TRANSITIONS
35A
If there was ever a romanticized story within the industry, it might be Arto Saari’s. He defied Finnish climates, overcame the language barriers of the States, and is all heart (defect or not) when it comes to standing on a skateboard. In fact, off it too. We recently spoke to him about becoming a father, forming friendships and a passion found with photography. Art and Arto, enjoy –
© 2014 all images are property of photographer Arto Saari
o m
TX400
SPR. 1
PG. 19
TRANSITIONS
ARTO
“
“
There is just something really pure to see a kid to step on a board for the first time.
SPR. 2
INTERVIEW
TX400
Let’s start off with your upbringing and how you started skating.
I imagine they would be. What is the skate scene like in Finland now?
I grew up in Seinäjoki, Finland, a small town of thirty thousand people with the guidance of a single mother, my grandparents and my three uncles - that’s
stronger and bigger since I left. There are
my immediate family. I saw my uncle and
a lot of indoor parks and tons of rippers
his brothers skate a jump ramp in the
out there. I think it has steadily grown and
late eighties and I thought that was the
become more accepted by the public.
I actually haven’t gone to Finland for three
How have you been progressing yourself at pool skating because of it?
Interest in your photography has been growing for quite a while now. When did the passion start up?
years and I miss it dearly, but from what I
It has made my pool skating better for
I would say my interest started at the
see and hear the scene has gotten a lot
sure but I wouldn’t say I am good at it.
same time when I started skating somewhere around 1992, filming and
–and in terms of difficulty how do you assess the learning curve compared to street?
I didn’t realize it was so early –
Skating pools is more like surfing I
I really got into it in 2000 when I bought
Hopefully you can clear something up for me. Is it true that when you start speaking a language more so than your native one, that you begin dreaming in that language?
think. I grew up skating mini ramps.
my first proper camera off Skin Phillips
That doesn’t really help when it comes
on a trip in Miami while filming for the
Yes, sometimes you dream in a different language. To me it depends on the
What tricks are you working on? Constantly working on everything.
subject matter and time and place. It
There are always new tricks to be
kind of happens naturally.
learned, if not it would be boring.
I spoke to Russell Houghten about the pool a while back. Are those jams a regular occurrence?
What’s your opinion on the direction street skating is going in?
white photos from Skin, a little cheat
I think street skating is getting way
and I was surrounded by French Fred
The summers were short; three to four
The pool is definitely one of the best
gnarlier and way more versatile, I think
at that time so I was like a sponge just
months max to skate outside so me
choices I made. I love having people
skateboarding as a whole is coming
taking it all in. I am very influenced by all
and my homies would look for places to
around skating it. I get to skate with
back around to skating everything
the photographers that I ever shot with
skate. Anything that was covered or dry
people that I wouldn’t normally end up
instead of just one particular style.
and would usually end up in some kinda
would be fine. Some days it would be
on a session with. It has widened my
David Gonzalez is a good example of a
camera talk with them for a bit. That has
minus twenty. Those days were harsh.
horizon of skating for sure.
well-rounded skater.
been a great way of learning.
coolest thing I’d ever saw. I would borrow my uncle’s board when he wasn’t riding and it elevated from there, few years later my mom bought me my first board. It was a Vision Gator board. That must have been in 1991, I was ten years old.
There’s often a lot of interest in how skaters being from places that for the most part aren’t skateable initially progvress despite the conditions they live in. How do you think this affected you and your life?
shooting my friends.
to pool skating; it is very different than
Sorry video.
anything else.
Get a good price? Yeah I got a really good deal, cheap and an insane amount of knowledge in ten days rooming with him.
–and who taught you the basics? I got instructions how to shoot black and sheet that I carried around for a while
PG. 21
TRANSITIONS
There must be plenty of photographers then.
and shooting photos for few years, but
watch ride these days. With his choice of
now and again you see some different
spots, style, pop and gnar combined, he
Can you clear up the Gravis situation for everyone?
Early 2000’s I would travel a lot with
approach to shoot the same trick or the
has become an excellent shredder.
Nothing is happening with Gravis
my friend Antton Miettinen and he
lighting is different. There are always new
taught me how to shoot with medium
things right in front of you. Best thing
format cameras, with occasional tips
to do is to keep and open mind, so you
from Atiba – he has been very helpful and supportive over the years. There are so many great photographers out there right now. I still love Skin’s black and whites, Atiba, Antton, Joe Brooke, SPR. 3
ARTO
Oliver Barton, Deeli, Jon Humphries, French Fred, Javier Mendizabal, Thomas Cambpell, Sturt, Grant, Burn Dog, Acosta, there are so many out there.
That’s quite a list – and how do you think your photography progressed with in your work? Last few years I’ve gotten to work with Ryan Allan pretty closely and his advice and knowledge has helped me develop
unfortunately. They decided to fold the
I love this Luke Croker picture. Did he get her number?
program, it has been heartbreaking
actually notice ‘em.
