Printer photographer Michael Martinez is the SEO title for this post. But it is hard to describe Michael in a title. Because his creativity seems too broad to categorize. For instance, he modifies old classic iPods. And I mean he tweaks those things! Michael adds Bluetooth and amplification. In fact, that subject alone could be another podcast. And that is why I wanted to have a conversation with Michael Martinez. He gets me thinking. And I hope this conversation does the same for you.

Related Links

Michael Martinez on @chaoticneutral.me, and web. A podcast with our mutual friend Frank Nunez.

Listen to podcast on Google Play

Stencil artist Lawrence Limtao

Stencil artist Lawrence Limtao, makes mesmorizing things with cardboard and spray paint. In fact, he makes art at events all over California.

In the first place I met Lawrence at a skatepark. Adjacent to the 605 and 91 freeway is a little skateboardpark called Caruthers or Bellflower. I used to skate there many a morning with my old friends from Skatopia. Many older skaters choose the early morning session for its lack of crowds.

Eventually we got to know three skaters. And those skaters were Anthony, Allen , and Lawrence. We would ask them how they could be skating on a school day. And they told us that they were home-schooled.

Well, one of those kids turned out to be Lawrence from Spank. And his art can be found on skateboards all around the world. In fact if you attend a local skate event in Southern California, you are likely to run into Lawrence. Check out our conversation.

Related Links

Spank on IG and Spank on the web

Skate related podcasts

Listen to podcast on Google Play

photographer Frank Nunez podcast

Preview(opens in a new tab)

Photographer Frank Nunez, and I were in a photo class at Cypress College a few years ago. And I always liked his images. In fact, I was curious about his photographic process. But we never really had the chance to speak at length. He agreed to do a podcast (back then) but time ran out and he was off to San Francisco Art Institute.

Next years went by and the Covid-19 virus forced the world to socialize via videoconference. Then I invite Frank to a group photographer chat on zoom. And I realized I’d still like to have a conversation with Frank Nunez.

Related Links

Frank Nunez on Instagram

Cypress College Photographers I have made podcasts with include, Rob Johnson, Joey Heida, Christian Millan, Renee Chartier, Dave Whalen, Aydinaneth Ortiz, John Rey, Bruce Hershey.

Listen to podcast on Google Play

Artist Jana Payne-Booker

Artist/skateboarding pioneer, Jana Payne-Booker first pioneered women’s skateboarding during the 1970’s. And later worked in the Disney Imagineering department as an artist. Jana’s podcast covers, skateboarding, identity, art and recovery.

In fact, we conducted an audio conversation about 7 or 8 years ago for skatopia.net. And today she informed me of the importance of that previous interview. In fact, during our previous conversation, she decided to publicly talk about the negative aspects of being a female skateboarder. Negative aspects that included being molested by her skateboarding coach. And the journey she endured to find her way out of that place.

Finally, this might sound like a heavy story. And when you hear this conversation you might agree that Artist/skateboarding pioneer, Jana Payne-Booker holds nothing back. But it is also a story of finding one’s self. I hope you enjoy the second conversation I have had with the great Jana Payne-Booker.

technical note

The first 2 minutes or so of this podcast contains some silence. So in plain English, the record button was on and our computers were syncing up. And why not edit the silence out? The videoconference system compresses the video and audio so I don’t want to re-compressing the content.

video excerpts

Art is a vehicle

don’t forget to help yourself first

Listen to podcast on Google Play

Related Links

Contact Jana Payne-Booker on Facebook.

And If you liked this podcast check out the other podcasts with female skateboarders. Lizzie Armanto. Julie Kindstrand, Amelia Brodka, Micaela Ramirez

Skateboard Photographer Chris Dangaard, talks about what lead him into photography. In fact, Chris’s love of images began with editing video and early photo compositing machines. Chris also talks about the danger and challenges of taking skateboard pictures during a pandemic. So how did this graphic designer get into skateboard photography? Well, give this podcast a listen.

