yes of course shoot what you love but also work as hard as you possibly can. It’s tough out there these days. And hello my family of course.

For any one that doesn’t know, where can we view your work?

huntfilmwork.com, huntfilmwork.tumblr.com, skate.vans.com, filmporvida.com