Recently, we had the pleasure of speaking to CaptureCharles - Australian Photographer / Artist, who documents nightlife across the globe. Shooting on film & video, he's built his practice around capturing the energy of dancefloors & underground scenes worldwide - from packed club rooms to hazy early-morning moments most people miss.
In our chat, we reflect on the experiences that shaped his journey, what he's learned from photographing crowds across continents, & why, no matter where he is, being part of the party always comes first.
For those who don’t know you - who are you and what do you do?
I’m CaptureCharles, a Photographer / Artist documenting nightlife scenes over the world on film & video.
You've photographed artists across continents - what's a moment you've captured that still gives you chills when you look back at it?
There's plenty of moments that stand out for me, on my first trip to London I managed to get a media pass to one of my favourite artists show at Koko, I was so nervous to shoot, I put the nerves aside best I could & went for it. Which luckily the artist ended up posting some of the photos from the show, so that was huge for me & gave me motivation that my work could translate overseas coming from Australia.
How do you balance being present in the chaos of a live show while also staying technically sharp behind the camera?
That's a great question, anytime at an event where I may start feeling flustered or disconnected from shooting, the best way for me to come back & feel present again is to join in on the dancefloor & put the camera down for a sec, it’s a great way to come back onto the same level as everyone else & feel in the zone with my photos again. being part of the party is always so important.
When you’re shooting crowds, what draws your eye - a single face, a shared energy, or something else entirely?
I love little details & I think the easiest way to bring a photo to life is to tell a bit of a story about who someone is.
If your archive disappeared tomorrow, which one image would you fight to keep?
There’s a photo of a couple lying down together at a 24 hour party in Sydney at around 8 am in the smokers section. Makes me very happy everytime I see it, so probably that one. Or the Pitbull headshot.
You’ve seen music cultures all over the world - how do audiences differ from city to city, and which crowd has stood out the most?
I tend to find that the cities that don’t get a lot of events or maybe are out of the way for usual touring routes for artists, are usually the ones that really get into it every time. Also DIY events that are run by small collectives can be really nice crowds where everyone is there putting in so much effort to make things happen.
Film or digital?
Film forever.
What’s something you’ve learned about people from photographing crowds?
People care a lot about each other’s wellbeing on the dancefloor, even if they have never met before.
Do you prefer shooting in daylight or under stage lights at night - and how does each change the way you see and capture a moment?
Lately I have been enjoying shooting daytime festivals, I love being able to take my time with letting moments & shots breathe. Plus as these festivals usually go for a few days, it’s great to talk to people more & be outside in the open air.
Night time club shoots I love just as much & when it’s all happening, there’s nothing quite like that feeling of stillness in a room full of so much movement, like everything goes a bit slo-mo In a way. A good inside system makes it so fun to soundtrack taking photos to.