Craig Snyder
Encyclopedia
Craig Snyder is an American
poet
, writer
and photographer. He is also a historian of skateboard
culture.
During the late 1970s Snyder became a contributing writer and photographer for Wave Rider
and Skate Rider
magazines, two glossy publications out of Cocoa Beach, Florida
. In 1977 Snyder became the first to photograph and publish images of a then unknown skateboarder named Alan Gelfand
. Snyder first met Gelfand that year at the opening of a skatepark in their hometown of Hollywood, Florida
. It was there at Skateboard USA that Snyder witnessed the development of one of the most important maneuvers in modern skateboarding. This was the Ollie
. Snyder’s other subjects from this period included Mike McGill
, Tim Scroggs, Rodney Mullen
, Mark Lake, Kent Senatore, Frank Nasworthy
, Brad Bowman, Jimmy Plumer and Dogtown
's Z-boys
' Shogo Kubo and Tony Alva
.
Between 1978 and 1982 Snyder also documented the punk rock scene in Tampa, Florida
, a locale heavily influenced by the new music which had been emerging out of the main hubs of New York and London. The most legendary group to originate from this central Florida scene were the Strait Jackets
, and Snyder photographed them both onstage and offstage during their short duration. Early performances by Iggy Pop
, Ramones
and U2
were also some of his subjects.
By the mid 1980s Snyder left photography to cultivate his interests in music, poetry and writing. From the 1990s to early 2000s Snyder collaborated with a number of American, European and Japanese musicians on various projects and recordings. At present he is a sometimes contributor to Concrete Wave Magazine
, providing articles and photographs for this quarterly publication out of Canada.
Collaborations
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and photographer. He is also a historian of skateboard
Skateboard
A skateboard is typically a specially designed plywood board combined with a polyurethane coating used for making smoother slides and stronger durability, used primarily for the activity of skateboarding. The first skateboards to reach public notice came out of the surfing craze of the early 1960s,...
culture.
Life and career
Born and raised in South Florida, Snyder would become a witness to the skateboard revolution which took place during the 1970s. As one of the first skate photographers of the era, he helped record and document a significant portion of the pioneering activity which was taking place in Florida.During the late 1970s Snyder became a contributing writer and photographer for Wave Rider
Wave Rider
Wave Rider was a quarterly surfing magazine of the 1970s published out of Cocoa Beach, Florida. Founded by Gunnar and John Griffin, it was launched during the mid-1970s and ceased publication by the early 1980s. Staff photographers included Rob Battipaglia, Joaquin Garcia and Larry Marshall...
and Skate Rider
Skate Rider
Skate Rider was a quarterly skateboarding magazine of the 1970s which originated out of Cocoa Beach, Florida, published by Gunnar and John Griffin who had launched Wave Rider magazine several years earlier. Skate Rider was founded in 1976 and lasted until 1980 when the popularity of skateboarding...
magazines, two glossy publications out of Cocoa Beach, Florida
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Cocoa Beach is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 12,482 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau estimates of 2008, the city had a population of 11,920...
. In 1977 Snyder became the first to photograph and publish images of a then unknown skateboarder named Alan Gelfand
Alan Gelfand
Alan "OLLIE" Gelfand is the inventor of the ollie, a skateboarding trick.-Life and career:Gelfand moved from New York to Hollywood, Florida with his family in 1968. Alan "Ollie" Gelfand started skateboarding in 1974 after his father bought him his first skateboard. In 1976 he won the South Florida...
. Snyder first met Gelfand that year at the opening of a skatepark in their hometown of Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
. It was there at Skateboard USA that Snyder witnessed the development of one of the most important maneuvers in modern skateboarding. This was the Ollie
Ollie (skateboarding trick)
The ollie is a skateboarding trick where the rider and board leap into the air without the use of the rider's hands. Particularly on flat ground, it is not intuitively obvious how the liftoff is achieved, making the trick visually striking....
. Snyder’s other subjects from this period included Mike McGill
Mike McGill
Mike McGill is an American skateboarder. He is best known for inventing the McTwist, an inverted 540 degree mute grabbed aerial which he first performed on a wooden half-pipe in Sweden in 1984 and then at the Del Mar Skate Ranch in a concrete bowl when he returned to the US. He was inspired by...
, Tim Scroggs, Rodney Mullen
Rodney Mullen
John Rodney Mullen is a professional freestyle and street skateboarder. He is widely acknowledged as one of the most innovative and influential street skaters in the history of skateboarding...
, Mark Lake, Kent Senatore, Frank Nasworthy
Frank Nasworthy
Frank Nasworthy is recognized as having introduced polyurethane wheel technology to skateboarding in the early 1970s.After graduating from Annandale High School in Northern Virginia in 1969, Nasworthy attended Virginia Tech for a year. Back with his family for the summer in 1970, he visited a...
, Brad Bowman, Jimmy Plumer and Dogtown
Dogtown
- Places :Canada* Former name of Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, derived from the name of Skaha LakeUnited States* Dogtown, California , several places* Dogtown, Massachusetts, a ghost town...
's Z-boys
Z-Boys
The Z-Boys was a group of skateboarders in the mid-1970s from Santa Monica and Venice, California. The aerial and sliding skate moves that the Z-Boys invented were the basis for aerial skateboarding today.-History:...
' Shogo Kubo and Tony Alva
Tony Alva
Tony Alva , is one of the original Z-Boys and is considered to be one of the most influential skateboarders of all time. He was professional skateboarding's first world champion in history, a title he won in 1977.-Career:...
.
Between 1978 and 1982 Snyder also documented the punk rock scene in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, a locale heavily influenced by the new music which had been emerging out of the main hubs of New York and London. The most legendary group to originate from this central Florida scene were the Strait Jackets
Strait Jackets
The Strait Jackets were an American rock band, often regarded as the first original punk rock group to emerge out of Tampa, Florida, in the 1970s....
, and Snyder photographed them both onstage and offstage during their short duration. Early performances by Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
, Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
and U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
were also some of his subjects.
By the mid 1980s Snyder left photography to cultivate his interests in music, poetry and writing. From the 1990s to early 2000s Snyder collaborated with a number of American, European and Japanese musicians on various projects and recordings. At present he is a sometimes contributor to Concrete Wave Magazine
Concrete Wave Magazine
Concrete Wave Magazine was founded in 2002 by Michael Brooke. It was a continuation of Brooke's involvement with skateboard publishing. In 1999, Brooke had his book, "The Concrete Wave published by Warwick Publishing...
, providing articles and photographs for this quarterly publication out of Canada.
Discography
Spoken Word- Signal Automatique / Craig Snyder (1993) Independent (Jazz)
- Papaya Fantasy / Craig Snyder (1996) Independent (Jazz)
Collaborations
- Digging for Happiness / Bruno Green (1993) Polygram (Rock)
- Inside Your Head / Daisuke Fujiwara (1997) Independent (Jazz)
- Siki / Phat (2002) Blue Note (Jazz)
- Welcome to the Red Barn / Santa Cruz (2003) Hasta Luego (Rock)