archi shah: new generation rave

How did you initially get involved with photography?

I got involved into photography at a very young age, I remember when I was 7 and my dad bought me, my brother and sister a camera each for our holiday. He said the person with the best photo of the holiday would win a tenner. I won the competition, and this was one of my first memories of being interested in the art.

What is your preferred format for taking pictures and why?

My preferred format is 35mm film mainly because I love how grainy and real the images look. When I was 15 I had a digital camera and I remember getting frustrated with taking photos because they would never come out the way I wanted them to. I’m planning on buying a Medium Format camera very soon.

What is the biggest source of inspiration behind your photography?

The biggest source of inspiration behind my photography are the people I am shooting and for me taking a person’s picture I want their natural characteristics to be shown. Some photographers that have inspired me are Gavin Watson and Simon Wheatley, what inspires me about their work is that many of their photographs are taken at the right moment while lots of these images do not look forced. They make the subject feel at ease sometimes to the point where the individual forgets that there is a camera pointing at them.

What interests you in photographing the rave scene in particular?

I simply love raving and I feel that I am lucky in that respect because I found a way of combining two things that I love. What I enjoy about taking photos at raves is that I can feel productive and have fun at the same  time. The whole culture from the fashion to the music and all the different groups of people you meet is so different compared to going to a club. There isn’t one thing in particular about raving but I find that it is a uniquely British scene with many creative elements to it.

Why do you think rave culture is still relevant after all this time?

Raving has stayed relevant in my eyes because of the various genres of music that are included in the scene. I honestly think there is a genre for anyone’s music taste.

Within rave culture it can be easy to spiral and slip into bad habits such as drug and alcohol abuse. How do you think you were able to fuel a more positive and creative outlet from this movement?

I agree, I think it is easy to fall into bad habits with raving. Whether that includes drug abuse or poor sleeping pattern. But I feel like there is such a wide amount of creative outlets to get into. Whether it be you making music, mcing, being a DJ, creating rave inspired clothes, designing flyers, taking photographs, being a promoter, organising your own rave. It really does depend on the person and who you surround yourself with.