THROUGH THE LENS: Guy Pitchon Documents the Youth Skate Culture of Israel

Photographer and skater Guy Pitchon spent much of his adolescence immersed in Tel Aviv’s small but ardent skate scene. Through exploring the city’s winding streets and abandoned structures, Pitchon also found interest in photography. His distinct visual style is a reflection of the city’s gritty construction, whereby defunct buildings and scrapyards play apt backdrop to youths smoking apple bongs and skaters catching breath before attempting another leap across roadside barriers. Albeit the raw settings, Pitchon’s work captures the bright personalities of the local skate community, whose bumps and bruises are worn as heroic decorations in reflection of their valiant lifestyles.

The photos submitted for our latest THROUGH THE LENS are part of Pitchon’s first ever book Love Child, which released March 27 in collaboration with Vans and ArtPort Tel Aviv Gallery. Love Child provides a rare perspective on Tel Aviv and tells the untold story of the Mediterranean micro-metropolis’ street and skate culture which is rarely reported in the media. Love Child provides unique insight on the subversive habits adopted by adolescents as they eschew responsibilities of serving in the Israeli military. You can see more of Pitchon’s work via his website, which showcases various projects from his 10+ year career.