In the first of three covers of Dazed Maxx, the first-ever US edition of Dazed, Tobey McIntosh, the mastermind behind Crenshaw Skate Club, stands in the middle of an ice rink. Spinning and skating around him are ice skaters Ganna Bogdan, Tatiana Zaytseva, Nicole Igdal, Maksym Varenyk, Chisom Arinze and Alina Milevska. According to the photographer, Rueguh, this was an intentional contrast: between relaxation and movement, between skateboarding’s “own niche swag” and ice skating’s flamboyancy.
In partnership with Nike, Dazed Maxx explores what happens when sports subcultures collide. Inside the issue, athletes-turned-cultural editors guide us through the subcultures bubbling across New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, crafting experiments that explore the future of sport through Nike’s new AirImagination platform. Each cover shoot had a local dream team, with Rueguh joined by stylists Pariya Rahni and Roy Raviv, and producers Khaki Jean and Kori Tamondong in Los Angeles.
Ahead, Rueguh talks us through the special mix of logistics, skate knowledge and gut feelings that brought the dynamic Dazed Maxx LA cover story to life.
Tell me about how you got into photography! Have you always taken pictures?
Rueguh: I got into photography through skateboarding. It’s actually full circle to have a feature where I’m shooting skateboarders from a semi-close city to where I grew up. Skateboarding used to be the only thing I was decent at growing up, and when I started taking photos of skaters, it opened up a whole different realm for me.
Did your skate background help you capture this cover story?
Rueguh: To be honest, I knew the skateboarding part was gonna be the easiest to capture because I grew up taking photos of skaters – but what really had me excited to execute was the ice skaters. I knew it was gonna be a challenge, but my team handled the shot ideas I had in mind just right. All I had to do was show the ice skaters exactly what I pictured, and it all came together.
Dazed Maxx is all about sports subculture clashes and community. How did you want to bring this together for this cover shoot?
Rueguh: I really just wanted to pay homage to both skateboarding and the ice skaters. I used wide angles to keep that OG skateboarding feel, but threw in tighter lenses to give that isolating respect to the ice skaters. I think it’s the research that really helps – it makes it easier to keep things balanced and respectful toward both cultures.
Talk me through how the cover image came to life!
Rueguh: The cover image was one of those ones where you just know what you want the second you see all the styling, location, and talent come together. Skateboarding culture is all about its own niche swag and not doing too much. On the other hand, ice skating has those flamboyant, eccentric movements. So it made sense to have Tobey in a spot where he could stay cool and collected as the lead and let the ice skaters do their thing and bring that contrast.
Looking back on that shoot day, what was your favourite part?
Rueguh: Looking back on that shoot day, I’d say I realised there are so many untapped subcultures I haven’t had the chance to fully appreciate yet. There are people out there who know their purpose – whether the impact is felt subconsciously or on a bigger scale. It really puts things in perspective that there’s something out there for everyone. This shoot felt like proof that when you push boundaries, you might end up in an unexpected position, but it might be exactly where you’re supposed to be.
What does it mean to you to represent LA?
Rueguh: This question honestly means the most to me. It means the absolute world to represent LA. I grew up in Lynwood, which is technically just LA County, but it’s always felt like home. There are a million other photographers who are just as worthy of repping LA, but I feel like I’m putting on for the younger generation. I’m a first-generation Mexican-American, with no major school background and no real role model in a photography or production background to set a skeleton blueprint for how to do this – but there are hundreds of kids out there with the same story as me. It’s an honor to be a trailblazer for the youth and to show that it’s possible.
