EPICLY LATER’D: PATRICK O’DELL REFLECTS ON NYC’S WILD EARLY 2000S

Long before Instagram and TikTok turned everyone into a content creator, Patrick O’Dell was quietly documenting a moment in time that would later become iconic. In 2004, O’Dell launched the now-legendary blog Epicly Later’d, capturing the gritty, vibrant energy of NYC’s downtown skate, music and art scenes. The blog was intimate, raw, and personal—like flipping through a friend’s secret photo diary. Today, nearly two decades later, the impact of Epicly Later’d is undeniable, influencing art, photography and skate culture worldwide. Now compiled into a highly anticipated book, O’Dell’s work remains a striking snapshot of a chaotic, unfiltered era.

But at the time, O’Dell was just living in the moment.

“Honestly, I didn’t think it would ever end,” he recalls. “The blog was mostly a personal journal. I knew people were looking at it, but I tried not to overthink it.”

New York in the Early 2000s: Living in the Moment

The early 2000s in New York City felt like a creative playground—a mix of chaos and opportunity that fueled O’Dell’s work. Downtown, you could find skaters mingling with musicians, artists, and actors, all creating in their own worlds. For O’Dell, who was often the only one taking photos at these gatherings, the experience was more about documenting his friends than trying to capture a “scene.”

“There was a lot of freedom for me,” he says. “I was just doing it for fun. Looking back, I guess I could’ve been an influencer or something, but that wasn’t my mindset at the time.”

At parties and skate parks, O’Dell was “the guy with the camera,” but he insists there wasn’t a deliberate plan to become part of NYC’s creative history. Yet, that’s exactly what happened. His intimate, sometimes messy photos of figures like Chloe Sevigny and Tino Razo captured a candid side of New York that was both raw and real. Even today, O’Dell is nostalgic for the openness that existed back then, before the constant presence of smartphones.

“Back then, I was often the only one taking photos, and people weren’t expecting to be photographed. That made it feel more natural—there was this novelty to it.”

The Impact of Social Media

The arrival of Instagram, however, changed everything. O’Dell eventually stopped updating Epicly Later’d around the time he downloaded the app, shifting the way he approached his photography. Social media transformed the art of documentation, making everyone a content creator, and in some ways, O’Dell misses that earlier anonymity.

“People didn’t expect to be photographed, so maybe they were less inhibited or more excited to have their picture taken,” he explains. “It gave me something to do socially, but now, everyone’s got a phone in their hand.”

Still, O’Dell doesn’t think the magic of capturing raw moments has disappeared entirely, even in today’s hyper-documented world. There’s always room for something real.

“There are great photography books out there that are unrivalled on social media,” he says, citing the work of Nan Goldin and Jim Goldberg. “There’s still room for the rawness.”

Navigating NYC’s Skate, Art and Music Scenes

One of the most compelling aspects of Epicly Later’d is how it blurs the lines between New York’s various subcultures. O’Dell’s world was one where skaters, musicians, and artists collided, blending seamlessly into the vibrant chaos of downtown New York. But even as he moved through these different worlds, he was always careful to respect his subjects.

“I’d hang out with skaters and people adjacent to skating,” he recalls. “There were real famous people around, but I wouldn’t take pics unless I was sure they didn’t mind. I wasn’t there to be a ‘party photographer.’”

In fact, O’Dell often went out of his way to obscure the faces of more high-profile figures. “Chloe [Sevigny] once asked me, ‘Why do you always hide my face?’” he laughs. “I was just trying to be respectful.”

Post-9/11 NYC: A Time of Uncertainty

The early 2000s were also marked by the aftermath of 9/11, a moment that deeply affected O’Dell. He recalls the impact that day had on him personally, even though it was a few years before he started the blog.

“I still have PTSD from 9/11, and I don’t like talking about it,” he admits. “I have pictures from that day and the following weeks, but I don’t look at them.”

In some ways, the uncertainty of that time fueled the creative explosion in the city, and O’Dell’s work became part of a collective memory of that era—capturing the grit and resilience of the people around him.

Nostalgia for NYC’s Past

As O’Dell looks back on the photos that made Epicly Later’d what it was, he reflects on the people and places that defined the moment. But there’s also a sense of loss. Many of the people in his photographs have passed away, and the city itself has changed, becoming more commercialised and polished.

“I feel old now,” he admits. “I’m nostalgic for the good food, the free time, wearing thrift store clothes, and sleeping on people’s couches.”

What does O’Dell miss most about New York? The spontaneity. “I miss spending money on food and drinks, and just hanging out without worrying about much.”

Capturing NYC’s Skate Culture

One of the things that made New York’s skate scene so unique in the early 2000s was the city’s density and accessibility. Skaters moved seamlessly through the streets, subways, and parks, creating a distinct skate culture unlike anywhere else in the country.

“New York is walkable, with good public transportation, which isn’t the case in most American cities,” he explains. “I lived in LA after NYC, and the difference is stark.”

Skating in New York was a way of life, and O’Dell’s photos reflect that distinct urban energy—skaters weaving through crowded streets, making the city their playground.

Epicly Later’d: From Blog to Book

Now that Epicly Later’d has been compiled into a book, O’Dell reflects on what it means to see this moment in time preserved in print. Sharing it with friends who lived through that era was a blast, but showing it to younger people? That’s where the insecurity kicked in.

“I showed it to someone younger, and they didn’t know anyone in the photos,” he laughs. “I felt like, ‘Maybe this is the dumbest book ever.’”

But despite that insecurity, Epicly Later’d remains a testament to a time when New York was raw, messy and beautifully unpolished.

What’s Next for Patrick O’Dell?

O’Dell continues to explore skate culture through his documentary series, also called Epicly Later’d—this time focusing on skate history. It’s a different project than the blog, but it keeps the spirit of that early documentation alive.

And as for today’s New York? O’Dell’s not sure if the same kind of project could exist in a city that’s become more polished and commercialised.

“I don’t know,” he shrugs. “Maybe someone will invite me to a party and I can find out. But right now, I’ve got to go pick up my kid from preschool.”