Through the Lens

Skateboard

2010-01-30T13:18:00.001-08:00

Skateboard
Originally uploaded by Hodg

Ollie

2010-01-28T10:22:00.001-08:00

Curtis Hartshorn
Originally uploaded by Hodg

Canon 7D

2010-01-25T08:16:00.001-08:00

Curtis Hartshorn
Originally uploaded by Hodg

So I got a new camera three days ago and this is the first chance I have got to shoot with it.

This is a spot I have wanted to shoot at for a while now.
Its a parking garage with big squares cut out in the walls.
Curtis Hartshorn Front 180 through the hole.

T.O.

2010-01-19T12:34:00.001-08:00

401
Originally uploaded by Hodg

This is a little piece of Toronto, the city I have a love hate relationship with. I love it but dang I hate traffic.

Killing The Winter Blues

2010-01-18T12:27:00.001-08:00

TJ Rogers
Originally uploaded by Hodg

So...its winter.
Yup...definitely winter.
So I built a mini ramp in the garage to kill them Winter blues.
Had some boys over on the weekend to chill and skate.

In this photo its TJ Rogers front feebling the crap outta that coping and Wade Power is squeezing in there for the footy.
Check out the head room in there.

Seen Better Days

2009-12-22T11:10:00.001-08:00

Dead Building
Originally uploaded by Hodg

Found what I believe used to be a grain transfer station a few days ago. It is obviously abandoned so I went over to take some photos.
This is just one of the many. check some more out by clicking the photo.

Mini Ramp

2009-12-18T08:39:00.001-08:00

Curtis Rock Fakie
Originally uploaded by Hodg

Laura and I just moved into a new place and needless to say we're stoked.
The first weekend we were there I got my brother in law over to build me a mini in the garage and I must say that its the best thing to happen to garages ever!
I love it.
This is a photo of Curtis Hartshorn at one of our first sessions in there.
So much fun.
Click the photo to see more of the ramp.

Las Vegas

2009-12-17T11:04:00.001-08:00

Las Vegas
Originally uploaded by Hodg

Went to Vegas a little while ago to the SEMA 2009 car show.
It was my first time to that city and let me just tell you I am not a huge fan. The place just seems like such a trap. Seeing grandparents at a slot machine when I go to breakfast and when I come back to the Hotel room after dinner is really sad. And unfortunately that is the case for a lot of people.
Anyways, enoght sob story, I got a chance to take some photos one night and these are what I ended up with.
Merry Christmas Everyone,
Click the picture for the rest of the photos.

Accidental Photography

2009-12-15T07:31:00.001-08:00

Huh?
Originally uploaded by Hodg

I don't know if I should admit it when a photo is a fluke, but I feel like I should come clean.
I wanted to take a photo of this subject but I kinda triped when I took this one, causing it to turn out like this.
Oops.

Puddle Jumping-2

2009-12-15T06:27:00.001-08:00

Puddle Jumping-2
Originally uploaded by Hodg

I had some fun with taking upside down photos, through puddles in the parking lot at my work.
Its pretty fun to take photos that you have to figure out as a viewer.
Anyways, there are a few more if you click the photo.
Merry Christmas

Chance Skateboards

2009-12-14T08:53:00.001-08:00

Chance Skateboards
Originally uploaded by Hodg

Alright, it's time to support the local and Canadian skate scene.

My good friend Matt Holdsworth started Chance Skateboards not too long ago. This is the first graphic, by Matt, and in my humble opinion it turned out pretty dope. There are some more on the way right now that he has kept a surprise from me but I'm told they are gonna be pretty banging.

Matt is an Ontario born boy but now hails out of Abbotsford, BC so you gotta support if your Canadian, its your civil duty, probably more important than voting.

they don't have a website yet cause they are that fresh, however they do have a facebook page and if I can persuade them a Twitter page in due time.

check em out
YA HEARD!

It's Back, It's Free

2009-11-16T17:00:00.000-08:00

Just thought you should all know.

Cause who doesn't like a free pick me up every now and again?

