Back Light: Kevin Enis

Kevin Enis is a skate photographer out of Beunos Aires, Argentina, who discovered photography when he was 15 while visiting his dad in Spain. He spent the next four years teaching himself photography online and borrowing friend’s cameras. After four years of working and saving, Enis bought his first camera. His skate photography and street photography are an excellent window into life and Argentina's skate scene. His Instagram features a good mix of the two as well. Enis makes good use of Argentina's architecture, and his ability to find new and interesting ways to shoot skateboarding is initially what caught our eye. As he touches on in the interview, Kevin strives to incorporate the elements of a skate spot or scene to better illustrate the story of what went into landing the trick. In this Back Light Series, we got in touch with Kevin to ask him some questions about his approach to skating and photography.

Enjoy Kevin’s gallery and make sure to tag all your Instagram skate photos with #ccsbacklight for a chance to win a $200 CCS Gift Card and be featured here at CCS.com!

Whatʼs your name and where are you from?Hi! I'm Kevin Enis, 22 years old from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Howʼd you get into photography?Since I was a kid I've been interested in Visual and Plastic Arts, My school was oriented towards Art. There, I learned a lot of things that got me closer to Photography. When I was 15 Years old, I went to visit my dad in Spain. He had bought a reflex for his job. I spent all the trip borrowing the camera from him to take pictures. When I came back to Buenos Aires, I put the goal to buy a camera. I spent 4 years working till I made it. In that time, I was without a camera. I learned through the Internet and using my friend's cameras.

Howʼd you get into skating?I started at a young age. I used to skate with a neighbor and we had toy skateboards. I remember my truck broke when I did my first ollie, hahaha. And with time, life got me closer to skateboarding.

What was your first camera (other than your phone)?A 35mm Nikon F-601 with a 24mm. My neighbor gave it to me to start shooting.

What camera do you shoot now?Now, Iʼm shooting with a Canon 7D and a 35mm Olympus XA. In terms of lenses, I use 8mm, 24mm, 40mm, and 85mm all fixed focal length.

What skate mag do you like best?It's a bit difficult to get the magazines here. But from what I can see regularly, I like the Skateboard mag, Free, 43, and the Grey. Also, the Vista of Brazil, and 7Capas of Argentina.

Are there any photographer's you admire/look up to?In skate photography, I like the work of Jake Darwen - how he lights the scene and the creativity he has with the angles. Oliver Barton in how he uses the fisheye and his Hassel photos. French Fred pictures are amazing too. In Argentina, Ale Mercado, in my opinion, is one of the best photographers around here in the skate scene. He has very nice pictures taken with a Hasselblad. Outside skate photography, I like Cartier-Bresson, Mc Culling, Brassaï and Aldo Sessa. I like seeing other photographs and nourish with every photographer I find.

Whatʼs your favorite subject to shoot outside of skateboarding?Street photography, I think it’s a way to show the daily life with a personal view. Also, itʼs a critical way to complain about issues of society. Generally, I take photos of homeless people. Sadly, there are a lot of people that have been left out of the system and they live in the streets.

What is the hardest part about shooting skateboarding?Carrying the bag corner to corner of the city - hahaha - a horrible back pain.

What is the best part of skateboarding?Share with friends and get to know new places. The happiness of landing a new trick after hours of trying.

Do you have any advice for kids just starting out shooting skate photography?Be curious, search techniques on the Internet and new photographers. Experience everything you can. Take pictures all the time, of anything, don’t close yourself only to one genre.

Your photos have a nice variation of angles and composition. How do you decideon an angle when you get to a new spot?When we get to the spot, in the best case scenario, the image presents itself in my head, intuitively. If that doesn’t happen, I try to get away from the scene the most I can to see what’s in the background and what’s interesting to get in the frame - colors, shapes, and lights. I think that it’s good to imagine the photo before taking it, decide how you want it, then frame it, and put the lights for what you’ve thought.

Landscape and background play a big part in your photos. Is that something that youʼre always looking to incorporate?Yes, I always try to show something else with the trick. Tell a story, express a sensation and style, or simply show the beauty of places.

Skateboarders see the world through a lens of whatʼs skateable. How has your view of the world changed as a result of shooting skate photography professionally?I think now, instead of seeing only what is skateable, I pay attention more to other things, for example, the light of these places, or the situations that happen between people. Backgrounds and colors, the details, everything in function of what can be a photo in that moment. A lot of times I regret of not having a camera whit me every time I go outside. Also, when I find a spot I think in who can skate it and what trick can be done for a good photo.

Whatʼs the best place youʼve visited as a result of being a photographer?Iʼve only had a few opportunities to travel being a photographer. I did some trips on some provinces near Buenos Aires and each one of them gave me different and valuable experiences. In May, I'm going to visit New York for two months and then Europe for two more months. I think that those places are going to be the best for now. I’d love to live traveling.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a photographer?I guess something related to Art, Graphic designer, Architect or musician.

Do you have anything to add? Shout outs?I want to thank you, Matt, and CCS for the interview and space. To David Aguilar for helping me to translate these words. And special thanks to my Mom and all my friends that share those skateboarding afternoons.

Do you have any good memories from CCS Catalogs growing up?Honestly, I only know the catalogs online for the same reason of the magazine question. I really liked the interview with BLABAC. I remember he said he was totally drunk when he took the photo of Danny Way doing a noseblunt!