"The Cut Newspaper Online"










Gavin Watson: Photographer Feature ™/ Text / Nina Manandhar / Photography / Courtesy of Gavin Watson / PYMCA Gavin Watson takes us back to when he took this iconic image, and talks in his own words about photography as an incidental part of his life as a Skinhead. When I took this, I was just hanging around, it’s of one of my best friends, Barry. If there was a guy you ever want to interview he’s the man. He was into hip hop but he was a mainly a skinhead. People see the beautiful pictures, they are like why are there no pictures of fighting? Because I was part of it! It never crossed my mind –these were people I loved. If I was sat here with a camera right now and my friend got punched in the face I would never even think to take a photograph. I didn’t think here comes Gavin the photographer, I’d think here comes Gavin the pain in the arse, if there was trouble I’d go off and leave the darkroom and help my mates. It was very separate, in a way, being a skinhead with my friends was more important to me that taking photos. These photos were created for no reason atall, they were worthless, people thought we were worthless, the whole thing was worthless, until 1994. Before that we were filth. Everyone thought we were just working class filth. If I thought about taking pictures or a career that meant photographing babies to put in Christmas cards. I never even got to show it to anyone. It was just really instinctive. I’ve stayed very true to doing what I do and that is photographing people I find human beings very interesting and I am a great believer in the microcosm, my life represents my life, represents a part of humanity. I photograph what’s around me instead of searching after parts of humanity. I find people interesting. We give ourselves a hard time in this country but we’ve had a mass of immigration and we’ve basically got by. England’s a great country, not great politically run but it’s a magical place and magical things happen here, when you go to parts of Europe and they say the word nigger as if its just nothing you realise that we are not a bad country atall. Skins and Punks is out now Published by Vice www.pymca.com		Issue Three Feb 2009 Giggs Interview Global Kingdom : What Is Britishness Back To The Old School Fashion Sarah Maple Exclusive Young Comedians Kyza Interview Charlie Crocket Feature Chip Music Feature Lips To The Mic : Female Artists The Chrsiping Debate Rodney Hinds Careers Interview De Tropix Interview Grey Hound Racing Feature Slanguage Feature Real Life Gambling Crazy Cousinz Interview Hard Knock Wife Review Secret Style Histories Riz MC Cover Artist Feature Dels Cover Artist Feature Sofi Donut's Artist Feature Sara-Sham Savari Benoit Pioulard Emily Cummins Interview This Real Life : Smacking Damien O'Brien Interview Issue Two Aug 2008 Reggie Yates Interview Road To 2012 : Olympics Special Road To Carnival Fashion Freedom At A Price Red Hot Interview Nash Money Sneakers Micachu Interview Natty Interview Life In The Marine Corps Parents Meet The Teenagers Young Londoners Meet The Cast Of Adulthood Cyko Logic Interview Fred Butler : Prop Stylist Interview Immortal Technique Review Made In Queens Victor Timofeev : Artist Interview Ricky Powell Interview Twizzle Interview Flywear Feature Top Girl Film Feature Queen Of Nations Not Without My Sister Sky's The Limit Career's Advice Issue One March 2008 Bashy Interview The Cool Kids Lady Lykes Grimes New School Rowdy Superstar Interview The Sound Of Reason Slash Interview Hoxton Vs Hampstead Fashion Young Designers Lucinda Chua Interview Will Kay Interview The Brothers Size Chris Lambert Duane Henry Drug Trafficking Feature Does My Bum Look Big in This Life After Prison Whats Upsetting Our Children MP Julia Goldsworthy Autechre Live In London Hardcore Is More Than Music Media Box Paddington Development Trust The Cut Ica Blog The Cut On Myspace