Thought so.

The Filmore

2009-11-16T06:55:00.001-08:00

Filmores Hotel
Originally uploaded by Hodg

Lost Boy

2009-10-28T05:31:00.001-07:00

Lost Boy
Originally uploaded by Hodg

This is at old GhettoSpot in Van that apparently is so ghetto that no one skates anymore. I went there with the 2 Matty's and had a lot of fun getting schooled in photography by Matty Cockerall while Matty Holdsworth got down on the skateboard.

Maybe There Is Hope For Pickering Skate Park

2009-10-27T17:52:00.000-07:00

Tyler Ashbee, Zach Gibson, and myself went over to Pickering skate park, although I must admit I was forced. I honestly try to avoid that park at just about all cost. However, I wanted to fiddle with my remote flash and since Ashbee lives just around the corner thats where we ended up. If you have ever been there you will know that the quarter at the far end is far from easy to skate. If its not the oververt at the very top of it that gets you the flash right in your face on the way down will. Ha.

So this is what we came away with.

Props to Zach on flash tripod duty!!

Union Station

2009-10-21T04:17:00.000-07:00

I Can't Decide...Help

2009-10-21T04:12:00.000-07:00

Men Amongst Giants

2009-10-20T14:51:00.000-07:00

Toronto Skate Day

2009-10-20T04:14:00.000-07:00

Its pretty obvious he destroys

Up & Over One Ledge to Lip Another

Switch Variel Heel

Blunt Pop Over To Fakie

First Session With A Flash

2009-10-14T04:16:00.000-07:00

Curtis Hartshorn Pop Into a Steep Bank

ok my first few photos with the flash were less than stellar. But I eventually got the hang of it. I left the shutter open for about 4 sec to get the effects of the cars and the light through his kneecap and the blue tint of the sky. Anyways, its a learning experience. So keep on learning.

Toronto Streets At Night

2009-10-14T04:09:00.000-07:00

Alex Johnston

2009-10-11T06:31:00.000-07:00

Ok so I was going through some photos and came across these two. This guy is one of my all time favorite people. He has more imagination and creativeness than most. He is also a ripper on his skateboard. When he shows up @ the abbey skate park you know that good times are gonna follow close behind. Weather its fake mustaches or drawing crazy things on the ledges and ground of the park. And of all the people I know Alex could get away clean with murder because of his innocent young charm. He has also been known to cause some forms of trouble here and there.

Museltof Alex.

Keep it up.

PDF What!

2009-10-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

Found this on my travels through the World Wide Web and seeing as I myself am but a patawon of photogrpahy I thought that this would be helpful. Anyone else in need of some guidance with their DSLR's check this PDF out. Very helpful.

Flash Photography Here I Come

2009-10-08T06:06:00.000-07:00

So I bought this the other day (I swear I got a good deal on it though). I didn't tell Laura about it for a few days because I felt way too guilty, but then I felt so guilty for not telling her that I caved and had to let her know what I bought.
Regardless of my guilty feeling on this I am royally stoked to play with this and learn, more than likely through failure, about flash photography. I am also going to have to get a remote for this for extra flash photography points. cool.

Its A Tree With The Sun In The Background, So What

2009-10-06T17:48:00.000-07:00

Can't Wait

2009-10-04T06:16:00.001-07:00

Nick and Scotty

2009-10-03T06:37:00.000-07:00

Found some pics of a day with Nick and Scotty in Van. It was a while ago and some of these pics may have found there way onto this site before, but I just feel like I need to represent abbey days for a quick sec.

I miss the abbey crew. you kids kill it.

If He Can Go To Space Why Can't I?

2009-10-02T05:43:00.001-07:00

I'm sure most of you have heard about the Montrealer who owns Cirque du soleil. Well he got to go to space the other day with the Russian's.
Totally not fair!

True That

2009-10-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

It made me smile.

