Imogen, Howl Pride (2025)23 Images
Howl Pride took place over one day and night in venues across Hackney Wick as an alternative to the city’s official Pride party. “In an increasingly polarised world where our community are becoming more marginalised and trans voices silenced, it’s more important than ever to be unapologetically loud, proud and free. The party’s founder, Samuel Douek, has created a place to do this,” explains Imogen, a photographer who documented this year’s riotous event.
Featuring world-class queer DJs alongside rising community talent across techno, house and afrobeats, the party unfolded across various locations – each offering space for inhibited freedom of expression and movement – and Imogen was there with her camera to capture heady moments of celebration and defiance. “The atmosphere at the Howl is sexy, electric, and unapologetic — where dancing becomes its own form of resistance,” she tells Dazed. “Queer bodies moving as one in defiance of those who’d rather we fade into the background.”
Similarly to her portraits of Bonanza, the much-vaunted bi-monthly queer rodeo night electrifying London’s cuntiest cowbois and gals, Imogen’s pictures from HOWL are euphoric and sweat-soaked. But they’re not voyeuristic – Imogen is very much a part of the scene around her. “These photos were taken on my little point and shoot film camera, which lets me immerse myself in the crowd – partying alongside everyone and catching raw, unfiltered moments,” she explains. “I need to be fully involved in the chaos with everyone, this is when shoot my best work.”
Her pictures are galvanised by a desire to amplify the cohesion and visibility of London’s queer nightlife. “My aim is to capture candid queer joy, depicting it as a form of protest. All of my work is about capturing the community as their truest, most authentic selves, as an act of defiance against anyone who wishes we’d stay quiet or invisible,” she tells us. “I want to capture the togetherness of people across the LGBTQ+ spectrum, especially at a time when others are trying to divide us. The notion from the UK Supreme Court ruling that trans women are having a ‘chilling effect’ on lesbian spaces is absurd and anyone in the scene would know that. I want to demonstrate the togetherness of the community through my work.”
Howl also felt particularly important to the photograph due to her misgivings about the increasingly commercial feel of Pride. “Howl Pride was a finger up to pink capitalism. It took place on the same day as London Pride, offering an escape from the commercialised event, which many feel has become far removed from its political roots,” she explains. “Pride is meant to be about queer liberation for all, not a marketing opportunity for brands. Howl Pride offered an alternative space for liberation away from corporate rainbow flags that only fly during one month of the year.”
Among the many highlights of the night, Imogen picks out TYGAPAW as her favourite set. “It kept so many people on the dance floor right until the bitter 6am end. Not only are they a world-class trans, non-binary DJ, but they also do a lot of work advocating for the Black trans community,” she tells us. “I also loved Tedesco’s set, which was a high-energy fusion of Latin sounds and techno. They are a rising star in the underground queer scene, so if you don’t know, get to know!”
Visit the gallery above for a closer look.
