Disclaimer: Ryan Allan is a friend of mine. From one perspective, this makes me biased. From another perspective, this gives me unique and personal insight into who he is. Feeling journalistically torn in this situation (and perhaps a little lazy), I decided to give Ryan direct control of this article by asking him to write a timeline of his life and experiences with skateboarding. Why a timeline? Ryan has had a personal journey like few others I know, rising from roots in rural Hamilton to big city life in Toronto, then ultimately finding his destiny-as so many others dream of-in Southern California.
The two constants in Ryan's journey have been his skateboard and a camera. As a highly respected photographer, he's had pivotal roles in three Canadian skateboard magazines and helped skaters like Mark Appleyard and Andrew Gordon gain international recognition (among many others). After moving south, he worked with the Circa footwear team during the Muska era and made key connections in the US skate media. He returned to Toronto and became an important influence on the local skate scene, providing wisdom and coverage to the emerging local talent. He's now back in California, happily married and exploring new avenues in the photography world.
As long as I've known Ryan, his passion-and sense of protection-for pure skateboarding has never faded. His opinions are staunch and strong, and he never fails to speak up or offer advice, often when others are afraid to do so. For Ryan, skateboarding has always come first, and I have no doubt this will continue, even as this timeline progresses into the future.
And, of course, you can count on seeing many more incredible photographs along the way.
Ryan Allan's Website
Ryan Allan at work (video)
Ryan Allan.
1986
Location: Grimsby, Ontario
Jobs and Projects: Fell in love with skateboarding after watching the Curb Dogs skate video. Ditched my BMX and never looked back.
Highlights: Suddenly became the freak skater kid of my hick town school.
1990
Location: Grimsby, Ontario
Jobs and Projects: Took up photography to document my friends skating, and because my father had tons of photo equipment around.
Highlights: Studied skate mags religiously; figuring out what makes a good skate photo and what makes a good skateboard magazine.
1993
Location: Oakville, Ontario
Jobs and Projects: Enrolled in Sheridan College's Applied Photography course.
Learned the ins and outs of commercial photography. Became friends with Derek Kettella, an already established photographer in the Ontario skate and snowboard scene.
Highlights: Signed out photo gear and went to skate events. Shot my first fisheye skate photo of Justin Atkins. Had it published in Vehicle Magazine.
1994
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Jobs and Projects: Took on a small job with Vehicle magazine helping out around the office. Got my first look at magazine production.
Highlights: Became good friends with Vehicle editor Matt Houghton.
1994 to ‘98
Location: Grimsby and Hamilton, Ontario
Jobs and Projects: Spent my time shooting the posse at Beasley skatepark. Became friends with the OOPS skate shop and the DMBC skate shop teams. Mark Appleyard would be my focus.
Highlights: Seeing young Mark Appleyard take his first steps towards his now famous career.
1998
Location: Hamilton, Ontario
Jobs and Projects: While shooting in Hamilton I met Derek Oldschool. He was running a Hamilton ‘zine called Nomads. I began helping with that magazine, and when Derek had other obligations I was offered the job as editor. I began telling Matt Houghton, who was now the editor of Snowboard Canada, about the Nomads job and he suggested we pitch a new magazine to SBC Media chief Steve Jarrett.
Highlights: Going from local skate dirt to pitching national magazines.
1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Jobs and Projects: Steve Jarrett liked the idea and I suddenly found myself in front of a new Mac, laying out a full color, national skate magazine.
Highlights: Talking with people all across the Canadian skate scene and joining forces to give Canadian skaters a voice and outlet. Using the magazine to highlight the talents of so many amazing skaters, like Mark Appleyard, Ryan Smith, Paul Machnau, Gailea Momolu, Mike Hastie, Grant Patterson, Keegan Sauder and so many others.
2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Jobs and Projects: While working with SBC, I was also working hard with my band Sectorseven. National tours and many local gigs, as well as putting out SBC, began to wear me out.
Highlights: Touring Canada and the US, meeting so many amazing kids in rural areas of Canada, and skating all along the way. Doing the Canadian dates of the Warped Tour. Skating with Steve Cab and Salba, and then getting on stage and playing in front of thousands. Pretty cool.
2001
Location: Huntington Beach, California
Jobs and Projects: After watching the Circa shoes demo at Shell park in Oakville, Jesse Landen and I hopped in my car and made our move to the skate promise land of Huntington Beach, CA. We rented an apartment on Warner Ave and Mark Appleyard moved in shortly after.
Highlights: Living the skate dream; this mainly consists of a shitty apartment and no food or hygiene to speak of.
2001
Location: Huntington Beach, California
Jobs and Projects: Took a job as senior designer/photographer for Circa shoes; one of the best experiences of my life. Getting to help in the look of a team, which was one of the most epic at the time.
Highlights: Working alongside Jamie Thomas, Muska, Colt Cannon, Mark Appleyard and others. My boss, Dennet Oyengurren, had a great vision for the brand and we shot some of the coolest campaigns ever.
2002
Location: Aliso Viejo, California
Jobs and Projects: Things at Circa went a bit south. Dennet left to form Fallen Shoes with Jamie, and I felt like Circa wasn't heading in a good direction. We parted ways. I was living with Colt Cannon at the time, so I focused on shooting with him and our crew, which included Dennis Durrant, Windsor James and Tony Tave.
Highlights: Shooting for fun again and not just a 9 to 5.
2004
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Jobs and Projects: I became burnt out on California and, without my ful-time gig at Circa, I wasn't legally allowed to stay. Back to Toronto I went. Moved in to the now infamous Adrift house with Lyndsey Westfall and Aiden Johnston.
Highlights: Adrift parties and shooting with the amazing Adrift locals, Mortal, Aiden, Cephas Benson, Nathan Olokun, Morgan Smith and Jesse Landen.
2005
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Jobs and Projects: Shooting in Toronto is tough, as the talent is there but the ad support is not. Shooting in California I can shoot ads for big companies. Shooting in Toronto is mostly editorial, so it's hard to make a living. I brought lots of tours up to Toronto so I could make some money. One tour I was on was the Flip Feast tour. Mark Appleyard and I drove in Mark's car to avoid tour burn-out. Geoff Rowley joined us and Geoff and I became solid friends. A couple weeks later, Geoff invited me to his place in Arizona to work on an article for Thrasher.
Highlights: Skating with some of the best in the business. Skating and shooting in the Arizona desert; it's amazing out there.
2006
Location: Huntington Beach, California
Jobs and Projects: After shooting Geoff's place in Arizona, I stayed in Huntington with him. About a week into that trip I met my future wife.
Highlights:Meeting someone that can put up with my insanity and constant skate trip lifestyle.
2007
Location: Oceanside, California
Jobs and Projects: Moved to California again. Began shooting with all the Flip big guns on the regular. 2007 was a big year: Bought a house, got married and shot more than I have in all my years shooting.
Highlights: Marrying the woman I love with my crew of motley skaters in attendance. Thanks Geoff, Arto, Ewan and Colt for making the wedding hilarious!
2008
Location: Oceanside, California
Jobs and Projects: I have begun to shoot more editorial outside of skateboarding this year, such as shooting bands and influential people for non-skate media. Spending more time working on my house, and shooting with my close friends as opposed to hustling with hungry ams.
Highlights: Slowing down to enjoy things and rather than shoot quantity, shoot quality.