If Your Not Pumped, You Should Be

2009-10-01T06:07:00.000-07:00

Alright,
So a few days ago I was rummaging through my parents basement and I came across a box of books. I started riffling through trying to find something worth while to read. I came across Plato's Republic, which I am now reading, but I also came across a book that was given to me by my Grandmother in 1992, however, the coolest thing is that it was first given to her in 1914!!. It is a copy of Alice in Wonderland!! Needless to say I ecstatic about the find. So it got me curious, then I discovered that one of my all time favorite Directors, Tim Burton, is remaking this classic story and it is being released the beginning of 2010.
So like I said, if your not pumped, you should be.

Here are some more pictures from the upcoming movie to get you pumped.

AliceInWonderland

Umm...Its Wood

2009-09-27T17:46:00.000-07:00

Does This Mean Something To Anyone?

2009-09-27T09:37:00.000-07:00

The Art Of An Ollie

2009-09-25T20:01:00.000-07:00

A Cucumber Jumbo Jet! (With Bigger Aisle Seats)

2009-09-22T05:08:00.000-07:00

I would like to inform all those who are informable what has been happening in the life of myself and my wife Laura. We have officially moved to Ontario, although we are living at my parents place. We will have our own home by the beginning of December. Until then I am working making phone calls and receiving phone calls and trying to get as much skateboarding in as I can until the snow falls.
Most Seasons I would be sitting on the edge of my seat trying to figure out a machine to chill up the outside air and cause it to snow prematurely - not this year though. I am pretty much through with Snowboarding. I had a lot of fun while I did it and I have done just about everything I wanted to do on it. I rode the black park in Whistler through myself needlessly off of their jumps, hit handrails and learned how to go upside down. If there was one thing that I would still do on my snowboard it would have to be shred pow. There aint a thing like it. From now on its skateboarding for me sir.
Oh also Laura and I are having a Baby in the new year. We are due the end of Feb. So that is gonna be a crazy change in life. I can't imagine what life is gonna be like once the baby has come. It trips me out each time I think about It.
Anyway. I'm sick right now and I can't wait to get better so that I can skate and take more photos.
peace

I still Take Photos...See

2009-09-16T04:19:00.001-07:00

Lakeside Living

2009-08-23T08:13:00.000-07:00

This were taken just across the street from my parent's house where Laura and I have been living (hurray) for the past few weeks (dang we need to find a house) anyways. When I haven't been working or looking for a house this is what I have been doing. Holla!

Skate Pic

2009-08-16T18:40:00.001-07:00

Again, its been a while

Dang Its Been A While

2009-08-07T07:03:00.000-07:00

Dang I haven't touched this page in a while. Its not because I haven't been taking any photos but Laura and I have just moved back to the hood of Ajax from Abbotsford and on top of that we have been on the hunt for a place to live and out in these parts you gotta be careful what hood your looking to set up shop in. So we have a pretty strict system for looking at places.

Anyways, this is one of the last skate photos I took out in Vancouver. It was a dope session with Matty Cockerall who is a prostar photog and Matty Holdsworth who was getting down in the dark. We went and checked out the ol'Ghetto Spot that hasn't been skated in some time, but there was a dude living in a tent there. I think we may have woke him up, but whatever.

peace.

One Love to the West Coast

Shot of The Day

2009-07-13T07:18:00.000-07:00

Silhouette Skate Session

2009-07-12T19:01:00.000-07:00

shot of The Day

2009-07-10T07:26:00.000-07:00

This is my rock-star wife.

Run Down School Yard

2009-07-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

Shot of The Day

2009-07-08T07:03:00.000-07:00

I took this on the weekend on trip up to Vernon. Its Lake Country alright.

Things Photography Has Taught Me

2009-07-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

I don't by any stretch of the imagination claim to know all there is about the wide world of photography. In fact I know very little. But, as I play with my camera, lenses, and various subjects I slowly learn more.

Photography hasn't exactly taught me patience (It could take a life time for that) but I recognize when it is trying to teach it. There have been times when I think that I am never gonna get the subject just right, but eventually it happens. And the finished product has been well worth it.

