Ray Barbee tells the engaging story of how he got his first skateboard, which was a hand-me-down from his friend Danny's dad, who grew up in the 70s park era of skateboarding. He describes the board—a vast improvement over the "banana boards" he'd seen—as the key that unlocked a new culture for him. This new board gave Ray and Danny the confidence to approach the "cool kids," who were skaters and surfers, at school. Accepted into this "brotherhood," Ray's journey as a skater took off, eventually leading to his professional career.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Ray Barbee

https://youtu.be/RNds97LPlq8

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#skateboarding #guitar #podcast

Paris Chong recounts her dramatic personal transformation, revealing how she went from a self-described phase of "fat eating Ho Hos and Dolls in my bedroom watching MTV" one minute, to suddenly "living in London" and feeling "in love, and having fun" the next. She and her guest, Ray Barbee, share a moment of laughter and reflection on the sudden, significant shifts that can happen in life, setting the stage for a broader conversation about music, passion, and personal history.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Ray Barbee

https://youtu.be/RNds97LPlq8

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#london #mtv #celebrity

Paris Chong sits down with her good friend, the multi-talented Ray Barbee, to discuss his new book, “The Joy is Capturing the Journey.” Ray, renowned for his legendary career as a professional skateboarder and a gifted photographer, explains how the book's title reflects his passion for documenting his blessed life and the sheer fun he finds in the process, from shooting to printing in the darkroom. The conversation also touches on his enduring career in skateboarding, including his long-standing sponsorships with brands like Vans and Crooked Skateboards, and a look back at his most significant skateboarding injury—a broken scaphoid bone that kept his wrist in a cast for nine months.

Ray shares details about his family and musical roots, noting that his two sons are both skateboarders, with Max recently earning a full-ride football scholarship. He recalls growing up with jazz and soul music in the house, thanks to his parents, but notes that MTV introduced him to rock and roll, sparking his desire to play guitar. He shares a charming story of performing an air-broom guitar solo to AC/DC’s "For Those About to Rock" at a fifth-grade talent show. This early passion for music, combined with a fortuitous gift of an old-school skateboard, laid the foundation for his professional life.

The discussion highlights the beautiful connection between Ray's skateboarding and photography styles, describing both as an improvisational act of "documenting moments" and "being surprised by something and hitting it... in the moment." An accomplished musician as well, Ray discusses how technology allows him to be a "one-man band" using a pedal to turn his guitar into a bass. Wrapping up, he mentions his newly released EP, “Little Postcard,” and his upcoming plans to support both the book and the album with a photo exhibition and performance at the Moments Festival in Spain. Ray attributes his famously cheerful demeanor to his faith, quoting the proverb, "A happy heart makes the face cheerful," and expressing deep gratitude for his journey.

Show Notes:

www.theparischongshow.com/episodes/ray-barbee-on-skateboarding-photography-and-a-life-of-gratitude

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:34 Meet Ray Barbie: Skateboarder and Photographer

00:46 Ray Barbie's New Book

02:33 The Joy of Skateboarding

05:16 Family and Parenting

08:08 Growing Up with Music

18:48 Discovering Skateboarding

24:43 From Skateboarding to Street Photography

25:50 The Parallels Between Music and Photography

26:17 Skateboarding and Rhythm

26:59 Desiree and Photography

27:36 Transitioning to Podcasts

30:37 Faith and Spirituality

38:29 Seeking Truth and Finding Peace

48:44 Upcoming Projects and Travels

51:19 Conclusion and Farewell

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

Photographer Dennys Ilic reveals the intense physical demands of his work, sharing that he logged 17,000 steps during a single concert shoot—the equivalent of walking from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica—while burning 1500 calories. He also discusses his preferred gear for concert photography, explaining why he uses the Leica SL series cameras for their superior low-light performance and smaller file sizes, which is necessary when shooting 5,000 photos a day. The conversation lightens as Paris Chong praises Dennys' unique and highly sought-after homemade "den bread," leading to a humorous discussion about the serious investment offers he has received to scale his baking operation into a commercial venture.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Dennys Ilic

https://youtu.be/c_IR4DRVq6o

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#photography #leica #10000steps

Photographer Dennys Ilic and Paris Chong dive into the challenging art of capturing truly breathtaking landscapes, reminiscing about the beautiful, yet elusive, scenery of Joshua Tree. The conversation quickly shifts to the technical side as Dennys discusses his preference for the Leica SL3-S for its superior low-light performance during concert shoots, leading to an incredible recap of his time on the road with Alanis Morissette, including the "jaw-dropping" experience of photographing her performance in front of 150,000 people at Glastonbury and the grand finale at the O2 Arena.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Dennys Ilic

https://youtu.be/c_IR4DRVq6o

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#photography #glastonbury #landscapephotography