And by the way, this the first podcast I have created since the outbreak of covid-19. In order to protect my family and Chris’s family I conducted this conversation via videoconferencing. So there is a video version of this podcast as well, which you can find under the audio podcast.

Skateboard Photographer Chris Dangaard video version

video version of this podcast

Related Links

* Chris Dangaard IG

* other skateboard photographer podcasts * Ray Zimmerman * J. Grant Brittain

Listen to podcast on Google Play

Skatopia stories told by Skatopia locals.

Skateboarder Cary Tice aka Cuda

Skateboarder Cary Tice was around at the start of skatepark skateboarding. In fact, I first met Cuda at Skatopia back in the 1970’s. Cary was always generous with me. And we had many conversations about skateboarding, epilepsy, and magic back in those days.

I was lucky enough to catch up with Cary in 2010. I was conducting interviews with skateboarding friends who localized Skatopia in Buena Park California. Cuda was kind enough to sit and talk with me.

Cary Tice was an imaginative, and intelligent person. I was very sad to hear of his passing a few days before this writing. To my knowledge, he is the second Skatopia local to pass. I will miss you Cuda, you are an important part of my skateboard story.

skateboarding and surfing

* The Cuda Hop* Tony Hawk* The Skatopia Team* Clark Staub* putting on skateboard contest* Stacy Peralta* Ray Bones* Steve Olson* The Big O* Skatopia* Vans* Russ Howell* All American Amateur Series

Health and Nutrition

* eating whole foods* chemicals in food* sugar after you are 30* losing weight* stretching* Doctors

* martial arts* computer programming languages* visual basic* building PC’s

epilepsy

* keeping the mind active to reduce seizures* reading epilepsy-related books* employment and epilepsy* what to do if a person is having a seizure

Related Links

* Toby Woller* Joe Wood* Eric Von Arab

Listen to podcast on Google Play

Photographer Aydinaneth Ortiz, uses photography to document her personal life

Photographer Aydinaneth Ortiz uses her camera to explore her life. In fact, she takes pictures of her family. And creates a story of what families go through. As a matter of fact, some call it domestic photography.

For one thing, this can be a good way to explore one’s family dynamics. And, it could be helpful when coping with difficult family situations.

Through photography each family constructs a portrait-chronicle of itself” -Susan Sontag

Aydi’s tenacity and selfless dedication towards her family is an inspiration to me. I hope you enjoy this podcast with photographer Adynaneth Ortiz.

photographer Adynaneth Ortiz podcast topics

* an artist’s memory* “that one person did that one thing that I love”* Ghost from Super Mario* Slanguage Studio* Mario Ybarra Jr.* Karla Diaz* Rosalie López* mentors, instructors, collectives

learning the language of photography

* early photography memories* Cerritos College* Long Beach City College* Photography class success led to success in academic classes.* Getting into UCLA* college counselors can be a little inaccurate* Catherine Opie

the book, La Condición de la Familia

* Nan Golden* Larry Clark* a perfect bound* 11×17* Some of the reasons the book was created* The family member’s reaction to being photographed.* The effect of the book on the family

A Portrait Of My Neighborhood series

* photographing your neighborhood* North Long Beach* 35mm then 120mm* people who wanted me to take their picture, * would stare at me longer* things you notice when you photograph your neighborhood* gentrification

Ingredients series

* ingredients* Methamphetamine* calling attention what this drug does to people* drug addiction* mental health

* mental health facility series* de-institution* “the system is fucked up’ how can I put this on display”* Can art make a difference?* desensitization

social media

* the internet’s effect on people* take the picture and then walk away* living up to Instagram life* internet handles

Related Links

* AydinanethOrtiz.com* Instagram

photographer musician Ronnie Mendoza

podcast topics

Photographer Musician Ronnie Mendoza is one of the first people I look for while attending a John Stamos function. That is to say, he is an old friend of John’s and I always enjoy talking photos, music and past adventures with him. But I rarely get to talk at length with Ronnie.

So I thought I would ask Ronnie to do this podcast (so I could pry some “story” out of him). And I am happy to say that It was worth it.Because Ronnie Mendoza has seen a few things over the decades he has been involved with photography.

