Originating from a free festival and traveller background, Alan Lodge has worked as a photographer for over fifty years, with a particular special interest in ‘alternative’ lifestyles and subcultures. Having covered Pride events for several decades, we thought we’d share some of his best images and ask him a few questions about life behind the lens…
Tell us a bit about yourself and your work as a photographer…
I am a photographer dealing with aspects of ‘alternative’ lifestyles and subcultures, photographing many free and commercial events, 'free party' events ('rave culture'), environment protest, land rights with surrounding social concerns. I aim to present a more positive view of people and communities that are frequently misrepresented. I also cover political actions, concerns about civil rights and protest involving policing operations, especially in relation to surveillance.
A graduate of Nottingham Trent University with a BA degree in Photography, I specialise in issues surrounding representation, both in print and audio-visual format. I completed an MA in Photography, also at NTU, and have recently been presenting an exhibition of large-scale work at the Bonington Gallery there.
How long have you been photographing Pride and what does it mean to you?
This set of photographs covers twenty years back to 2003. However, I had been photographing Pride events for years before digital photography, thus previous events covered will have been on black and white negative stock. Pride is clearly a gathering not only designed for fun but to highlight issues around the civil rights of the individual.
You seem to get into the thick of things and interact with the groups you photograph. How does this differ from being an observer on the sidelines?
I started in photography to counter much of what a ‘press photographer’ would see, having just parachuted into any situation. You have to spend time with people to better understand who they are and what interests them. This lets you see more honestly people’s behaviours with each other. I generally can’t stand posing people for a photo. If you miss a more natural shot, with a little anticipation sometimes you get a second chance.
Do you think Pride successfully continues to be a civil rights protest and a celebration while also increasingly adopted by commercial enterprises?
I have attended Pride events in Manchester, Brighton, London, Derby and Nottingham. As with any events, in the UK we have some quite strict laws and regulations on entertainment: notifying police, local authority licensing, insurance, booking acts, etcetera. It all costs money to put on even modest community events. Hence, they have to work within a budget and the money raised somehow. However, the commercial entities that sponsor events can sometimes overwhelm the contribution by smaller grassroots groups. I do sometimes wonder, for their contributions, if some companies [and authorities] might be engaged in pink-washing. It can drown out the central message of these events in standing up for individual freedoms and their civil rights. Prejudice still exists in wider society. Issues need to continue to be highlighted and stood up for.
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