If I could teleport myself anywhere next weekend, it would be Flugplatz Hildesheim-Drispenstedt, a former British Army airbase near Hanover, Germany. Am I yearning for quiet time in the middle of nowhere? Quite the opposite - every year, 20-25,000 Goths of all stripes (cyber, Lolita, spooky, fetish) stomp their leather buckle boots over to the M'era Luna alternative/dark music festival. With two stages and camping facilities, it's one of the biggest events in the country that spawned the original Goths (Visi and Ostro, ahaha) and remains a hubbub of dark culture.
Last year, Holland-based photographer Jan Blok was among the attendees. I found his portraits of female concert-goers on Flickr; Jan has a knack for capturing candid expressions, and you can tell that he makes his subjects feel at ease. He kindly gave me permission to share some of his M'era Luna portraits with you.
The summer festival is a sea of Goth fashion inspiration. The confidence and individuality of these women caught Jan's eye (and mine).
Neon beacons in an ocean of blackness! Check out the fingerless skeleton glove and two layers of torn fishnets worn by the pink-haired girl on the top left. Both the bottom two wear cyberdreads and goggles on their heads, but each has created a look that is her very own.
Looks like fun in the sun. This year, the band lineup includes: Apocalyptica, Fields of the Nephilim, New Model Army, Moonspell, VNV Nation, Front 242, and Combichrist.
I leave you with some fine rear views. What a composition of Goth textures: fishnets, leather, velvet, PVC, leopard prints, polka dots, skull and crossbones... and of course, black set against anemic flesh.
Jan has photographed many more female Goth beauties - you can see them on his Flickr. If you're going to M'era Luna on August 9-10, look for him there.
