Exhibition at Whitby, April 2007
If you where to split a World into hairdressers and philosophers like in Douglas Adams Hitch hikers Guide to the Galaxy, Superficially Goths would fall into the hairdresser category when in actual fact there are many superficial Goths but on the whole they would fit into the philosophers category. Usually dumping down means that characters act more physically aggressive than they really are as a defence mechanism. Gothism allows for a much wider and rich range of ways people can express themselves… I hope to celebrate the diversity…
If I took a photograph of you and it is not in this exhibition this is not personal or a reflection on your 'look'. The technology I am using slips up regularly; with the cameras not firing properly they cannot be used. Many of the other photographers laughed at me because I have not used a flash: going into a dark room to photograph dark people and to hope to get two perfectly matching photographs is indeed a challenge but I'm a purist, not since Henri Breton has anyone been more pure and it has nothing to do with the flash facility not working (no seriously). As far as the shutter speed and aperture of the photographs goes ; I don't know and I don't care. The cameras are early digital, they look cute when set for 3D, like 'short circuit' but take about a minute to think between full quality images. This unfortunately means that all these photos are normal quality (jpg). Although its hard to notice, this bothers me and a solution has now been sort (gone is the cuteness now I 'mean' business) I don't know enough about most of these people in the photographs so non of these pictures capture the essence or beliefs of those portrayed at least to my knowledge, some have been posed to express an idea I had and in others I have captured the image much as I found it.
Gothism at least as brought together by Whitby Goth Weekend brings together so many extremes of people… I cannot think of any other group of people that are more divers in their ideas and beliefs them at WGW of course their as more culturally diverse group (theirs not much cultural and class diversity) but as a forum to… a practice for an interplanetary meeting of ideas. This is because society is so conservative and restrained…
Location, date, ect
Nosferatu
** is a member of the (Sherodan club) a literary group... It did cross my mind that I wasn't able to get in tuch with most of the people before the exhibition and that someone may object to being exhibited but the opersite situation was true, a number of Goths where quite annoyed about not been in the exhibition (I should have guest). I had some spare images should that be the case.
Curious
From the point of view of the locals and visitors Whitby Goth Weekend (WGW) adds ‘Colour', all be it black, to the picturesque seaside town. To most non Goths a lack of understanding initially led to some derision in the events early years but Goths polite amicable nature has lead to acceptance. The rational and motives is still a mystery to most, this is what I will explore through this exhibition.
Whitby
*Prior to the Exhibition I visited Whitby to find these friends roaming the street in tamed Goth attire, they needed a fix before the event.*
Outside the Elsinore
*Since my teens Whitby has held a fascination for me. I have returned repeatedly to the surreal coast with its shipwrecks, fossils and Jet. We got married in Whitby just before I became involved with the Goth scene in Oxford through my friend Hugh. Initially at my first WGW I found it strange having my Goth friends enthusing about ‘their' Whitby which is so different from the one I have formed over so many years. Parts of Whitby are theirs (now mine as well) when the event is on. *
Living the Dream
Lisa and Barry live in Whitby and own a shop called Spititual Connections in the indoor market. This is where you go to buy postcards of some Exhibition pictures. Lisa & Barry are both Ceadasoan Witches Some Goths have been so enchanted by Whitby that they have moved and set up shop called Spiritual Connections. Living the dream.
Full Moon
The Goth calling, this self styled Goth is still at school and defiant of her peers conformity.
Exploring Whitby
Two young women exploring Whitby Town.
By St Marys Church
Whitby Goth Weekend attracts all ages and some locals to participate.
A bite
A perfect synthesis of Whitby and Goth, if incongruous.
Crystal spiders
I like the lighting from each side...
Victorian Goth
Victorion Goth couple with a background of the harbour.
Goth with soft kite
*An expanse of beach can be seen outside the event venue when the tide is out. Contrary to popular belief Goths don't mope about all the time: this one is playing with a kite that doesn't need any poles, making it conveniently fit into a small bag, a practicality that impressed. *
The World is a stage
One of the attractions of the event is to be someone else for a while.
Rascal girl
A perky composition showing the ranges of Goth ...
Fairy dragon
Saw this girl on the rock, when I asked her if I could take a photograph I stopped her posing and asked her to sit back the way she was.
Happy Goths
Contrary to popular belief a majority of Goths are happy souls, at least the ones the go to Whitby.
Tudor Goths
Whitby Goth weekend fashion taked its inspiration form many eras, in this case Tudor.
At the Market Square
Fashions consious Goths.
Pier figures
A Goth couple at the quieter south pier.
Pier figures closeup
Goth closeup with harbour in background.
Cross-staged
Setup showing the range of costumes at WGW.
Stone age Goths
Monolythic Goths in the Spar.
Big teddy
To shock, explore sexuality, escape from usual role TV's have many reasons but real friends will see through all that.
Friends
A proud mohican wearer and his friend
New romantic Goths
Looking to the 80's for fasion inspiration.
