Leo Sharp is an internationally published action sports photographer, his images have made it into publications such as Thrasher, Kingpin, Skateboarder and on the cover of multiple Sidewalk issues while working as their full time Photo Editor.
He now resides in Cornwall shooting the local skate scene, alongside this Leo lectures on the Fashion Photography course at Falmouth University. Here we catch up with Leo to find out more about what he’s up to and talk about some of the amazing images that have been captured in these quaint Cornish towns.
Okay first question, what made you want to move to Cornwall?
It was kind of second choice to Australia! But our emigration didn’t work out due to having a baby, so we moved to Cornwall instead.
Sweet! Do you enjoy photographing the skate scene down here?
Yes! It’s really good – there are always great skateboarders in every scene but being here in Cornwall for 6 years now, there has definitely been an influx of new talent both homegrown and imported.
There are so many new skaters all the time because of the uni too. You have so many awesome shots of the skate spots in Cornwall, whats the best place you’ve found/photographed?
There isn’t one best one – but a few are definitely the ship wreck between seen cove and lands end, Predannack airfield on the Lizard, and Lanyon Quoit near Penzance.
Nice, I really love the shot you got of Eddie Belvedere in Penryn. Out of your whole career is there a photo that you’ve taken that really sticks out in your mind? A favourite?
Thanks! Err, good question. I love shooting skaters who look effortless and stylish. So, off the top of my head, maybe Will Ainley switch crooked grind on Little Lloyds in Bristol.
Were you generally interested in photography or was it particularly skateboarding that made you want to pick up a camera?
I had been given a camera for my 7th birthday. Was always interested in photography but never really shot that many photos until I started using my compact camera to photograph my friends skateboarding. This was around 12 years old I think. We would club together between 4 of us, buy a 24 exposure roll of film, then get 6 shots each. We’d skate around Milton Keynes, shoot our quota, then take the film to Boots for the 1 hour processing. It was crazy how much it stoked us out to see ourselves in pictures. You have to remember this is way before phone photos, digital cameras or even easily accessible video.
I love that, film is just something completely different to digital. Do you still shoot film today?
Yes, not as much as I’d like to though! The immediacy of social media for some clients negates the use of film sometimes. It’s difficult to do as much in photoshop with film too.
It’s such a shame, shooting film give you shots that are so much more precious
I agree to a certain extent, there is always an argument for and against. It depends what the output is, but I definitely still love film!
What do you use to shoot?
Canon 1DX – 85mm lens. I’m doing posts on shots from a recent Bones wheels UK tour. Wanted to shoot some film on this, but having limited space in a van and everyones bags piled in the back, your film kit can easily get squashed!
Ive seen some of these on your instagram! Awesome stuff!
Thanks!
What was your first job in the skate photography industry – how did you get your foot in the door?
Err, it’s difficult to pinpoint a ‘job’, but the first photos I had in a magazine were in RAD in 1991. They were just prints that I sent in of my friends skateboarding in Milton Keynes. The editor at the time, Tim Leighton-Boyce used them as a Milton Keynes ‘Scene Check’.
Ha nice! Your friends must have been so stoked.
Yeah, such good times! I spent many, many hours skating Milton Keynes…
How does the Cornish skate scene compare to Milton Keynes then? Haha.
Hmmm! it’s more difficult to get around Cornwall without your own transport. I hear it takes 2 hours to get the bus from Newquay to Truro! This is ridiculous really and one of the reasons that a lot of skaters just stay in their own towns.
It is ridiculous.
Plus the fact that most cornish spots are pretty rugged. Eddie Belvedere has been living in cornwall for 3 years and has kind of formed a crew – the ‘Kernow Seagulls’ or K.S.G. Eddie will drive around Falmouth, Truro, Newquay, St Austell, Plymouth and beyond to pick people up and take them skating. I think their video ‘Gullz on Film’ is coming out this year…
Thats amazing, I had no idea about that! Will look out of that one.
I still don’t understand why Newquay doesn’t have a skatepark overlooking North Fistral beach. It would be perfect for the Boardmasters festival and mirror Marseille in France one of the best concrete parks in Europe.
You do teach at Falmouth Uni, which course?
It’s Fashion Photography. Probably wouldn’t have been my first choice to teach, but that was the one with a job when I applied in 2013 and I’ve learnt a hell of a lot since then, ‘Fashion’ means whatever you want it to not just little black dresses, high heels, Gucci, Prada etc.
Haha, the fashion photography course at Falmouth is really good, what kind of stuff do you teach in your lectures?
It differs on the year group, but the basic premise is to introduce students to the differences between editorial and advertising, studio and location photography during the first year, whilst trying to get them to understand what is going to make them authentic within the photographic world. I like to focus on art theory a bit, but what I’ve learnt is not to try and teach too much! We also look at the different genres of Fashion Image Making – such as catwalk and backstage photography at shows, and street style photography. Another important feature of the course is professional practice. Connecting students with industry and with Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing and Textile Design students. They should work in teams with Stylists, models, art directors – all important jobs in the industry.
We don’t expect to churn out 60 fashion photographers per year – graduates have gone onto to model bookers, fashion illustrators, stylists, production co-ordinators, art directors etc.
Sounds interesting, the course is really successful then! Okay my last question for you is a cliche, who inspires you as a photographer?
There are so many. I’m looking a Constructivism at the moment – and Laszlo Moholy-Nagy. But in terms of skate photography, I’d say Brian Gaberman, Atiba Jefferson, Oliver Barton, Wig Worland.
