Surfing, Skateboarding, Music, Photography, Travel, Culture and general antics of the youth on the run.

Photo Credit: Dylan Gordon Portfolio 037: Some Eyes May Wander

03.22.19 – TAGS:
Photos: Dylan Gordon

Another day, another inbox full of tidbits from far and wide. Today, however, we stumbled across a truly creative lensman who dabbles in multiple mediums. Digi and film, stills and vids. We grabbed the man for a few of the basics and have attached some fine examples of his work below.

He is also the founder of a cool project called helpcalifornia. It’s basically a California based non-profit that finds people in need and organizes help and resources. The world needs a few more guys like Dylan. – What Youth

 

What Youth: Where are you hanging out these days?
Dylan Gordon: Tricky question… right at this moment, I’m in a middle seat on a plane that’s way too hot on my way back from a splitboard/climbing trip to Scotland [Laughs]. Other than that, still living in Ventura, surfing and hanging out with my pup as much as possible!

 How did you get into photography?
When I was younger I would always mess around with my moms A1 on the ranch I grew up on and then began to take it on trips when I would travel to skate. Around that time I was going to a community college just taking a lot of random classes to see what clicked. After a bit too long of just kicking rocks I applied to a few schools for journalism, graphic design and photography. They felt like the best way for me to stay in the worlds that I loved and an easy excuse to continue to travel with friends. I got pretty lucky straight out of school and landed a gig with Surfer mag and started hitting the road again.

 What/who are some of your favorite subjects/ locations?
Honestly, my absolute favorite trips are the fuck-off galavants with friends. Road trips, camping, surfing. beers, climbing, riding dirtbikes or just a good old run out to a watering hole. Some of my favorite images come about from just hitting the road with good folks and seeing what happens. But I’m also super fortunate now to work with brands like Roark Revival and get to travel with some absolute legends to the far corners of the earth shooting everything I personally love to do.

You shoot both video and photos? Do you do your own editing too?
I used to shoot a lot of motion, it’s always felt like such a natural way to tell a story. But as of late I end up shooting stills more than anything and directing the rest.

 Digital or film or both? 
For most of my clients I shoot mostly digital, but I constantly find myself with a few different film cameras on every trip. I love exploring mediums and processes with film which then leads me to messing around with different printing methods and mixed media artsy shit.

Tell us a little about Help-California?
I started help-California in 2017 with a few friends in response to the Thomas Fires that rolled through Ventura where I live. It didn’t feel right to stand by while friends homes burnt down knowing we could get to work and help. This resulted in both connecting the industries and brands I worked with to help supply clothing, funds or shelter as well as rallying community to help where needed. Which more often than not has been outer ranch communities. I grew up on horse ranches my whole life so I knew how to help get these folks back on their feet and make it a little easier bit by bit for anyone affected. Now we’ve been helping a lot in Malibu after the Woolsey fires. It’s pretty incredible when you give folks a way to help how effective you can be. – WY

 

 

 

Photo Credit jack belli what youth

Photo Credit: Jack Belli Portfolio 018

Jack Belli’s portfolio of imagery is vast. What started as a surf hobby, has since turned into an art form featuring some of the world’s most beautiful girls. We tracked Jack down to find out how that evolution occurred. And if he knows how we can make it happen for us. WHAT YOUTH: Where did…

Photo Credit: Zara Mirkin Portfolio 017

“I love music, its my biggest passion in life except I can’t play for shit so didn’t pursue it. In saying that I try to make my work as musically involved as I can and spend the majority of my money going to watch my favorite bands play, and buying silly band merch.” –Zara Mirkin…

Photo Credit Larsen Sotelo what youth girls

Photo Credit: Larsen Sotelo Portfolio 015

Being resourceful. And making the most of what you have. That’s been the ticket for a lot of successful photographers. And Larsen Sotelo became an expert at both of these things, and now his photography comes with built in edge and raw energy. We had him select some of his favorite photos and asked him a…

Photo Credit: Luke Schuetrumpf Portfolio 015

He’s young. He’s talented. He’s hustling. And he literally rode his bike here to meet us. Australian photographer Luke Schuetrumpf started by filming surfing and then quickly abandoned that when he realized he could photograph beautiful girls instead. And the call has worked out. “Where I grew up had a big influence on me: girls at…

photo credit kyle lightner what youth surfing

Photo Credit: Kyle Lightner Portfolio 014

The return of a really talented photographer

what youth photo credit

Photo Credit: Patrick Trefz Portfolio 013

Patrick Trefz is originally from Düsseldorf, Germany — a long way from his current Santa Cruz home and surf lifestyle. But it was there in Germany his love of skateboarding got the ball rolling for his current passion. It was a few well-timed jaunts into the jungle, barefoot and eating bananas and coconuts off the…

Photo Credit: Stefan Kocev Portfolio 012

A beautiful array of images from a friend of a friend.

what youth surfing waves

Photo Credit: Seth Stafford Portfolio 011

Seth Stafford spent much of his career shooting photographs for the now out of print TransWorld Surf Mag. Now he spends his time surfing and skating and shooting more photos. And as you’ll see below, the New Jersey native has accumulated quite a surreal catalog of photographs during that career — working with and shooting both…

Photo Credit: Gutterdust Portfolio 010

Gutterdust is the epic alias of Andy Wauman, artist, photographer and wanderer.

Josh Zucker shoots Geoff Rowley what youth photo credit

Photo Credit: Josh Zucker Portfolio 009

Josh Zucker hangs with a sick crew. At only 21 years old he’s already worked for Vans and Flip, is practically an honorary member of Odd Future, kicks it on Fairfax casually and has traveled the world with “it” crews as well as a solid batch of skateboarding legends. His demeanor is polite, friendly and…

Nolan hall photo credit what youth

Photo Credit: Nolan Hall Portfolio 008

Working for Vans puts you in some pretty good company. And when your’e a cool cat like Nolan Hall, you’re going to get to document dudes authentically. In the wild. How they are. Unique, creative, fucked up and amazing. Nolan has been traveling the world snapping photos for a long time and we hit him…

Woody Gooch photo credit what youth

Photo Credit: Woody Gooch Portfolio 007

When we asked Woody Gooch about his name, all he said was: “Woodya mean?” Followed by: “I don’t really have a fucking clue how I got the name of two male private parts. I still haven’t asked my parents. No one ever believes me that my name is Woody Gooch.” But we’ll be damned if…

Sign up for letters from What Youth


By enabling this page, you are acknowledging and accepting our privacy terms and conditions.