* Expectations coming out of photo school* Sam Jones* Profoto* meeting people in art school and Profoto* first work with OC Weekly LA Weekly* making relationships in the business* Irvine Fine Arts Center* Poloroids* Paula Abdul* Aaron Rapoport Supertramp Breakfast In America record cover* John Stamos* Caberet* American Idol* relationships are important* know your craft* getting through airports with film* concert photography* cover bands, tribute bands* deciding to check out photography in the late 80’s* studying photojournalism* Digitech work* catalog photography work* Freestyle* Ira Lippke

influences

* Cartier Bresson* Eddie Adams* Peter Linbergh* Jim Jordan* Helmut Newton* Jim Marshall

the internet and photography / music

* people are making money with photography without the need for pro gear* iPhone and pro photography* Annie Leibovitz camera advice* David Dobrik* “content is the thing it’s not the quality of the shot”* Logan Paul

print and media transitions

* adjusting the changes in the photo industry* print in 2019

talent

* Mandy Moore* Amber Valletta* Paula Abdul

concert photography

* BB King* Tom Petty Irvine Meadows* Black Crowes* rating film black and white film for a concert photography* Nikon Fm2* Nikon F4* being a musician helps* 28-7mm, 50mm, 35mm, fisheye* Kevin Mazur

Listen to podcast on Google Play

Related Links

Journalist Robyn Flans

Journalist Robyn Flans connects us to the greatest drummers in the world. And, she shows no sign of stopping. Re-connect with us in this podcast about drumming and elsewhere. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

* How does a non-drummer ask all the right questions?* First writing break* Billboard Magazine* Chicago the band* Danny Seraphine* Theater Arts Major* Nitty Gritty Dirt Band* Robyn Flans Grammer Police* journalism in the age of the internet* Jeff Porcaro book* Roy Burns* Steve Lukather* David Paich* Toto* The internets effect on drumming* Ed Shaughnessy* Jamie Donald Eblen* “Im all about the feel”* Vinnie Colaiuta* Where does feel come from?* Murray Spivack* Sanford Moeller* Levon Helm* Family* “I wanted my kids to have their dreams”* Advice for young drummers* Jason Robert Brown* “I say to my son and my daughter are you dancing?”* The music then and now* Modern Drummer* Rick Mattingly* Mix Magazine* modern artists work from home* John Wackerman* Curt Bisquera

Related Links

* Robyn Flans Drummer Interviews* on Facebook* on Twitter

Listen to podcast on Google Play

skateboarder Felicia Gibbs podcast

Skateboarder Felicia Gibbs has this great skate thing about her. In fact, the first time I shot her there was this legit skate thing in the images. And now I know why its there. Felicia is one of those skaters who walks the walk. And to me, that means she is always skating.

She likes skating so much we sat in the Channel Street parking lot for her podcast. And if you listen carefully you can hear all the channel-street-sounds. In fact, we even had a visit with the local police.

* Channel Street memories* Lizzie Armanto* First Skateboarding Memories* Longboarding* San Pedro Surf Skate scene* First Skateboard* Riley Stevens* Robbie Russo* Ronnie Sandoval* first tail drop at Peck* first tail drop at Channel Street* Concrete Wave Magazine* Juice Magazine* Money and Skateboarding* Woodward West* Nora Vasconcellos* Skateboard Education* Supporting other female skaters* Briana King* Georgia Skateboarding scene* Courtney from Georgia* “Thee little round cheekbones”* Chevy Chase skatepark* “The Freeway that ruined it all”* “Ghetto” Skatepark aka Mike Green* Julie Kindstrand* painter* designer* cannabis-infused cooking* “They took channel away”* “and bums and weirdos”* “and tweakers come here now”* “I just love skating “* “and whatever happens happens”* Madrid skateboards* Jerry Madrid* Bones* Proper Gnar* Skateboarding Hall of Fame* A conversation with the Police* “drink water brush your teeth”

Related Links

* Felicia on Instagram

Listen to podcast on Google Play