With his outstanding skateboarding and photography prowess, it’s safe to say that Josh Katz is one of my favourite creators on YouTube. As such, I was stoked to chat with him about all things creative.
Firstly, introduce yourself: Where are you based and what do you do?
I'm based out of Brooklyn, NYC and I do the internet for a living – particularly making skateboarding and photo videos for Youtube.
Skateboarding is obviously such an important part of your life. How did this passion begin?
Like every 90s kid, it was a combination between the older brother and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3.
In addition to skateboarding you’re a very talented photographer. When did your love for the medium start?
I got super into photography after I smashed my face skateboarding. I was skating a gap and slipped out directly onto my front teeth, and couldn't skate for a few months while dealing with some oral surgery [Here's a link to the very bloody video]. Naturally, I started shooting skateboarding to pass the time, which branched off into portraits, landscapes, and architecture photography. Smashing my face really did me a solid.
You express your passion for both activities on your YouTube channel. What brought you to upload videos in the first place?
Nowadays, people start YouTube channels with these great influencer ambitions. When I made my first video in 2006, I was 10 years old and just fooling around with this brand new social network the way kids play with Instagram these days. I had a camera, I liked skateboarding, and the whole thing happened pretty naturally.
What advice would you give to somebody trying to make a living in the creative industries?
Be patient and pursue the things you're genuinely interested in, all monetary gains aside. For example, if you want to be a photographer, just breaking even on the gear you've bought is a challenge. But if you love what you're doing, this won't matter as much and you'll be far likelier to thrive.
Read about Josh's gear and travelling adventures here.