THE FACES OF BITTERCOLD SHOWDOWN

PHOTOS & WORDS | VISUAL DIRECTOR JONATHAN LABEZ @JMLABEZ

This was my first trip away from home since Winterclash 2020, right before lockdown. Three years since my last flight and pop up studio at a major blade event. I was long overdue. What a way to jump back in— a trip somewhere I never thought I’d get to be, Detroit and Bitter Cold Showdown, let alone set up a pop up studio where Wes Driver did his studio photos in 2009. I could not have imagined this when I first saw Wes’ photos in ONE all those years ago nor when I was inspired to do my first studio at a blade event nearly a decade later. It felt full circle.

The pop up studio is my way of documenting the community. Established pros and everyday skaters, older names and new to the sport. My ethos is everyone is important and welcomed to come sit for a portrait.

I’m honored to have been part of that ephemeral moment in blade history with those that were in attendance.

A big thank you to Detroit local and photographer, Eli Lindauer, for going above and beyond to help provide lighting gear and ideas; to Daniel Kinney for giving Be-Mag the space to make our community documentation possible; to the old and new friends that sat for their photographs.

FIND YOURSELF AND DOWNLOAD THE IMAGES HERE

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FULL DOWNLOAD OF BCSD IMAGES AVAILABLE HERE