James West is a 26-year-old skateboarder living in Albuquerque. West is a skateboarders’ skateboarder and is always chopping boards into custom shapes, repairing damaged boards and making custom cases and jewelry out of recycled skateboards. He has a small shop set up in his garage, where drawers are home to finished, in progress and failed items while the desktop hosts a variety of sandpaper grits. Often James will spend the day cutting, shaping and sanding his custom jewelry, cases and dugouts. When he is not spending time working on his projects or at his day job, James can be found skating the numerous features and spots that Albuquerque has to offer. Today, it was a hidden Do It Yourself Spot in Albuquerque’s ditches. Spots like these emphasize the spontaneity, creativity and joy of skateboarding and skate photography — they are fleeting moments and can last days or years. This spot was removed shortly after James visited it.
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PHOTO STORY: Best Winter Study Spots on Campus
December 1As the leaves keep falling off the trees, and each morning gets ever so slightly colder, winter slowly hits the University of New Mexico campus. Students begin to wear heavier clothes and begin to stay indoors more. Regardless of the temperature outside, this doesn’t stop the studying students have to do, begging the question: What are the best winter study spots on campus? Everyone has their own taste, but there are some spots that just cannot be beat. Zimmerman Library’s west-wing is great for anyone who wants to lock-in in silence while study spots near the Adobe Creative Commons for anyone wanting to study in groups. But there isn’t just Zimmerman, the Student Resource Center Apartments second level and Dane Smith has spots for a break during classes and George Pearl Hall has small classrooms available when not in use. Preston Rogers is a freelance reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at photo@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
PHOTO STORY: Architectural Studio Life
December 1With one week left in the semester, each day is more and more stressful. Piles of scrap cardboard and chipboard lay everywhere as University of New Mexico architecture students prepare for their final review. Although this is a time of stress and urgency, it’s a bonding experience for many. From late nights working through problems with fellow classmates preparing for a final review, these relationships can be only obtained in architecture school at the School of Architecture and Planning. A strong studio culture has been built with students regardless of year, collaborating together whether in studio or down in the Fab Lab. The studio culture built in the architecture program at UNM is one of a kind. Preston Rogers is a freelance reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at photo@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
PHOTO STORY: Built for learning: How architecture enhances the architecture school experience
December 1Most buildings on campus are designed in a manner that best suits what is being taught there, and George Pearl Hall is an excellent example of this. Two of five floors are filled with studio spaces where students in their second year and up each have their own space, providing an environment that can be adapted to their needs. Throughout the building its infrastructure is exposed, allowing students to measure steel beams and use the infrastructure as a guise for their work. The building’s “Crit Bridge” is a cradled bridge over the underground courtyard that serves as multifunctional space for holding events, student reviews and as exhibition space for student work. It’s not just these spaces, the entire structure is used as a reference for students as they continue to learn and develop their own projects. Preston Rogers is a freelance reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at photo@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
