Skateface - Photo Book by Philippa O’Brien

Skateface
An editorial photography book by Philippa O’Brien

Skateface chronicles the transformation of the New Zealand roller derby scene, the product of five years spent visiting leagues across the country.

Photographed through a distinctly feminine gaze, photographer Philippa O’Brien captures the evolving identity of the sport and the women who define it. Shot on a Hasselblad medium-format film camera, these portraits reveal skaters in quiet, reflective moments, offering an introspective look behind the colourful uniforms, helmets and warpaint.

What emerges is not spectacle, but something more considered: strength, strategy, ritual, and self-expression.

Roller derby resists easy characterisation. It is physical and theatrical, but also deeply communal. It carries both myth and misconception. Here, those narratives are reframed through proximity and trust.

Across 88 pages, Skateface brings together a body of striking photography alongside the personal stories of the women who skate, offering a rare and grounded perspective on a culture that exists outside the mainstream.

With an introduction by Sarah Hudson.

A limited first edition documenting a subculture rarely seen with this level of intimacy.

Details
Softcover
First edition
Limited run
Printed on archival stock
88 pages