We were getting kicked out of a spot
heavily invested in Gravis and AG.
and Luke starts talking to the police
Where have your photos been popping up? How do you feel about your work gaining notoriety?
Everyone worked as a team and was
and continues to charm her. Luke
always on the same page, it has been
is a human of extraordinary levels
one of the best experiences working
of apex. There might have been a
In a lot of different skate mags in the
for a company so far.
number exchange, we had a good
US and internationally too. Working on
laugh and moved on to the next spot.
a project with Mark Whitely for the Leica Blog which I am pretty psyched about at
for everyone involved–everyone was
I have to bring up Menikmati as well, is there a great amount of nostalgia for that period of your career? How do you look at it retrospectively?
Let’s talk about this photo of Dylan Rieder –
What is the most drastic change in culture you have experienced? What other perceptions of skateboarding have you realized through traveling?
I had doubts if that spot was even that
I love traveling to Spain for skating, Hawaii
was even more naive then that I am
skateable. Yeah people have ollied it
is on top of the list. One of the funnest
now. The only thing that mattered
and such, but to kickflip that thing is on
trips was doin’ it Baja, China is a pretty
was skateboarding. That was pretty
another level of gnar.
crazy culture shock and so is Vanuatu. I
much the only responsibility I had
love Japan too, would love to spend more
too. Those days were epic!
the moment.
my photography even further.
Menikmati days were super fun. I
What are your thoughts on Dylan?
time there. I love seeing kids in foreign
How do you change things up creatively with your photography?
I’ve seen Dylan grow from a little
places when they see a skateboard and
handrail killer to a well-rounded gnarly
they are interested in it, there is just
I suppose there are some positives in this too.
Sometimes you see things differently.
skateboarder. I think he is one of the
something really pure to see a kid to step
Yeah the initial shock was a bummer, but
I have been staring at my pool,
most interesting and inspiring people to
on a board for the first time.
I think I am getting over it now.
INTERVIEW
35A
“
I had doubts if that spot was even that skateable. Yeah people have ollied it and such, but to kickflip that thing is on another level of gnar.
“
TX400
PG. 23
TRANSITIONS
ARTO
“
INTERVIEW
Shoot, keep shooting and shoot more–it dosen’t matter what camera you have.
“
SPR. 4
TX400
“
Great paintings don’t come out of a brush; it is the painter’s vision and imagination that makes it happen.
“
What about this one of Lance?
How often do you see him?
I got gung-ho about shooting portraits a
I don’t see him nearly as much as I
You recently launched your website. Are there grand plans for it?
little while ago and that was the first one
would like to, I need to muster up a side
I have to keep working on it; it’s a never-
I shot, it came out pretty good and was
mission soon so we can hang.
ending process.
process, you start paying attention to the
Well put. We saw the Epicly Later’d, are you ever going to pay Ed back that $300 for the bet?
tiniest details and that can play a huge
Shit, does he have PayPal?
How did the whole Cardiel shoot and video initially begin? Are we going to see more features like this on the site?
used in few places. It was shot originally for the Flip website. I am getting way pickier as I learn more about the
part in a photograph.
Let’s talk about a significant friendship of yours and a notable one in skateboarding itself, with Geoff Rowley.
I’ll pass it onto him if you like [laughs]. Is watching back a documentary about yourself a weird experience? I didn’t think anyone was going to care
The Cardiel thing was piggybacking on a six-stair shoot - I just came along and shot a few photos. There might be some more stuff brewing up. Im just not too sure yet, we’re always working.
It has been great to have Geoff as a
to watch that. I don’t think the story
friend over the years, he has pushed me
was all that interesting, but hearing
Your photography isn’t just limited to skateboarding.
to do stuff on a skateboard that I didn’t
the feedback and seeing some of the
I love shooting landscapes. You are
believe I could do. There have been a
people say all that stuff was really great
on your own and God’s time then, nice
lot of amazing times and trips together.
to hear. I am really grateful to be part of
balance to shooting skating and people.
Geoff is pure insanity on a skateboard;
skateboarding; I’ve gotten really lucky
he loves to push the envelope always. I
and blessed.
love that about him.
Get on it. I loved the photo of Dressen giving him a Tattoo. What did he get?
Now that you’re involved in two aspects of skateboarding do you think you will always be involved?
Can we finish up on some advice for aspiring photographer out there–your a man of Wisdom? Shoot, keep shooting and shoot more –it doesn’t matter what camera you
Once a skateboarder, always a
have. Great paintings don’t come out
He got a tattoo of his son’s name. I don’t
skateboarder. I just cant enough of it
of a brush; it is the painter’s vision and
have any tattoos. I like a blank canvas.
sometimes, it has shapped me.
imagination that makes it happen.
Thanks for this Arto. Chat soon.
PG. 25
Myles Thompson Typography 2 Spring 2014