One afternoon in 1975, a young photographer named Hugh Holland drove up Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Los Angeles and encountered skateboarders carving up the drainage ditches along the side of the canyon. Immediately transfixed by their grace and athleticism, he knew he had found an amazing subject. Although not a skateboarder himself, for the next three years Holland never tired of documenting skateboarders surfing the streets of Los Angeles, parts of the San Fernando Valley, Venice Beach, and as far away as San Francisco and Baja California, Mexico. During the mid-1970s, Southern California was experiencing a serious drought, leaving an abundance of empty swimming pools available for trespassing skateboarders to practice their tricks. From these suburban backyard haunts to the asphalt streets that connected them, this was the place that created the legendary Dogtown and Z-Boys skateboarders. With their requisite bleached blonde hair, tanned bodies, tube socks and Vans, these young outsiders are masterfully captured against a sometimes harsh but always sunny Southern California landscape in LOCALS ONLY. LOCALS ONLY features more than 120 large-format color images plus a Q+A format interview with the artist.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"'Locals Only' is a celebration of youth. Muscles, wiry bodies, long, tangled hair. A kid might have been in one of the most awkward stages of adolescence, but when he was sailing around an empty pool, Holland reminds us, he was something else entirely. He was perfection." —Los Angeles Times
"A wonderful time machine that captures a unique period of skateboard history. ... How fortunate we are that Hugh Holland was there to document a golden era." —Concrete Wave
"Sometimes, you stumble upon a photographer whose work has gone unnoticed. He has been sitting on photos shot 30 years ago; like a good stew, they've been simmering, getting juicier and juicier." —C Magazine
"Skateboards, sweatbands, streetwear and other relics of the '70s are perfectly preserved in Holland's action shots of rail-riding teens." —Time Out New York
About the Author
Hugh Holland began photographing skateboarders in southern California in 1975. His series of skateboard photographs was first shown at M+B Gallery in Los Angeles in 2006. Following the success of the show, his work has been shown in Paris and New York City, and fashion trendsetters such as American Apparel have used Holland's skateboarding images in their publicity campaigns. Holland resides in Los Angeles.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Jos Oliviera
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
the size of the book is great, the printing awesome and the interview is useful to understand this golden period of skateboarding history. I'm not a skater or something, I'm a photographer and looking the killer book want me to know more about this world, their culture... and, I guess, the mean reason for a book is inspiration, so this one works fine... so fine.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Excellent student? Photography is amazing I love the look of real film photography makes me think of a simpler time.
Buy this book if you are into skateboarding or retro flashbacks! Lots of energy dripping from these Pages.
Buy this book if you are into skateboarding or retro flashbacks! Lots of energy dripping from these Pages.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
LOCALS ONLY is edited by Steve Crist and provides a stunning addition to photography and California collections alike. An oversized presentation comes from a young photographer who encountered skateboarders riding along Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Los Angeles. Entranced, he devoted his photography talents to capturing them: this lovely survey captures Southern California culture and youth lifestyle and provides a vivid series of color images. Any arts or California history collection needs this!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Xojar
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This has to be one of the best volumes of photographic work published over the last twenty years. It perfectly captures the essence of an era that we will never see again, and it does so from inside the core of that experience.
This volume conveys the philosophy of an age that, like fine wine, has become more precious over time.
Many photographers, especially in the area of sports, are distant and aloof from their subjects. Hugh Holland, on the other hand, sweeps the viewer off his feet and takes him along for the adventure with him. That is the magical aspect of his images.
In an essay I just read online today, an editorial refers to Holland's work as capturing "The Lost Art of Living". Read this to fill in all that I would have loved to have said myself:
[...].
This volume conveys the philosophy of an age that, like fine wine, has become more precious over time.
Many photographers, especially in the area of sports, are distant and aloof from their subjects. Hugh Holland, on the other hand, sweeps the viewer off his feet and takes him along for the adventure with him. That is the magical aspect of his images.
In an essay I just read online today, an editorial refers to Holland's work as capturing "The Lost Art of Living". Read this to fill in all that I would have loved to have said myself:
[...].
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Great photography by Hugh Holland. He captures a time, a style, an attitude, a pursuit, a vibe .... I want to be 15 again.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
just reminds me of santa monica, though mostly shot in OC, some really great pictures. were we ever really that young.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I thought this book was just ok. Some decent photo's of young people skating in Southern California. Not a must have.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Sometime when I need to relax or take a quick break from work I flip through this book! It's really a great book and always brings a smile to my face!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Glory Days
Hugh Holland did an excellent job of capturing the California skateboarders in the 70s .
Beautiful photographs .
Raw and innocent.
Beautiful photographs .
Raw and innocent.
Published 5 months ago by John M davis
4.0 out of 5 stars
Old school skateboarding
Old school stuff for skateboarding lovers... You have to get it. Beautiful pictures. Without shoes, riding was so hot !
Published 7 months ago by Laurent Hunerblaes
3.0 out of 5 stars
Locals Only
Little bit short, but great quality pictures directly remind you of the nostalgic 70s skateboard trends. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Good_Mood_Mike
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply beautiful - time capsule
I got this for my brother who grew up during this era and could've been one of these guys. It's a beautiful book, with a short interview-type introduction and fantastic large-scale... Read more
Published 18 months ago by C. Flinn
2.0 out of 5 stars
I love photography but apparently I do not love photography of skaters...
They were good shots and if this had been published in the 70s I'd have said it was terrific... but it's not and it sort of just reminded my of my high school scrapbook. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Regina E. Hott
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
This is a wonderful book that truly captures that magical period that existed only in Southern California in the mid 1970's. Read more
Published on April 9, 2011 by Mary Bookhounds
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