I had the pleasure of meeting Isiah in Los Angeles in 2020. My best friend and I were visiting the area when we randomly made an impromptu stop by the Venice Beach Skate Park on a Friday. After some walking around the area, what looked like a ghost town from the city shut down due to COVID-19, we noticed the few people in the area were focused on the monstrous concrete slab. As we made our way around for the best view when Isiah made his way near a drop-in.
Isiah then dropped into a bowl filled with others and gently avoided the obstacles. Building speed now, he leaps like a phoenix from the depths of ashes, 10 or more feet into the air, propelling himself up and out of the once-used bowl.
Afterward, I introduced myself and let him know I had some of his shots, and we went our separate ways. A few years later (2023), I scrolled through social media and noticed some of his posts. I figured that at least I could do was comment, and hopefully, he might see that I had sent his images to his DM. He informed me that he would check it out. I was enamored. A comment back was significant enough for me since I was a fan. Out of nowhere, I had a response in my inbox. "yo... these are FIIIRREEE...". It all felt like a dream. One day I got rejected from my dream job as a sports photographer for the Houston Astros to someone who seemed like they cared enough to give me a chance to do something I love.
After further discussion, he informed me that he would be in Houston for a few days and would like me to snap pictures of him and his friends. Right then, I gave him my phone number for when he would be in town to reach me, and I would pull up to where ever he needed me, regardless.
A few days later, I received a text. "this can't be real," I told myself. I re-read the text. "Yo... It's Isiah". Just like that, I left work instantly and went down to South Houston to seize my opportunity.
We met at Southside Skatepark in Houston, Texas. After a proper introduction, I listened to his needs and vision for this collection. My objectives were to achieve natural lifestyle moments without sacrificing creativity.
Within five minutes of meeting and setting up, 'Crack,' Isiah's board snapped. I thought, "Well, that was sweet while it lasted ." "No worries, I have an extra board at home. You can ride with us, and we'll be back," Isiah exclaimed. I have always had good intuition, and nothing unordinary stood out, so why not? I have been in worse positions before. This was a perfect opportunity to capture some of his time in Houston and bring out his lifestyle through photographs.
As we made our way further south, it was the perfect time to ask a few of my journalistic questions to Mr. Hilt.
During our discussion, I found that Isiah is passionate about his craft. Skateboarding has been a big part of his life since he was young. Coming from Compton, California, there were few skaters like him in the area. He decided to be himself, with a few inspirations here and there; his primary source of inspiration was to be the best he could be regardless of the activity.
He finds that coaching skating to younger generations gives him the most satisfaction to continue doing what he likes to do. In LA, where those in a particular sport mainly stick to that activity and community, he sometimes faces challenges to expand into other networks like anyone else.
When asked where he sees himself in the next five years, he responded that he would like to see himself further coaching skateboarding to youth interested in skating hoping to inspire younger generations to come.
To conclude this short article, It was a pleasure to have the chance to make a connection 1,100 miles away and to be able to reconnect in my hometown. Our circumstances could not have been any more different from each other, which adds a few fun twists and turns to create this full circle. Hopefully, we can soon reprise this journey and capture something even more special.
Article written by Seth Monroy.
