Features

PHOTOBOOTH: Chase Joy

There was a black and white photo. A cityscape shot with a fisheye lens, looking up to the sky, with a BMX rider jumping through the frame, over the camera. I thought it was a great photo – true BMX, a pure sense of freedom and enjoyment. Sure, you couldn’t see if the rider was jumping off an obstacle or anything like that, but what it lacked in context it more than made up for in the mood it suggested to me. Sunshine, glistening high-rise city buildings, with a BMXer flying through the scene – magic.

Full Name: Chase Joy
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Hometown: Watford, Hertfordshire
Instagram: @mrjoy95 / @chasejjoy

– Tell us a little about yourself, some vital info. What’s it like where you come from?

“Hey, I’m Chase Joy, I’m 21 and I’ve been riding for about 5 years. I’ve lived in Watford my whole life and apart from a couple small local skate parks there’s not really much going on for BMX. Luckily Central London’s only 40 minutes on the Met line so I go whenever I can.”

– What’s going on in your life right now? What’s your day to day like?

“I’m in my final year of studying photography at uni so at the moment I’m writing my dissertation and trying to get my portfolio up to scratch. When I’m not doing that, I ride with my friends when they can – which can be a struggle with full-time jobs – see the Mrs, plus I’m currently building a classic mini.”

– How long have you been shooting and how did you get started?

“I started shooting when I began my photography course at college so about 4 years. Before that I thought I would be working in IT, haha, I’m glad I changed my mind about that!

My first camera was an 1100D (thanks to my mum and dad) and with that I started shooting my first BMX pictures but thought they were lacking something. That’s when I picked up a 600D and an 8mm Samyang fisheye and when I really got going.”

Drew Bezanson, bomb drop, Simple Session 2015.

– What’s your current setup, what gear could we find in your bag on a given day?

“Canon 6D
Canon EOS 500
Canon 24-105mm L lens
Canon 50mm 1.4 lens
Sigma 15mm fisheye lens
2 Neewer flashguns, but I prefer to use natural light”

– When it comes to photography, what grabs your interest? Is there a certain aesthetic you are striving for or do you prefer to shoot stuff as it happens, on the fly?

“I take my camera with me everywhere I go, whether that be cruising round my area or taking a trip with mates because you never know what’s going to happen. I prefer shooting on the fly, mostly in the street rather than in a skate park. I feel I have more freedom on the street and it gives you more opportunities to get unique photos.”

“I prefer shooting on the fly, I have more freedom on the street.”

“Sometimes I’ll have an idea for a photo and tell my friends, and 90% of the time someone will already know the perfect spot for it.”

– Do you have a favourite kind of spot to shoot photos at? Or favourite tricks?

“Generally cities, tall buildings and landmarks always seem to frame the photo perfectly for me. My favourite place to shoot is definitely Barcelona, it’s like being in ‘Skate’, there’s spots everywhere!

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with barspins, sometimes you get it perfect, sometimes you get it too early or too late. It can be pretty disappointing when you check back the image and they haven’t even thrown it yet! Other than that, I would say a no-hander as I feel it gives one of the best photos.”