It has also been teaching me how to always be a student. I have been out of school for a year now and learning whats up in the world of photography is a task and a half. A wise man once told me of post-secondary school that the "First year in University/College students believe that they know all there is to know. Second year they know just enough, and by their final year they realize that they hardly know anything." This has been very applicable to my self education on cameras. I'll learn something about a certain aspect of photography, think I have it dialed, then learn that there is an entire different way to go about it. Photography is just one giant learning curve of stuff.

I decided a while ago to head over to Chapters and check out what they have on photography. All I have to say is "WOW." The section on photography is huge. Just shows how much there is to learn.

The most important thing, however, that I have discovered so far about photography is to seize the moment, "carpe diem." Some days I can tell that there is gonna be good stuff in certain areas, especially scenic portraits of the mountains in and around the area I live. But I'll be tired and tell myself that it will be just as good the next day or any other day of the week, right? Wrong! Never leave till tomorrow what can be done today. There is nothing worse than missing out on a potentially amazing picture, trust.

This point is not only applicable to photography alone though, it is applicable to all aspects of life. Seize it, love it, and enjoy the final product. Even if it doesn't turn out the way that you were hoping, it is still better than having never done it at all.

Believe that,

Much Love

Shot of the Day

2009-07-07T07:28:00.000-07:00

Normally I'm not much of a car guy but I saw the old mustang in front of this barn and I couldn't help myself. It just looked to classic. I had my grandpa in mind when I took this one. Here's to you Grandpa.

Shot of The Day

2009-07-02T07:14:00.000-07:00

For those of you that were at the Vancouver Go Skateboarding Day you will remember that the dude did not land the trick. So naturally your hating right now. However, he came so close so many times that he deserved this spot. Also for those of you who have not skated this spot before...its dang hard, enough said. Plus Jamie Tancowny was impressed. Just look at him coveting over that front blunt. Holla!

Shot of The Day

2009-07-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

Shot of The Day

2009-06-30T07:24:00.000-07:00

Shot of The Day

2009-06-29T07:15:00.000-07:00

Shot of The Day

2009-06-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

Shot of The Day

2009-06-27T12:15:00.000-07:00

Shot of the Day

2009-06-26T07:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is Andrew Reynolds doing a massive frontside flip.

Nothing more needs to be said.

Shot of The Day

2009-06-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

Go Skateboarding Day 2009 in the streets of Vancouver

Shot of the Day

2009-06-23T17:59:00.001-07:00

Jamie Tancowny at Vancouver Go Skateboard Day.

One backside flip to rule them all and landing in a crowd is pretty dope too!

Shot of The Day

2009-06-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

Shot of The Day

2009-06-19T07:15:00.001-07:00

The Shoes I skate

2009-06-18T14:39:00.001-07:00

If any of you have seen me skate in the last 9 months or so you will have noticed that I have been skating the Nike SB Zoom Tre.

I get asked all the time why I choose to skate this shoe over another more popular Nike or any other popular vulcanized shoe.

My answer is pretty simple. This shoe, although it takes a long time to brake in cause of the rubbery toe cap it has, maintains its padding. The new vulcanized shoes everybody skates these days only feel good between your feet and your skateboard for the first week maybe. After that its nothing but pain.

I recently shot some photos of two friends of mine skating a seven stair. Both of the guys were waring vulcanized shoes that were more than a week old and within no time at all both of the guys were complaining how bad their feet were hurting.

Now understandably no matter what shoes your skating eventually they are gonna hurt skating drops, all I am saying is that some are better than others and are gonna last longer too.

Another great reason that I skate this particular model is that it lasts so long. If you click one of the photos below you will see that across all of the toes is a rubbery grippy looking piece. Unlike suede, leather, and other canvas type materials which after a little help from grip tape rip through with ease this rubber takes a long time to go through. From my experience with this shoe your more likely to go through the sole around the toes than the rubber.

Not only does it help to have rubber on the shoe to make it last longer but the design of the rubber itself causes you to go through it in layers as opposed to all at once like a traditional shoe.

