Be James°: The Arto Saari Interview

Last week we kicked off our Be James° content series with a short film about skateboarder, photographer and father, Arto Saari. If you missed it, you can check it out at the link below.

Arto embodies what it means to “Be James” and our story delves into the mind of the man, unpacking what makes him tick and digging into his multifaceted evolution from one of the world's best skateboarders to a respected and coveted photographer. Our own Dustin Aron got on the line with Arto in Hawaii to ask him a few follow-up questions. Read on to learn even more about why Arto Saari is James°.

Congrats on your photography exhibition, Concrete Currents, at the Alvar Aalto Museum. Could you tell us about the show and how it came about?

I tried to tell a few stories about skateboarding throughout my images; how skateboarders see the urban landscape, where it came from, and the variety of people who skateboard. Alvar Aalto is probably the most known architect to come out of Finland. Skateboarding and architecture go hand-in-hand and there is some pretty valid proof that Alvar was the first one to design and build a freeform pool. Skateboarding is growing up and it is time to embrace our culture. Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside that more people are interested in skateboarding.

You mention that anything you do, you need to get uncomfortable. How does breaking out of your comfort zone impact your work or lifestyle today?

I have two speeds: on and off. It's a little bit of a blessing and a curse at the same time. I am just naturally wired that way. If I get into something, I tend to have blinders on and go all out. It can be very rewarding, but there's definitely been some slams on the way. When I was actively skateboarding, I got pretty good at knocking myself out on the concrete. These days I pour my passion into photography, the same way I used to pour my passion into skateboarding.

Your first book is coming out this Sept. What is it called and what could we expect?

I always thought that my first book would be about skateboarding, but instead, it's about surfing, surfing culture, and the bike path of the North Shore. The book is called Bike Path. All the images shot in the book were shot off my Pelago bicycle over the period of three winters on the North Shore. This started as a personal passion project. I started photographing people on the path while I was checking surf or taking the kids to school and at the time I wasn't making very many pictures. I slowly got more and more into it, and the fire started burning inside to make more photographs, this project made me fall deeper in love with photography and Hawaii.

We believe analog experiences matter and we do our best to apply this mindset to everything we do at TJB. How do you think printing photographs—whether in a book or as a physical print—impacts photography?

It's very simple as far as photography goes: the picture ain't done until it's printed.

That Sturt photo from one of your Thrasher covers is burned into my brain. What’s a memorable Sturt story? How has he influenced your photography?

Dan Sturt is definitely one of my all-time favorite skate photographers and I draw a lot of inspiration out of his pictures. He was the king of capturing the most pinnacle moments in skateboarding. One of the most important things that any photographer can achieve is their own personal, distinct style. You could flip through a magazine, and you could instantly recognize a Sturt picture. Dan knew how to push people to do their best. For some people it might've been a little too much at times. I was skating this eighteen stair rail, and I was scared for my life, and I had taken too long, too many laps, too many run ups and I was just about to jump on the rail. Dan yells out to me “Come over here, come stand over here, stand next to your friend,” and I'm like “why?”. I go stand next to my friend and he snaps one frame of us together and I ask him what was that all about and he replies, “You never know when someone's gonna die.”

How do you find inspiration? Does anything or anyone stand out to you?

I think there's beauty and inspiration in everything even the most mundane things in life. It's all about your perspective. When it comes to photography specifically, it's all about learning how to see. I try to quiet down, observe, and listen.

You seem driven to have the mentality of not giving up, being semi-obsessed with it (this is a compliment btw). I feel like that is a trait often found in skateboarders. Would you agree? If so, how has this mindset influenced your life?

If there's one thing skateboarding has taught me, it is perseverance.

Black and white or color photography?

The last 10 years have been pretty BW, the color pops off occasionally usually due to a client’s request :)

What’s your everyday carry?
Canon R5 with 28-70mm F2

Sauna or ice bath? Do you have the only sauna on the North Shore?

Both, it is the combo that makes it magical. I would say my sauna is probably the most used on the North Shore but not the only one. Bike path sauna club!!!!!

Any words of advice for those looking to break through and get outside of their comfort zone?

Don’t be afraid to fail, it’s a very important part of the process. Get out there and get some!

"Go with this UNKLE album as a whole, its so damn good from start to finish." - Arto