Tobin Yelland is a photographer who specializes in images of young people doing insane things on skateboards, but there's more to the story. Through his photography, videos, and zines, he gives us a look not into a "subculture" as it's often called, but into a culture-- a group of people who love each other. His photos capture rebellion, athleticism, freedom, and a wide range of emotions, but mostly they capture love. Having lived in L.A. for awhile now, the real question is, what is Tobin Yelland's favorite taco spot? We wanted to find out, and threw in some other questions as well...
What's your favorite taco?
La Playita.
What brought you to Los Angeles?
I moved to LA from New York for a job making videos for DC Shoes.
What keeps you here?
The warm weather and creative culture.
Who are your favorite artists?
Mark Gonzales, Masaki Kawai, Chris Johanson, Jerry Hsu.
When and where are you most happy?
Im most happy when Im with my family and or taking and making photos and films.
What is your entrance music?
Dave Brubeck, Take Five.
Describe your daily routine.
Wake up - eat breakfast with kids - get busy making stuff.
Do you have a lucky number?
not really -
What makes you feel the best, taking the photo, seeing it in print, or seeing it for the first time?
I like seeing the photo for the first time. Checking how it looks compared to how I thought it looked through the lens.
What are the elements of truly great action skate photo?
Most important element to me in a skate photo is Style and then difficulty of trick.
We're living in the golden age of _________________.
The golden age of sink or swim.
Has the shift from magazines to the internet been good, bad, or indifferent for skateboarding culture?
Thrasher has 200 + pages an issue and web presence going off.
Do you have a recurring dream?
I haven’t been remembering them lately but flying dreams are the best. My last favorite was jumping out of a helicopter into the ocean.
For all the young photographers out there, what's one thing they need to do?
Make things because you love to do it.
One thing they need to avoid?
Be influenced by others but try not to copy others. Your point of view is the best point of view even if you don’t see it as popular. The world needs new ideas.
Got any shoutouts?
Shoutout to all the good people trying to make positive change in the world.
Visit TobinYelland.com or his online shop.
Read More:
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from L.A. TACO
‘We Will Win:’ USC Students Won’t Back Down, Committing To Their Fight For Palestine Despite Arrests
One of their main demands is for the school to not only commit to a complete academic boycott of Israel and their killing of Palestinians, but also to be transparent about how much the school is investing.
What To Eat This Weekend: A Booze-Filled Piñata, Ethiopian Lamb Tibs, Mole Poblano in East L.A., and Tito’s Tacos’ Rare New Menu Item
Plus, one classic Mexican restaurant that promises its "last cinco de mayo on Skid Row."
Swarm of Police in Riot Gear Destroy Peaceful Pro-Palestine Encampment At UCLA During Early Morning Raid, Over 200 Arrested
At 4 AM, CHP broke through the fencing on the other side of the encampment and set up a police line, consistently firing flash-bang grenades into the air. They also fired on protestors with “less-lethal” munitions and rubber bullets, causing an injury to one protester’s face that required stitches.
Ten Palestinian-Owned Restaurants to Support in L.A. and O.C.
Supporting our local Palestinian restaurants not only allows you to experience excellent cooking and recipes from a culture and people who have been making these dishes for generations, but it also helps to broaden our worldviews on a culture some forces seek to bury and erase.
Where To Find Don Perico, The Mexican-Owned Brand Bringing Tropical Flavors To Dispensaries
The products, with their festive packaging, tropical flavors, and colorful parrot mascot, are relatable and better yet, they taste great, are fast-acting, and strong.