So even though these shoes may cost a good buck up front in the long run they well worth it due to how long they last. When every other kid at the park is going though shoes like Winona Ryder you have the same pair, thus you have money to go spend on fresh decks cause no matter what deck you get they never seem to last. And if your parents are the ones still buying you shoes than they will be pumped to cause I know they have said "What!! We just bought your new shoes!!"

If I just sparked your interest and you want to check some color ways out other than the ones you have seen me skating at the park head here:

http://www.nike.com/nikeskateboarding/v3/

This Shoe Has Been Skated For 2 weeks

This Shoe has been skated in for 6 weeks

This shoe has been skated in for 6 months

Shot of The Day

2009-06-18T07:09:00.001-07:00

Shot of The Day

2009-06-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

Birthday Love

2009-06-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

Even though the name of the Contest is Birthday Love I question how much love there actually is. Would the fine people who left comments on my Facebook page have left as many enduring posts as they had if they were not competing for a prize?

Honestly I don't know, but at the end of the day its not about the sincerity, its about a winner, right?

So onward and upward we go.

In 3rd place...Dylan Shming Shmong Wetherill with a Birthday comment @ 12:09

In 2nd place...Bach Mahahlo (who we all know isn't who he says he is) left a Birthday comment @ 12:01 (so very close)

and the coveted 1st place goes to....Ryan Barclay!!!!!! Who left me a post at 12:00 on the nose!! It's hard to find perfection like that let me tell ya.

You could all take a page out of Ryan's book.

Congratulations again dude!!

Shot of The Day

2009-06-16T07:14:00.003-07:00

This is the guy that put me on the injured list setting a particular trick in a game of SKATE on a bank. Thanks again Cody!

Shot of The Day

2009-06-15T07:16:00.001-07:00

Shot(s) of the Day

2009-06-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

Sometimes skating a spot gets a tad bit stressful.

But in the end its all worth it.

Ledge for Lunch

2009-06-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

Alright I promised that either yesterday or today there would be a video up on this page of a noon hour session on one of the ledges at the Nomis warehouse. Unfortunately I bruised my tail bone pretty good the other day skating a hip (curse you Cody) and I have been out of commission. So I'm sorry to say that you are going to have to wait a few more days before that video is completed. But I promise you your not going to be disappointed.

Much Love

Shot of The Day

2009-06-13T13:40:00.001-07:00

Alright Laura and I were out last night in Vancouver until the wee hours of the morning snapping photos and trying to find fun stuff to shoot. This is one of the first photos of the night under the Iron Workers Memorial bridge. Check back to see more photos from last night.

Going A Little Deeper Behind The Nomis Warehouse Part 2

2009-06-11T15:46:00.000-07:00

Going A Little Deeper Behind The Nomis Warehouse

2009-06-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

Alright, we didn't get as close as we wanted to get to the wildness behind the warehouse yesterday. So we got prepared today

and set out on our journey.

Want To Know What's Going On Behind the NOMIS Warehouse?

2009-06-10T15:46:00.000-07:00

A Game of SKATE @ The NOMIS Warehouse

2009-06-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

I wrecked my tailbone and my wrist skating a hip the night before so I decided that instead of skating I was gonna pick up the camera and show ya what happens a couple times a day at the Nomis Design warehouse. Just imagine what its like when there's a third person in this game.

Shot of The Day

2009-06-10T07:12:00.001-07:00

Ok so I put my camera down for a quick sec to shoot a little with the video camera and Scotty decides that he is gonna take a photo. And what does he decide to take a photo of? Well that would be me.

Ledge For Lunch Coming Soon

2009-06-09T14:47:00.000-07:00

This is a little taste of what's to come. A Video about what happens during the noon hour at the Nomis Design Warehouse.

Nike Just Knows How To Do It

2009-06-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

Enjoy!

