Photographers

Jonathan Mehring is an American photographer, director, and author best known for his global documentary work within skateboarding culture. Based between New York City and Richmond, Virginia, Mehring has established himself as one of the most influential voices in contemporary skate photography. His practice blends action sports, portraiture, travel journalism, and environmental storytelling, revealing the deep cultural, social, and geographic contexts of skateboarding around the world. He is the author of *Skate the World – Photographing One World of Skateboarding*, published by National Geographic, the first major book the organization released dedicated to skateboarding.

Mehring’s career began with photographing his friends skating during high school, eventually leading to editorial work for Slap and Thrasher magazines before joining *Skateboarder Magazine*, where he developed his signature approach to location‑driven skate documentation. His projects have taken him to more than 30 countries, traveling by motorbike through Vietnam, riding the Trans‑Siberian Railway, navigating the Amazon River, and exploring remote regions of India, Africa, and Central Asia—all while documenting the universal language of skateboarding. His images emphasize place as strongly as action, framing skateboarding as a global cultural connector rather than merely a sport.

Mehring’s work has appeared in major publications such as *The New York Times*, *The Wall Street Journal*, *National Geographic*, *Huck*, *Monster Children*, *Skateboarder*, and *Transworld Skateboarding*. He has shot campaigns for Adidas, Nike, Vans, Levi’s, Red Bull, Converse, and other leading brands. His photographs have been exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Rotterdam, Sydney, Honolulu, Cologne, and Richmond. Today, Mehring continues to work across editorial, commercial, and documentary platforms, expanding his visual language while remaining deeply connected to the global skateboarding community.