Craig
In case you didn't know his name its on his teashirt, compeer at WGW.
Old Glory
Theatrical Goth couple with pram with steam bus in background.
Devil baby
Devil horned baby in pram.
Anchor walse
*This young musician had bought her purple violin that very day and very kindly demonstrated it. She had been without a violin for a while *
Around the Anchor
Young Goths around a large anchor
On the 199 steps
199 steps Victorian Goth couple.
Discipline
The minister and street urchine? Play acting in the graveyard.
Graveyard
Drama in the graveyard.
Sanctuary
Goth melodrama outside St Marys Church.
Stagestruck
Corset wearing to bring out femanine side.
Stage smoke
Betty Davis attitude in stage improvisation.
Story or real
A mishmash of themes and inspitations jostle for attention in the spar.
Dummie
Cat found a look-alike in the market stalls.
Space Vamp
*The following day I bought a floodlight and extension lead and set up on the stage only to be received by a very angry stage manager, after much discussion he allowed me a quick photo session with him keeping an eye on things and he certainly had something to keep his eyes on!. I thing we achieved the ambiguity I was after in that the theme could be vampire or not, Sci-fi or not, accident or not. Just to add to the confusion I think I'll call it "We know!". Hope maybe even to get some more image togethor before the exhibition if possible. *
Toxic Goth
Theatrical punk Goths.
Miss Strange
Miss Strange look-alike.
Stage side
*Clare and Narnia where not too impressed when the cameras ran out of memory in the middle of my photo shoot I tried to delete some ugly people like they suggested but when the chip gets full you have to delete the last picture. This is the image I would have had to delete, ok theirs hardly enough light to take the picture at all but the picture holds all the more romance to me for that. It's like a gem of an image, faded and almost lost for all time, reminiscent of the old dungerotype images. *
Ten-nails
Sue and her remarkable fingers.
Party
The spar, party scene.
Fan
Gossiping Goths.
Maden for the night
Our friend in tailor made corset. tipsy to say the least.
Grinning Goth
Pink wig and infectious smile.
Boy hug
Whitby Goth event, challenges expectation in clothing and sexuality.
Fashist fashion
The thing I like about this image is that it echo's history. These fashion Goths in their rubber fascist fetish costumes angered some people around them (the German iron cross). I noticed a trigger reaction, once one person made a comment other people felt obliged to join in. One Goth made bunny ears with a mildly humiliating intention. When they did get an angry response I'm sure this was the reaction they where after. But like the proverb about he who has committed a sin may cast the first stone the uncomfortable face is that very few people are impervious from evil thoughts… As for the young women portrayed I don't know them personally but I am impressed with their cheeky sexy image that has the ability to stir disturbing impressions. On the question of whether people should wear Fashist uniforms? Apart from them being stylish in a particular way I ask myself what would a true fashist make of artisticly inclined individuals taking the piss out of their uniforms? You might get a somewhat comical bizurk reaction. Let the fasion students clame and change the form.
Meccano-man close
A Steam-punk Goth.
Red laces
The best us of red shoe laces I can think of.
Meccano-man
A Steam-punk Goth.
American Goths
The Goths traveled all the way from America for the event.
Doll
Mark in his Goth Lolita attire.
Mask
peeping from behind a mask.
Admiral Goth
Whitby harbour with Goth admiral.
Pink hair
Young Goth with those all important hair extensions.
Spiky Goth
Spiky hair and a corset used to startling effect.
Nurse Goth
Affection in rubber.
Devil horn salute
Well in to the party young Goths strutt their stuff.
Damage
Damage and his partner suitably posed.
Dot-fish
Friends at the spar.
Feathers
Under the spell of WGW.
Attic Portrait
Scary unfiltered, a rare beauty in 3d.
Uniform Goth
The lovely seductive Natasha.
Halloween Goth
WGW is a halloween howl.
Ultraviolet Goth
One of the most popular image from the exhibition.
Lady of the lolly
*This image gave me the wonderful opportunity of exploring what happens when a beautiful lady looks too innocent. That it, you assume she must be guilty. But she is as pure as the driven snow, yes honesty! *
Shoot
The spar, scary panto style.
Captin Camera
A camera man that made the effort.
Romantic Goth
Friends at the spar.
Punk Goth
Evostick mohican against Endevour pub.
Black wings
Angel with black wings looking into 3d starfield.
Defender
*This image explores the malevolence of fairies. Determination over stature: she might be scared and look delicate but theirs no passing this point. *
Tim Burton theme
Splended Tim Burton inspired character in virtual World.
Devil
The Devils invitation to taist the whip.
Strongman
The strongman about to cry.
Dark masks
* Masquerade ball Oxford *
Goth pixy
Birthday girl in pixy attire.
Vampire
A closing view of the Vampire and victim.
The photographs have been created using permanent pigments and high quality paper and are £46 each with clip frame. Each print is one of a run of no more than 40.