New Ledge Video

2009-06-08T12:35:00.001-07:00

Alright so were at the Nomis Warehouse (as I seem to be every week of my life since August, Monday through Friday 8-4) and Matty and I are getting down with a ledge during our noon hour or power, how sour, meet me in the tower, do not cower (sorry sometimes I get excited when things rhyme) This is just a little glimpse of what the next video on the blog is gonna be about.

Enjoy!

2009/2010 Technine Snowboard For Sale

2009-06-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

This was supposed to be one of next years snowboards in the Technine lineup but it got cancelled. So its a mad limited edition now. Its a 159. Its never been ridden and it still has the plastic wrap on it. Im open to offers on it, just keep in mind its brand new, never been ridden and one of next years boards.

If your interested give me a shout at andrewhodgson12@gmail.com

Im gonna put this up on craigslist in a bit so check it before others do.

Abbotsford Summer Lovin'

2009-06-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

The Good Ol' boys in Abbotsford get down at the Park.

Shot this one afternoon at the park

Shot of The Day

2009-06-07T17:35:00.000-07:00

"What's G?"...No One Cares Anymore

2009-06-05T11:51:00.000-07:00

The NBA Does Care

2009-06-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

Alright if you have been following the NBA playoffs you will have definitely heard the name of Mickael Pietrus repping for Orlando. Also if you have been following any NBA coverage period you will no doubt have seen commercials advertising what NBA players have been doing in their cities to promote the NBA "Cares" work.

Well here we have Pietrus stepping outside of his Orlando city and showing us his love for his root, France.

Ladies and Gentlemen...I Give you the Mickael Pietrus x Nike Tribute to the recent Air France 447 crash from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.

Shot of The Day

2009-06-05T07:40:00.001-07:00

Shot of The Day

2009-06-02T07:25:00.000-07:00

Nic Skating through the streets

Shot of The Day

2009-06-01T07:28:00.001-07:00

Its hard to tell from this photo but the ground here isn't all that smooth. He still managed to pop a switch flip knee hight though.

Shot of the Day

2009-05-31T10:48:00.001-07:00

Ok so admittedly it has been a few days since I have uploaded a "Shot of the Day," however, I have been out and about snapping some shots here, there and everywhere. So be sure to expect some more photos coming up and not just skateboarding I promise!

Enjoy!

Shot of the Day

2009-05-26T22:00:00.001-07:00

Shot of the Day

2009-05-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

Shot of the Day

2009-05-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

I don't only shoot skateboarding. A walk through the woods

Shot of the Day

2009-05-24T10:33:00.000-07:00

Another day skating in the Valley. Matty hits the Nollie Nose Slide at one of the Local schools.

Holla!

Shot of the Day

2009-05-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

This is my homie Chris locking in back tail.

Just another day in the streets of the valley.

Holla!

Shot of the Day

2009-05-22T20:44:00.000-07:00

Its a Little late in the day, but never late than never!

This is my beautiful wifey up on a hill over looking the valley.

Holla!

Fakie Fridays

2009-05-22T08:59:00.000-07:00

Shot of the Day

2009-05-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

Ok so the name of the blog is 'Through the Lens' so I was thinking its probably about time I actually should you lovely folks in blog world what's happening on the other end of my lens. So this is the newest installment to this page, I call it 'Shot of the Day'!!!

Ok I understand this isn't the cleverest name in the world, however it explains exactly what the segment is.

So without further a due...the first photo to be added to this section taken by yours truly.

enjoy!

Holla!

Ben Horton

2009-05-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

Yo Just wanted to post some gear that Ben Horton is laying down.

He straight killing things. He has animals down to a fine science and he just had an article in the latest Contrast Magazine.

Check him out suckas!

Holla!

http://www.benhortonart.com/home.html

Nollies @ Noon

2009-05-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

So I have this cheap video camera, but its been sometime since I have busted it out of its dusty shell and recorded anything worthwhile.

So Im turning this dreadful habit around and posting my recent endeavors with the video camera.

I hope you enjoy and if you do stay tuned cause there is gonna be more where this came from. In fact I have already finished editing a few little bits and pieces of what's been going on, its just a matter of time now before I load them onto the blog.

holla!