Skip to Content
grill340

DEANSKII is L.A. born and raised, and uses his film photography and 'zines to give the world an insight into his life in the city. We got a chance to discuss photography and tacos with a man who loves his family, his crew, and documenting the art, triumphs, and tragedies of underground Los Angeles...

What's your favorite taco?
I have to save my dad makes the best beef and potato tacos. I add some sweet chili sauce to it and it's fire. But place-wise, I like the carnitas tacos at Diana's in Carson, plus they're open 24/7 can't go wrong with that.

We're living in the golden age of ___________________.
Instagram models, 5 year olds owning and operating iPhones, people labeling themselves as photographers just because they use the VSCO app on their cellphone, snitches, costco and sams club stopping the development of film and a corrupted system where you can have 3 DUIs and still get away with the murder of our friend Chance. REST IN PEACE BATLE.

Where do you want to go?
I wouldn't mind going back to Tokyo but the place I would really want to go to is New York. Just the city life seems very upbeat compared to being here.

What got you into photography?
My mom and dad actually got me into photography. Growing up my dad used to be the one taking photos of the family and my mom was heavy into scrap booking. I always thought scrap booking was mad corny but now im older it's like having a very creative zine. I always hated pictures taken of me so i became the one taking the photos as i got older. "Typical cornball photographer saying"

What equipment do you use?
I mainly shoot my photos with 35mm point and shoot cameras. My main two cameras i use are the Olympus xa2 and my canon sure shot. Nothing professional at all.

nightedshow564
zipgunshow28th253

What's your lucky number?
Don't really have a lucky number but if I were to have one it would have to be the number 663

Who is in your crew and what is a typical night like when you all get together?
A typical night of all of us together would be a total shit show. When you have too many scumbags under one roof you never know what may happen. For those who are in my crew i am always with, they know who they are. My buddy Pdog wanted me to shout him out in this interview so hey bud.

overpass147
sdd829

Who are the artists you look up to?
I don't look up to any artist. I look up to myself. We all know that when the day u finally meet your favorite artist and they don't seem be that person you perceived them to be, that could be a bummer and you think to yourself how dumb you look.

Worst part about LA?
The traffic between 5 to 6:30 pm, the traffic when kids get out of school, being on Fairfax, fake "party friends", my car getting broken into for just my work box cutter, tweakers, everyone being a photographer, dudes trying to sell their mixtapes, people asking for change in front of 7/11 when im trying to buy a pack of ports, lame toys, and my job.

So did you grow up in LA? Which part? What's your favorite neighborhood?
I grew up in the South Bay Area of Torrance. I love being here because it's not too far from anywhere plus there are lots of spots to eat good food. I like it because I think it keeps me sane. Being in downtown can get hectic sometimes.

friendz436
nightedshow562

Are you still doing graffiti?
Graffiti will always be apart of me, whether it's my friends', or going out to catch spots after partying. I would have said yes it's an important part of my life and art a year ago, but I felt this year I wanted to work more on taking photos. Action shots and graffiti photos get boring after a while, it's good to switch it up from time to time.

What makes a good zine and what are your favorites?
Shout out to Nick Garcia from Nightedlife for helping me out so much with anything that has to do with zines. I think what makes a good ZINE is a story that goes along with the photos being put into it. My last two were just photo zines but my next one I want to have stories along with it. My favorite zines are the all the ones put out by nighted and all my other homies making zines. It's too hard to choose favorites. Every one is different.

When and where are you most happy?
I'm usually happy when im with my family and my girl. Nothing can beat that, it is what I live for.

batle325
overpass168
wow622

Find Deanskii on http://deanskii.com/

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Hildegardo ‘Japo’ Joya, Guardian of Raicilla’s Coastal Soul, Dies at 92

Japo had a presence that loomed large everywhere his raicilla landed, whether that was in one of Mexico’s most beloved cumbia mezcal bars, like Guadalajara’s Pare de Sufrir, where people order raicilla by name of the master distiller instead of brands they are associated with. Or in Torrance on Madre’s mezcal menu, where they still have 20 bottles left of a label Japo made for the restaurant. Like the greats in any craft, he created his own style of distilling that no other raicilla has come close to replicating.

May 14, 2025

Brisket Pupusas Bring Ray’s BBQ Back to Its Salvadoran Roots in Huntington Park

“This is a special item that we kind of gate-kept,” says Sebastian Ramirez of the giant masa treats stuffed with stretchy mozzarella, Salvadoran frijoles de seda, and hand-chopped brisket that’s been smoked for 16-18 hours on post oak in the bellies of Ray’s two behemoth J&R Smoke-Masters. 

May 13, 2025

The Nine Best Tacos In The Inland Empire 

From tacos de canasta in Fontana to brain tacos in San Bernardino and insanely tasty puffy tacos filled with chile verde in Alta Loma, these tacos fuel the Inland Empire's working class and taco fanatics. All are worth the drive.

May 13, 2025

Post-Punk Rising Star Depresión Sonora on L.A. Culture Shock and Tacos

L.A. TACO caught up with Madrid’s rising post-punk crooner over tacos de pulpo on Sunset Boulevard. We talked about the critical differences in the tacos in L.A., Spain, and Mexico, his favorite cheeseburger in Los Feliz, and a new album out soon.

May 12, 2025

Baekjeong KBBQ Brings Its Star Galbi Back to Koreatown

While a pop-up in East Hollywood offers Nigerian and Kenyan influences in dishes like rosemary lamb suya and short rib biriyani, and Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer bring brisket to an L.A. mall.

May 9, 2025
See all posts