Photographer Dennys Ilic discusses his passion for candid photography and his dream of working as a unit stills photographer on major sci-fi and fantasy projects like *War Hammer 40K* or *Highlander*, fueled by his love for gaming culture. He shares his experience as a boutique publisher, noting the continued success of his first book, *Men of Science Fiction*, and the logistics of managing his book stock in Australia, which he may visit at Easter instead of Christmas due to show preparations. The discussion also touches on the universal comfort of coming home after long work periods, with Dennys reflecting on a recent period of relaxation after a shooting series, and Paris Chong mentioning her upcoming 15-hour trip to Greece for portfolio reviews.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Dennys Ilic

https://youtu.be/c_IR4DRVq6o

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#photography #setstills #vision

Photographer Dennys Ilic proves why he's one of the most generous people in the industry, surprising Paris with not one, but two beautiful fine-art prints! He presents an iconic, recent shot of Alanis Morissette currently plastered all over Las Vegas for her residency, as well as a stunning older portrait of Liv Tyler, both printed on exquisite William Turner paper. They also share a funny moment over Dennys' signature "den bread" gift. This clip captures a wonderful, heartfelt exchange between great friends, showcasing Dennys' incredible talent and kind spirit.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Dennys Ilic

https://youtu.be/c_IR4DRVq6o

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#photography #dennysilic #alanismorissette

The incredibly talented and generous photographer ****Dennys Ilic joins host Paris Chong. Dennys shares insights into his world, from his passion for charity work—including an upcoming event for Heal the Bay with the Property Brothers' Drew and Linda Scott—to his history with the famous TV personality, whom he first met doing headshots before the show even existed. He also opens up about his personal 'exotic location only' rule for shooting weddings, a policy that has taken him to Italy and the Amalfi Coast for past clients, including Drew Scott.

Dennys dives into his recent six-month experience working as a stills photographer on a top-secret Marvel project, the *Vision* limited series, at the legendary Pinewood Studios in London. He reveals the striking contrast between the bustling film industry in the UK, where work is abundant, and the fiercely competitive market back in LA. This eye-opening difference has him seriously contemplating a permanent move to London, despite the challenges of immigration and the unexpected hot, humid weather—and the notable lack of air conditioning. Hear his take on the future of film production and why the grass might be greener across the pond.

The conversation wraps up with exciting news about Dennys's upcoming joint gallery show with actor Billy Zane, a reunion event that promises to be just as massive as their last, fire-hazard-inducing exhibition. Dennys discusses his creative pivot for the new show, moving away from commercial portraiture to a mix of striking landscape and architectural work. And, as always, he brings gifts, presenting Paris with beautiful prints of Alanis Morissette and Liv Tyler. Plus, don't miss the details on his unexpected side hustle: the unique and highly-demanded sourdough "Den Bread" that has friends and even Australian entrepreneurs urging him to turn it into a commercial business!

Show Notes:

www.theparischongshow.com/episodes/dennys-ilic-from-hollywood-headshots-to-marvel-stills-and-london-dreams

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:00:33) Dennys Ilic

(00:01:28) Property Brother

(00:06:20) London's Calling

(00:10:49) Double Show 2 @ Leica Gallery

(00:15:55) Brought you a Present

(00:18:55) Moving is Hard

(00:23:12) Photo Subjects of Choice

(00:28:32) Dennys' Dream Job

(00:32:59) Revisiting

(00:36:00) Photos of Alanis

(00:40:28) Where to see more Dennys

(00:43:53) Outro

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

Jeff Dunas and Paris Chong contrast the deliberate, psychologically significant process of film photography, with its 36-shot limit, against the expansive, sometimes less focused, nature of digital. Dunas recounts his role in connecting fellow photographer Ralph Gibson with Leica, a company Dunas has worked with since the early eighties, and he is encouraged to submit his own work for recognition. The conversation pivots to the Palm Springs Photo Festival, which Paris Chong notes was the start of her portfolio review career. Dunas emphasizes that the festival's unique structure positioned the portfolio reviews as an effective "job fair," successfully connecting photographers with editors and publishers to advance their careers and secure work.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Jeff Dunas

https://youtu.be/DRTByJF3HtU

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#photography #filmphotography #digitalphotography

Jeff Dunas's career in nude photography, which he says he is "famous for" if you’re older. He recounts his work for Playboy in his late teens. Dunas showcases his book of nudes, a 30-year collection spanning from 1970 to 2016, noting that the photos were all shot with Leica M-series cameras (M3s and M6s), mostly in Europe. He also discusses his other books made during COVID, revealing he self-designed and printed them using the service Blurb to create high-quality "dummies" for potential publishers.

Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Jeff Dunas

https://youtu.be/DRTByJF3HtU

https://www.theparischongshow.com

🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/

📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

#photography #hughhefner #playboy