PBY - Disposable Youth Series (II)
Photographer Daniel Camargo-Grosso captures the ecstatic and bold British youth and drag scene in the darkness of Bristol clubs and its streets at nighttime.
Daniel Camargo-Grosso, 20, is an image-maker and visual artist specialising in photography attracted to the darker side of life and exploring it through culture and fashion . Since moving to the City of Bristol in 2018, Daniel began shooting primarily with digital equipment, but soon discovered the pleasure of working with simple and easy to use 35mm point-and-shoot cameras. He describes them as “perfect while I am out in the city that never stops and quickly snapping shots of my weird and wonderful friends. However, I do tend to go back to my trusty DSLR.”
Shortly after moving to the city, Daniel’s fascination with the sub-culture of drag queens emerged. “For a teenage boy growing up in Wales, who was not very open about his sexuality for many years, drag queens were something very alien to me. Soon right after coming to Bristol, though, I became fascinated by what my new home had to offer. I began going to drag nights in a small bar called Brisco where a friend of mine introduced me to two queens called Jessica Jungle and Roach.”
Although feeling intimidated by their 7 or 8-inch-high-heels, Daniel started taking their photos and fell in love with their outfits and make-up techniques. “What amazed me was their use of horror elements which I always assumed was to make the crowd feel a little on edge and to challenge the typical glamour drag that you see on TV. The theme of horror I feel perfectly situates itself well in Bristol, a city that is known for its intensity.”
To move Daniel’s creativity is the interaction with the people he daily bonds with, especially through university and nightlife. Documenting their personalities and showcasing their creativity and individuality has become a huge part of his staple as a photographer.
Despite Daniel’s tendency to work as part of a team on commercial shootings, he recognizes how special it is to take a photograph that was not planned at all. “Some of my most raw and expressive work,” he explains, “are photographs that I have taken just when out-and-about with my friends. “
Inspired by club culture, most of Daniel photos happen at night. “The City of Bristol physically thrives on it, continuously drawing people in from all across the country for its infamous party scene. There is nothing I love more than seeing my friends dance erratically to the nasty thumping bass of techno, or more specifically, the outrageous use of fake blood on Halloween.”
The current shutdown of clubs all across the UK, along with the constant threat of gentrification, is bringing us to cherish the energy, life, and eccentricity bursting out of these shots more than ever, in the hope that we will soon be able to re-populate our cities’ nights.
All photos by Daniel Camargo-Grosso for Post Brexit Youth.