CLUBARAZZI
A NEW BREED OF SNAPPER IS HUNTING FOR THE PERFECT PICTURE ON THE WORLD’S DANCEFLOORS
TEXT JOSH WOODFIN
Rarely a weekend goes by without finding that someone’s posted a dodgy party pic of you on Facebook… it was 3am, your make-up was round your knees and now you’re groping for the “de-tag” option and hoping that honey you just “friend approved” hasn’t seen it yet. Is a photograph of you using two beer bottles as a pointy Madonna bra really going to be your legacy?
As the sun sets on Ibiza and the doors close on Space, Pacha and Eden for another summer, the lights are switching on elsewhere. Tel Aviv’s first superclub, Haoman 17, which has played host to Pauls Oakenfold and Van Dyk, will be rocking through the winter. Meanwhile, Prague institution Roxy will still be going strong. The former cinema and ballroom located at the legendary Dlouha 33 calls everyone
from Andy C to the Freestylers and Faithless its friends. Closer to home, Oceana and Tiger Tiger in Leeds will be flying the flag for UK clubbing. Needless to say, there are plenty of opportunities for a knees-up, and a new group of photographers are scouring the world’s clubs for the perfect picture of hedonism – so be ready for it.EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
Photographer Billa Baldwin bets that you look good on the dancefloor. What began as a clubber taking his camera everywhere soon turned into a career. Baldwin’s now amassed more than 28,000 images, and had his pictures published in Vogue. Despite having been commissioned for the last three years by the British Fashion Council to take backstage photos during London Fashion Week, Baldwin still heads out to document the UK’s nightlife as often as he can. “When I first started it was really expensive, I was using about six or seven films every week,” he says. “It wasn’t until digital that it really started kicking off. I just took it everywhere.”
An important thing for Baldwin, despite clubbing having paved the way to a lucrative career, is to be there as a fan first and a photographer second. “I’m out clubbing, I can’t do one without the other, but when I started, the photographs were a progression of just being out,” he explains. With each night leading to thousands of potential photos, what triggers Baldwin’s eye? “These days it’s harder to get the shots, if people see me at an event they know I’m going to be taking some pictures. It has to be people having a good time, I want it to be natural. I want it to be people having fun.”
TALENT SPOTTING
Baldwin’s at the top of his game, but there’s a network of eager young photographers documenting the scene not just in London, but around the UK and the rest of Europe. Online communities such as www.party. fotky.com in Prague and www.dontstayin.com herein the UK are more than happy to share their photos. These are online communities where people can find a night, organise a night, promote a night and, all importantly, document it.
Carl Sukonik is one half of www.tilllate.com and based in Manchester in order to snap the northern club scene. “We do airbrush,” he admits, “but we also train photographers to take flattering pictures… usually from above for the girls, because it takes out all the shadows, and from below for the boys so that they look more muscular.” So where exactly is the party at right now? “At the moment, the student scene in Leeds is bigger than Manchester, which is better for VIP nights where there may not be a DJ but there will be lots of posing.”
“The biggest events are by The Warehouse Project, which take place in a multistorey car park under a bridge. You can expect DJs such as the Swedish House Mafia and acts including La Roux. There are people of all ages partying hard, including this 55-year-old guy I see out all the time. He’s probably been snapped and has our card, but he may not be putting his pics up on Facebook!”
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