Molly MacIndoe - Out Of Order
Free party moments on Film...
We caught up with Molly Macindoe to talk about her new book ‘Out Of Order’. The book chronicles a first person photographic perspective of the free party community and features some incredible moments caught on film.
That's already enough from us, here’s what she thinks...
That's already enough from us, here’s what she thinks...
So tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
I’m a social documentary and reportage photographer and artist. I’ve got quite a mixed background: An American mother and New Zealander father, I was born in Doha, Qatar, on the Arabian Gulf and spent the first 6 years of my life there going to an English speaking school and spent every weekend playing in the desert sand dunes with children from all over the world. I moved to North London at the age of 6, where I spent most of my life until I moved to Bristol in 2008. My biggest passions are travelling, photography and the free party scene.
What is ‘Out Of Order’ and where did the title come from?
Out of Order is photographic journey through the free party scene. It’s a revelatory book capturing some truly individual moments that show the wonderful freedom and self-expression in a unique community with an even more unique culture.
The title is a play on words and a reference to one of my photographs. It’s an attempt to turn a clichéd reprimand, or adjective for something faulty or dysfunctional, into a playful declaration of rebellion.
It’s a beautiful publication with stunning photography capturing some truly individual moments. Are there any photos from the book that evoke particularly strong memories for you personally?
There are so many ….. a good example would be the one of the images taken at the Teknival in Czech Rep in 2005, showing in the distance a line of riot police stretching from one end of the horizon to the other. It was an instance of police brutality which backfired, as the popular outcry eventually brought down the government. A photo with a lot of personal resonance for me is the one of Tara and her baby daughter. It’s one that embodies my philosophy of socially responsible photography in its contrast to some sensational and negative photos of this same woman by the late Corrine Day. That photo and many others in my book attempt to redress the balance against the voyeuristic put-downs of the media.
Do you have a favourite party from the book?
Wow, difficult. Best to just go with one off the top of my head: New Year’s Eve 2000-2001 in Badalona, Spain. I’ve never seen so much creative effort go into a party of such size. Even in that vast empty building I had to fight for artistic space to do slide projections. The midnight parade of stilt walkers, fire breathers and a mechanical dragon were breathtaking. Most importantly, you knew you weren’t at a commercial club with a huge entertainment budget. This was a maximum effort done for minimal money in a free space by passionate people. Unforgettable.
Do you think education is necessary when it comes to photography?
I think it really depends on the kind of photography. For my free party photos I strictly use film, not digital, and I suppose there is somewhat to be learned about traditional manual skills and darkroom technique in schools and uni’s. However, personally, I’ve found that practice and feedback, with the aim of capturing the moment, having an eye for a shot and all the many skills that just can’t be taught, like relating to the subjects of one’s photos are ultimately far more important than the theories and techniques that academia offers. Photography is a very accessible art—both for its practitioners and its audience.
Do you find a real difference in people’s attitudes when you go to international free parties?
On the contrary, I’ve found a striking resemblance between free party-goers in other countries. as far away as Africa and the Middle East. On the whole people are open-minded, free-thinking, creative and passionate about music. What varies most I’d say are the different musical tastes.
Has much changed from 97’ until now (apart from the music of course) in the free party scene?
There have been some huge changes. I’m not one of those people that sits there moaning about how ‘it’s not like it used to be in the old days…’ One of the most wonderful qualities of the scene is that it is ever-evolving and endlessly creative and resourceful.
Of course new laws have come in, the media has followed the moral panic cycle of embracing the scene, causing an explosion in popularity, which of course produced a clampdown from the authorities and also a homogenization and commercialization of rave music. The underground never went away however. There has always been a hardcore, cutting edge element whose creative output will inevitably become the next wave of commercial music and fashion of the youth culture of the future. At the time it is conceived, though, it is the most avant-garde, revolutionary, anti-conformist form of expression around--which never fails to upset the authorities! At times the scene has become politicised, at times it has stated itself as defiantly unpolitical. With the advent of new technology and the mobilisation of ideas and people it has spread across Europe and indeed the world and become a definitive culture and way of life for some – not just a youth fashion. In fact, given the scene’s anti-capitalist, anti-materialist philosophy, and its emphasis on equality and open participation, it has links to the current worldwide ‘Occupy Wall Street’ Movement.
Do you find it easy to approach strangers and ask permission to photograph them?
No. I’m quite shy. I had to really get to know, and form a relationship with people in the scene so that we trusted one another before I could start taking photos. I describe this process in detail in my book.
Do you find that camera phones and social networking have changed the way people allow themselves to be photographed?
Yes – enormously. Before their existence people were very suspicious of the presence of a camera at a free party as they signified press or undercover police. People seemed to be more aware of the fact that they were at an illegal event and the lens was met with distrust. This of course, coupled with my shyness, made my job extremely hard.
Now people care much less about being photographed by strangers, and indeed many crave the attention of the camera. Social networking has changed the psychology of this and future generations, not just in regards to being photographed, but in the way people interact. There is a lot more social pressure – to be in the most pictures and to look your best, to get the most ‘likes’ and friends and comments. In some ways this also has made my job harder as my work is about capturing natural moments of self expression that are free from self-consciousness – not posed pictures of people trying to look cool or beautiful for their Facebook wall.
What do you have planned in the future?
More exhibitions, possibly some workshops in schools and arts centres, promoting the discussion of social responsibility in documentary photography.
Most importantly, there is a second book planned. I've travelled to Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco photographing pioneering parties and teknivals and I hope to make it to South America soon .... the idea is to produce a book covering these parties and looking to the future.
