Atiba Jefferson on photography | AP Gallery interview

Every month, AP Gallery takes a deep dive into visible tradition. We discover music movies and images, in addition to photos that form the world extra broadly. Our discussions go backstage and on set, revealing the imaginative and prescient, the sudden inspiration or the snap choices that helped to mould iconic photos in music, skateboarding, sports activities and popular culture at giant.

We caught up with storied photographer Atiba Jefferson, who shot the WILLOW cowl at Milk Studios. Few folks exist as comfortably within the house between pictures and tradition as Jefferson. His multifaceted profession has outlined the skateboarding world for many years, with appearances in Thrasher, Slap, Transworld and a variety of different main magazines. He was additionally a employees photographer for the Los Angeles Lakers, capturing pivotal moments within the careers of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. However whether or not he’s engaged on collaborations with Supreme and Converse—or capturing personalities from King Krule and Lil Wayne to James Harden and LeBron James—Jefferson at all times stays immersed in music.

Learn extra: Photographer Sean Murphy recalls shooting blink-182, Green Day and more

On this interview, Jefferson detailed his early journey into music and the posters that adorned his partitions. He additionally talked about his greatest inspirations, his course of as a photographer and his 5 favourite albums.

You’re a past proficient skater, however you additionally play slightly piano right here and there, and also you hoop. Rising up in Colorado, what had been the posters in your partitions as a child, and had been you into all these items from a younger age? What was motivating younger Atiba to exit and do all this in poor health stuff?

Sure, I play piano [and] began at 21 due to Ahmad Jamal and Invoice Evans. [I also] hoop, nevertheless it’s not fairly. [Laughs.] The posters I had had been everywhere—Steel Pulse, Bob Marley, the Police, U2, Samhain, Dead Kennedys, EPMD and tons of Thrasher magazine images. I grew up in a small city [called] Manitou Springs. My mother has nice music style, from reggae to soul. Then skateboarding taught me punk and hip-hop.

What was the primary reside present you’ll be able to keep in mind attending? 

My first reminiscence was [when my] mother took me to see Peter Tosh. Then my first non-local punk present was ALL and Big Drill Car. I used to be blown away.

You’re tremendous well-known to your skate pictures and your potential to seize skilled athletes in essentially the most candid method. However you’re additionally a critical music head—what was the primary present you’ll be able to keep in mind taking images at?

I introduced my digital camera to [a] Quicksand present however don’t have any images of it, [and I’m] so bummed. Jawbox and Seaweed I’ve images of and in addition Pharcyde and Common in 1994. 

Who impressed you to get into skating and pictures? What photographers would you advocate we take a look at?

I’m nonetheless at all times impressed by a lot new skateboarding and pictures, however old-school Spike Jonze and Chi Modu, R.I.P., and skateboarding Ray Barbee, Natas [Kaupas], [Mark “Gonz” Gonzales and] Kareem Campbell. New-school photographers [you should check out are] Sandy Kim, Shaniqwa Jarvis and Petra Collins. Skate boarders [you should check out are] Kader Sylla and Tyshawn Jones. 

What music do you prefer to have on once you shoot versus once you edit? 

Once I shoot, I just like the vitality up, so hip-hop or the Clash [or] Specials. Once I edit, [I listen to] a number of jazz or new age. 

When is Atiba Jefferson going to begin making music movies? 

I’ve accomplished a handful for Dinosaur Jr., Turnstile, American Football, TV On The Radio [and] Soccer Mommy. A brand new one for Bonnie Prince Billy and Matt Sweeney simply dropped. I solely love to do them if I’m into the artist. 

High 5 albums?

Bad Brains Rock For Light, Miles Davis Live In 1958, A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory, Cocteau Twins Milk & Kisses [and] Johnny “Hammond” Smith Gambler’s Life, however take a look at the brand new black midi [Cavalcade] and Joyce Wrice [Overgrown]. [They’re] two of my favourite data this yr.

Is there something new that you just’re engaged on that you just need to shout out? 

I’m engaged on a furnishings collab with Modernica. I want to complete a e-book. [I’m] artistic directing with Joe Jonas and DNCE. I’ve a solo report [that I’m] working [on] with Jon Theodore and Nosaj Factor in 2022. [There is] a number of stuff with Canon cameras, [and I’m] going to the Olympics to shoot and taking pictures for Thrasher 24/7.