The first time I talked to Mike O'Meally I was trying to give him directions to my apartment while Madmin was on the toilet. He was very polite even though he was quite lost and it was mostly Madmin's fault for giving him shitty directions. Then he came over and I cooked him some good food to make up for it and all was well. He looked really big standing next to our tiny kitten.

Anyway, I really like Mike and I wish he lived in NYC instead of LA so we could hang out. The next time he came over he had been showing his photography book to agents here in the city and one especially obnoxious one picked her toes (yep, that's right, her toes) while holding his portfolio book. Ew. Well, at least it wasn't her vagina. So, here's our interview with O'Meally. It's way more interesting than this crappy intro, so read on...Chakka. And go check out his site if you haven't already. His photography is dope and it's more than just skate stuff. Chakka.

BM: Where are you and what the hell are you doing?

Mike O'Meally: I just got back from a 3 week trip to Australia, camping in the bush, chopping firewood (my new hobby) and skating and shooting some photos. I also got to hang out a bit with my family which is always good.

BM: Are you based out of LA these days...?

MO: Yes, I am based out of LA but I don't seem to spend more than a week or two there at any given time. Fine by me.

BM: Where is Fiji?

MO: Fiji is an Island (or group of Islands) in the South Pacific Ocean near Samoa and about 3 hours flight from the North East of Australia.

BM: Last photography trip abroad?

MO: That would be to the Basque Region in the North of Spain. Great place, good food, good skaters, good wine.

BM: Favorite place to visit/photograph?

MO: Anywhere that has a bit of visible history and culture. Some of my favorites have been Egypt, Japan and El Salvador...... and New York is always a favorite.

BM: Last skateboarding magazine cover?

MO: The last one is the latest issue of Transworld that's out right now. Aaron Suski doing a tailslide on a big flatbar above a hip in the Basque Country, Spain.

BM: First camera...?

MO: First camera was an Olympus OM 1-n. I saved up my pocket money and I think it cost $325.

BM: Favorite camera?

MO: I like a lot of different cameras for different reasons, but one that I like a lot is an old twin lens reflex Mamiya C220. It's really sharp and I think people get curious about it because it looks so old, and that often helps to
get good pictures.

BM: First picture you took that made you realize you wanted to take pictures for a living?

MO: Can't remember a specific one but maybe it was the first cover I shot for a skate mag in Australia called Slam.

BM: First trip to America?

MO: August of 1994. Definitely one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Had a great time, but looking back I was so young and really had no idea about anything. I met a lot of cool people though, but also did a lot of silly things that you only do when you are young and carefree.

BM: First skateboarding photo?

MO: Probably in college handed in for an assignment. It was of one of my skate buddies at the time, the teacher told me I would never get anywhere doing that.

BM: Favorite artist?

MO: I don't have just one but I like a lot of the stuff people make in the skate related industry.

BM: Who are hotter? Aussie chicks or American chicks?

MO: Hot chicks are hot chicks wherever you go. I have definitely seen some stunners in NYC though, for sure.

BM: Have you ever shot naked chicks doused in chocolate sauce?

MO: No. Maybe one day when my reflexes aren't as fast. I think I would wanna eat the sauce more than I would wanna take the photo.

BM: Any advice for aspiring skate photogs?

MO: Don't be afraid to make mistakes or ask stupid questions. And don't follow the rules. Shoot something because you like it, not because you think that's what people wanna see. You have to love it more than anything.