Through the Lens of Skateboarding: Rogério Venâncio on Photography, Culture, and the PUSH Skate Festival

He had a master from whom he bought an old camera. Pedro Raimundo, photographer and director of the skate magazine Surge, is his inspiration, but the rest of the journey was his own. Rogério Venâncio, owner of 4Culture shop in Leiria, Portugal, talks about what he loves most about the art and the importance of an event like the PUSH Skate Festival.

Skater Ivan Melo

Skater João Teixeira

What drove you to become a photographer?

I’ve always loved photography, especially the photos in skate magazines like Surge, which have dazzled me since I was a boy. I met Pedro Raimundo (director of Surge magazine), who is an inspiration to me. Years later, I bought an old camera from him, and that’s when I finally started taking pictures on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the camera didn’t come with instructions from Pedro [he laughs], so I had to ask him for advice.

Skater João Lourenço

What’s the best part about skateboarding photography?

It’s about capturing simplicity. We don’t need a great trick to get a great photo - we just need to understand skateboarding because it’s like predicting what’s going to happen next. Knowing the skater also helps a lot; sometimes, just rolling around allows us to capture a really nice picture.

Skater João Lourenço

What’s your opinion about the PUSH Skate Festival in Portugal?

I’m excited, of course, because it will be held in my city, Leiria. It’s great for all the kids to realize that skateboarding isn’t just about tricks - it’s much more than that. It’s about culture and the many people involved in it. This is a massive initiative because it will bring together people from North to South, and since it’s not a competition, it will be a great opportunity to talk about skateboarding and have fun with people we relate to.

Skater Tomás Lopes

Skater Pedro Neves

Check out Rogério Venâncio on Instagram