Behind the lens: Maria Lima

Your work leans towards capturing the lifestyle that surrounds the skate scene. What draws you to capture these moments instead of focusing on tricks?
I just think that the moments in between doing tricks can be so beautiful. And I think these moments deserve to be remembered too. Skateboarding, for me at least, has been so much more than just “doing” it, covering so many aspects of my life, meant so many new friendships, new countries, new perspectives. I would almost say that the tricks are the least of it all.

What inspires your photography?
Life. Death. And everything in between.

What kind of moments do you like capturing the most?
There is a moment. Where the distinction between exterior/interior blurs, where what you see and what you feel knows no difference and becomes one and the same thing. It is a weird and happy and sad moment where time is passing and stopping at the same time.

You feel like you are so present in that moment, because you feel like you are disappearing into it and you want it to stay like this forever, but at the same time you know that this moment is only this beautiful because it is just that, a moment, and it’s going to end. That is a favourite of mine.

Skateboarding and photography seem to go hand in hand. Why do you think that is?
Because they are both very visual art forms. I also think that, in general, subcultures have been photographed a lot because this is where the more radical life forms exist that people find fascinating and at the same time repress or don’t consider “valuable ways of living life”. I mean, skaters have always been thought of like scum, doing nothing with their lives, “kids that never grow up”, you know. But at the same time who doesn’t want to be a kid forever – it’s awesome!
I guess people want to look at things that amaze them, that they don’t see everyday, that leaves an impression of foreignness but also possibilities of other ways of life, where “normal” is challenged.

When you rock up to a skate spot, what are you more likely to pick up – your skateboard or your camera?
My skateboard. When I’m going to a skate spot I am most likely really excited to skate it. Photography is more for the after-session. And since I don’t really take pictures of skateboarding – but more “behind the scenes” – it’s not a problem.

What is it about analogue photography that you love? Do you ever shoot digital?
I like the surprise element. It’s like having your birthday again and again the day you have your film rolls developed. I also like that there is no second try, you click, and that’s it. I like the sound of taking a picture on an analogue camera, I like the weight of the camera and that the colours of the photograph are like the magic of reality, not the magic of technology. I like having a piece of history in my hands and using it for making new history. I don’t like digital, I tried it, but it never worked for me, it’s too technical, it’s too new, too many screens involved. I fear the future, haha. I miss the time before I was even born. It’s romantic and kind of sad. I am in love with the analogue way of life.

Interview: Sarah Huston
Photos: Maria Lima