Today on the Orange Peel, we are featuring yet another talented Photogrpher, James Lissimore! Continue reading to discover more about his alternative subculture imagery…
Q1: What is your Name, Age, and Where are you based?
My name is James Lissimore, I’m twenty years old and work between Brighton and Colchester, Essex
Q2: How did you first get into your creative practice/ work?
Funnily enough I originally only took photography in college because I had to select four subjects and photography was one that took my interest more! Starting out working on abandoned buildings and creating source images for my oil paintings but as I matured I began to find interests elsewhere. mainly street photography and portraits.
Q3: Are there any main or overarching themes you explore in your work?
My most popular work has been exploring the themes and ideas around subculture, titled ‘Revival’ Looking more specifically at Skinhead and Punk culture. As many people know skinhead culture is a very complex one; with the origins being a coming together of cultures. Where music (reggae and ska), dressing “properly” and being apart of a bigger collective of poeple, it developed into the football terraces and the coming together with punk culture lead to the creation of Oi! music. This development meant taller boots, harsher cropped hair and more experimental dress styles. I personally love both of these parts of the culture, but some identify with one or the other.
There has since been complications with the stealing of the culture by those who don’t hold the true values of what a skinhead really is, leading to the stigma to us all being nazi, racist thugs!
I aim to create work that educates the general public to what we really represent.
Q4: How has the COVID- 19 Pandemic affected your work?
With the lockdown it has completely shut down all operations; having no opportunities to travel the country to find potential subjects for my work. I’ve tried to create work on my own but there are only so many photos that you can take of yourself in your own home. I’m intensely looking forward to lockdown ending and being able to resume my work.
Q5: Highlight one of your biggest inspirations!
When looking at the history of skinhead culture there is a photographer’s name that comes up very frequently; Gavin Watson. He was just a teenager with a camera who fell into one of the most explosive subcultures in British history. He’d photograph the day to day situations of him and his friends, these photos would see the light of day in his book ‘Skins’ that reaffirmed his name as the definitive skinhead photographer
Q6: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
With the current unpredictability of what’s going on it’s really hard to imagine what I’ll be doing in a few months let alone years. But the best case scenario is traveling Europe photographing the many different factions of skinhead culture throughout countries such as France, Belgium, Germany and Italy. Worst case scenario is dying I think…
Q7: If you could share a message with the world, what would it be?
No one is lesser than another; we cannot judge entire groups of people by the actions of some and there needs to be changes from politicians and the rich before there can be real and true justice for those who need it.
To find more of James’ work you can go to his Instagram!
THANKYOU FOR READING- STAY SAFE
The Orange Peel 