Felicity Ingram’s debut photobook is a globetrotting ode to rave culture

Growing up in the Bath and Bristol area as a “gothy alt-kid”, the photographer Felicity Ingram has been obsessed with music, festivals, clubbing and raving for as long as she can remember. It is no surprise, therefore, that her first book focuses on nightlife (or, early-hours-life) subculture. Technophoria is a sprawling, 220-page photobook that travels through five cities across Europe and Asia – London, Lisbon, Marseille, Seoul and Tokyo – shining a light on the individuals who represent the best of rave style and sentiment.

The project first saw its beginnings in London, where Felicity spends most of her time. A few years ago, a series of newly emerged nights and establishments like Inferno, Wraith Club, Monster Queen and Riposte, transported Felicity back to her youth and “memories of a time when all I cared about was DIY fashion, bold makeup and the freedom of self expression”, she says.

It was this reemergence of passion that pushed Felicity to make a bigger project of the idea, but there were two other, less direct things that played a part too. One, the feeling that she had been boxed into a specific genre – a beauty photographer. “I believe I should have the freedom to create without limitations. While I still love shooting beauty, social documentary has emerged as an equally vital aspect of my creative journey,’ says Felicity. “The fashion industry tends to narrow people's identities into predefined categories, and I wanted to break free from that.” And secondly, the passing of her mother. “She was a huge inspiration behind me creating this book, and I’ve dedicated it to her memory,” she continues. “Losing her made me realise just how little time we have and the importance of truly living – traveling, partying, meeting new people, taking creative risks.”

Despite starting in London, Felicity knew from early on that she wanted the project to span cities, counties and continents – “to see how different scenes interpreted that same rebellious energy”. It was this idea she presented to the casting director Emma Mattell before the project started taking shape. When they finally got started, each city required a different approach.

The shoots in London, for example, took place over winter, so Felicity shot in a studio. “This stripped everything back, making it purely about the individuals rather than the space,” says Felicity. “The people were cast directly from raves, so even in a controlled setting, that energy still came through.” Whereas in Berlin, Felicity and Emma spent their time running around Whole Festival (in between dancing) to coax people off the dance floor for a shoot. “You can see the sweat still on people’s faces – it was raw, unfiltered, completely in the moment,” says Felicity. In Tokyo, however, the pair took a more curated route, researching individuals beforehand and then shooting them on the street, while individuals in Lisbon were shot on the beach. “It was goths on a beach, which felt unexpected but somehow made perfect sense,” Felicity adds.

While across all cities there was a unifying sense of care and love for others in the rave community, some differences did arise. London and Marseille felt to Felicity the most goth, emo and alternative – “there was a strong underground energy, a DIY aesthetic, and a real sense of community”, she says. And Seoul had what Felicity describes as a “real coolness about it”. Initially, the scene felt pretty underground and hard to infiltrate, but once she and Emma did “it was incredibly intimate”. But what most made places stand out, was the unique personalities Emma and Felicity encountered. Take Bulzami, a lesbian shaman performer in Seoul’s nightclub scene who had an “electric presence”, and a vagina shaped bra made from her own melted pubic hair.

It took a whole two years to bring the photobook to life, alongside the creative director Sarah Bassett. The most challenging task? Filtering down hundreds of photos to fit within 220 pages. But, Felicity says: “It’s been magical to see Sarah bring the book to life.” Sarah even made a specific website to host the book, a publication that’s ended up being a beautiful, globetrotting ode to rave culture, and its many passionate participants.