Bikepath – The Book
After 20 years of skateboarding, my body was left broken. I couldn't physically ride a skateboard anymore. It was a harsh reality for me to embrace the questions: What’s next? Would I ever learn to live and love again?
I had a void in my soul.
Photography helped bandage it for some years. But, it wasn't until I started surfing that I was fully able to let go of the thought that I couldn’t ride a skateboard anymore.
However, I had fallen in love again.
Seven years ago after moving to Hawaii, I caught myself wandering. The new question: Had I lost my passion for making pictures? Some people may say it was a midlife crisis, but now looking back at it, I think I was having more of a mid-length crisis.
I spent most of my time trying to learn how to surf and what boards to ride. And you could find me on the bikepath, whether I was taking my kids to school, checking surf, or going to surf.
Soon I was witnessing all these beautiful, every day life moments happening on the bike bath , and every time I saw a picture, I was kicking myself for not having my camera on me.
Eventually, I pulled out of my slumber and started shooting surf action because that inspires me. Then I captured these daily moments of people coming and going, living their lives by participating in this beautiful water world.
My passion for photography has always consisted of landscape, portraits, and action. The North Shore bike path embodies all that for me.
I would like to express my sincerest gratitude for making me fall deeper in love with photography and life.
This book is dedicated to Mimi, Ella, Ragnar, and the community of the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.
Special thank you to the Florence Ohana for making these pictures possible.
I owe you one!
Mahalo!
Arto
I spent years in front of cameras as a professional skateboarder. Ed Templeton was one of the photographers who would point his camera at me in the early years of my career.
I was always intrigued by his approach to photography. He never cared to shoot the skate action at all—he was always drawn to photographing people off the board.
Needless to say, Ed’s vibe has made a great impact on how I approach photography. Years later, I spend more time behind the camera now.
I started photographing people and surfing on the North Shore of Oahu’s bike bath a couple of years ago as a personal project. It has gained momentum and now I am proud to announce my first book which will be released on September 18th by superlabo.
A huge thank you and aloha to Yasunori and Ed for bringing my dreams to reality!