Molly will be signing books at the Arts House on sat 3rd Dec from 5-10pm on Stokes Croft. Be sure to check it out and get yourself a copy for Christmas.
I’m a social documentary and reportage photographer and artist. I’ve got quite a mixed background: An American mother and New Zealander father, I was born in Doha, Qatar, on the Arabian Gulf and spent the first 6 years of my life there going to an English speaking school and spent every weekend playing in the desert sand dunes with children from all over the world. I moved to North London at the age of 6, where I spent most of my life until I moved to Bristol in 2008. My biggest passions are travelling, photography and the free party scene.
What is ‘Out Of Order’ and where did the title come from?
Out of Order is photographic journey through the free party scene. It’s a revelatory book capturing some truly individual moments that show the wonderful freedom and self-expression in a unique community with an even more unique culture.
The title is a play on words and a reference to one of my photographs. It’s an attempt to turn a clichéd reprimand, or adjective for something faulty or dysfunctional, into a playful declaration of rebellion.
It’s a beautiful publication with stunning photography capturing some truly individual moments. Are there any photos from the book that evoke particularly strong memories for you personally?
There are so many ….. a good example would be the one of the images taken at the Teknival in Czech Rep in 2005, showing in the distance a line of riot police stretching from one end of the horizon to the other. It was an instance of police brutality which backfired, as the popular outcry eventually brought down the government. A photo with a lot of personal resonance for me is the one of Tara and her baby daughter. It’s one that embodies my philosophy of socially responsible photography in its contrast to some sensational and negative photos of this same woman by the late Corrine Day. That photo and many others in my book attempt to redress the balance against the voyeuristic put-downs of the media.
Do you have a favourite party from the book?
Wow, difficult. Best to just go with one off the top of my head: New Year’s Eve 2000-2001 in Badalona, Spain. I’ve never seen so much creative effort go into a party of such size. Even in that vast empty building I had to fight for artistic space to do slide projections. The midnight parade of stilt walkers, fire breathers and a mechanical dragon were breathtaking. Most importantly, you knew you weren’t at a commercial club with a huge entertainment budget. This was a maximum effort done for minimal money in a free space by passionate people. Unforgettable.
Do you think education is necessary when it comes to photography?
I think it really depends on the kind of photography. For my free party photos I strictly use film, not digital, and I suppose there is somewhat to be learned about traditional manual skills and darkroom technique in schools and uni’s. However, personally, I’ve found that practice and feedback, with the aim of capturing the moment, having an eye for a shot and all the many skills that just can’t be taught, like relating to the subjects of one’s photos are ultimately far more important than the theories and techniques that academia offers. Photography is a very accessible art—both for its practitioners and its audience.
Do you find a real difference in people’s attitudes when you go to international free parties?
On the contrary, I’ve found a striking resemblance between free party-goers in other countries. as far away as Africa and the Middle East. On the whole people are open-minded, free-thinking, creative and passionate about music. What varies most I’d say are the different musical tastes.
Has much changed from 97’ until now (apart from the music of course) in the free party scene?
There have been some huge changes. I’m not one of those people that sits there moaning about how ‘it’s not like it used to be in the old days…’ One of the most wonderful qualities of the scene is that it is ever-evolving and endlessly creative and resourceful.
Of course new laws have come in, the media has followed the moral panic cycle of embracing the scene, causing an explosion in popularity, which of course produced a clampdown from the authorities and also a homogenization and commercialization of rave music. The underground never went away however. There has always been a hardcore, cutting edge element whose creative output will inevitably become the next wave of commercial music and fashion of the youth culture of the future. At the time it is conceived, though, it is the most avant-garde, revolutionary, anti-conformist form of expression around--which never fails to upset the authorities! At times the scene has become politicised, at times it has stated itself as defiantly unpolitical. With the advent of new technology and the mobilisation of ideas and people it has spread across Europe and indeed the world and become a definitive culture and way of life for some – not just a youth fashion. In fact, given the scene’s anti-capitalist, anti-materialist philosophy, and its emphasis on equality and open participation, it has links to the current worldwide ‘Occupy Wall Street’ Movement.
Do you find it easy to approach strangers and ask permission to photograph them?
No. I’m quite shy. I had to really get to know, and form a relationship with people in the scene so that we trusted one another before I could start taking photos. I describe this process in detail in my book.
Do you find that camera phones and social networking have changed the way people allow themselves to be photographed?
Yes – enormously. Before their existence people were very suspicious of the presence of a camera at a free party as they signified press or undercover police. People seemed to be more aware of the fact that they were at an illegal event and the lens was met with distrust. This of course, coupled with my shyness, made my job extremely hard.
Now people care much less about being photographed by strangers, and indeed many crave the attention of the camera. Social networking has changed the psychology of this and future generations, not just in regards to being photographed, but in the way people interact. There is a lot more social pressure – to be in the most pictures and to look your best, to get the most ‘likes’ and friends and comments. In some ways this also has made my job harder as my work is about capturing natural moments of self expression that are free from self-consciousness – not posed pictures of people trying to look cool or beautiful for their Facebook wall.
What do you have planned in the future?
More exhibitions, possibly some workshops in schools and arts centres, promoting the discussion of social responsibility in documentary photography.
Most importantly, there is a second book planned. I've travelled to Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco photographing pioneering parties and teknivals and I hope to make it to South America soon .... the idea is to produce a book covering these parties and looking to the future.
Molly will be signing books at the Arts House on sat 3rd Dec from 5-10pm on Stokes Croft. Be sure to check it out and get yourself a copy for Christmas.
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