Be In the Moment

Photography By Zer Ghoul

Los Angeles photographer Zer Ghoul opens up about the personal connect with Chicano culture, the rebelliousness of goth and punk scenes, and how music unites generations, cultures, and backgrounds.

Los Angeles, USA

How did you begin your journey as a photographer?

I have always taken photos or had a camera with me. But didn’t take it seriously and my photos would get deleted as memory cards would get lost or my computer would get viruses from downloading music from obscure sites.

During the pandemic lockdown I was heavily encouraged by my brother Julio to buy my first lens camera (Canon EOS M50) and then started to take it more seriously. I also used it as therapy given that I was going through a bad depression episode. Photography allowed me to be in the moment and forget about everything that was in my mind.

Once things slowly started to open, I brought my camera to Low Rider Cruises. The first cruise I started to take portraits and document was at the Compton Unity Cruise. My portraits weren’t great, and I was nervous. But I had a great time using my camera and I continued to enjoy family trips to the cruises. Eventually I met great people that I know call my mentors such as Jose Alvarado and Paulo Freire Lopez. They gave me great pointers on how to bring out my style and most importantly gave me confidence with my craft.

One conversation that I hold very close was one I had with Alvarado during a cruise at 15th street, promoted by Dangerust LA Cruise Nights. Alvarado told me “Hey, love this shot for you, not anyone else. Do it because you truly love it. Honestly ,no one cares if you are here, don’t be nervous! And don’t care about what other people think”. His words still resonate every time I press my shutter. Alvarado also gave me an assignment that night. I had to take 10 portraits of people before I left that cruise. Until today I don’t put my camera away until I at least have 10 shots that I feel proud of.

Since then I couldn’t put my camera down and I had an interesting expansion into taking portraits at punk and goth shows. I grew up in the South Bay, Lawndale, and used to go to backyard punk shows and always took missions to discover new bands, even if it meant taking many buses and metro transfers. Unfortunately, all the footage of these adventures are only in my brain and that is why now I document everything that I can. From Poesia sobre ruedas at Low Low cruises to the dark surreal Goth nights at LA clubs.

What have you learned along the way?

I personally believe that we are living in an artistic renacimiento that has been pushed by the pandemic and the lockdown. Is very crucial to document our community and capture every aspect of it. I have also learned that collaboration is very important to stimulate creativity.

How would you describe your style? What makes your perspective unique and different?

This honestly is a hard question; I like to call it Goth Minimalism. I like to capture the moment with natural light and no flash. Most of my work is in black and white and recently I like to have empty spaces next to my off-center subject. I don’t know if this makes it unique but I’m also part of the cultures I photograph. Lastly, I set my viewfinder in black and white, I enjoy the feeling I get when I view everything in black & white when I’m taking a photo.

What have been some highlights during your photography journey? What have been some struggles?

Some highlights have been getting to take portraits of some of my favorite artist such as Dick Lucas from Subhumans. I never thought I would get to photograph him; I remember playing Mickey Mouse is Dead in my friend’s bedroom while sewing our pants with floss. Another highlight has been photographing upcoming punk and postpunk bands in LA.

Struggles have been trying to avoid security at some venues to get my camera inside a show. Getting a response from promoters or venues so I can get my camera without having to hide it (hahahaha).

Tell the story behind one of your images.

One of my favorite images from this year is the one titled ‘Madre e Hija’. I captured this during the Gothicumbia event hosted by Los Goths Co. and Cumbia Fever at La Cita. To start the combination of cumbias and goth was amazing. If you compare lyrics there will be many similarities so the matchup was just perfect. Through the cumbias and post punk tunes I spotted this mother and daughter dancing. When I approached them, I asked them If I could take a portrait of them. The daughter was very happy, and she said that it was the first time her mom attended an event like this. Her mother smiled through the whole interaction. As I captured two portraits of them in the middle of the corridor across the men’s restrooms, I thought about how music can unite generations, cultures, backgrounds and create amazing memories.

Many of your images focus on documenting the underground darkwave and punk scenes in Los Angeles. How did you get into these scenes? Why do they inspire you?

I moved to LA from Mexico City when I was 12 years old. A few weeks after my arrival I was invited to a show by my primo Jordan. I had no clue what punk was, I just knew that my primo was a drummer for a band and I was going to see him play at a local bar. I remember being welcomed by my primo with a tri hawk and an External Menace shirt. Once I heard them play, I was hooked and ever since that show, I started going to shows. Now I just try to document as much as I can to make up for all the lost footage that is in my brain.

I was introduced to darkwave/post-punk scene much later. My good friend Mar introduced me to darkwave/post-punk bands and events across LA. I used to mostly go dance but then I started to bring my camera to take some portraits. The first goth event I started to photograph was at Danse Macabre. Here a met DJ Le Apples one of the promoters of the event. I remember takin portraits of people at the smoking balcony area next to some metal stairs and an old yellow floodlight. Here is where I started to document the LA Goth scene.

Both punk and goth scenes inspire me because they are both extremely rooted in depicting their unconformity towards the status quo. Each of them in their own way, through their sounds and lyrics. What I like the most is the DIY outfits both scenes have. From leather jackets painted with acrylic depicting band logos or quotes against authority to the latex mask that shine with every movement that person takes on the dance floor.

From the people you've photographed, who are some up and coming musicians and artists we should pay attention to?

Protocultura is a band to checkout. Basuko is another band to check out they have a great lead singer.

From the darkwave/post-punk I would check out Killmoure, Twin Ion Engine, Losses, Hurt Hawks, It Spoke in Tongues and Future Nobodies.

Some of your other work depicts scenes of the Chicano subculture. Why is photographing this important to you?

Is important because it is my community and reminds me of my family. My uncle’s migrated from Mexico City to LA in the late 80s and early 90s. Two of them, Sergio and Alfredo, used to go to lowrider cruises. My uncle Sergio owned a 75 Cutlass Supreme and my uncle Alfredo owned a 63 Impala Super Sport. Photographing the low rider cruises reminds me of them. In addition, my grandfather was a pachuco when he was young in Mexico City. When I grew up and learned about the Zoot Suit culture during the mid 1940s LA, it reminded me a lot of my grandfather. Currently, I own my grandfather’s car a 76 Dodge Dart and I’m restoring it with my family and now with my uncle Alfredo too. Photographing the low rider culture or Chicano culture is very personal because my uncles are part of it, and I want to document my community with love and dignity.

If you could tell 10-year-old Zer Ghoul anything, what would you say?

Save up! buy that camera and don’t download those songs (ahahaha).

What's next for you?

I want to continue improving my craft, would like to do more collaborations and just continue to have fun capturing souls through my lens. This upcoming August to September (with a closing reception) I will have a photo gallery at the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center. I should have more details as we get closer to August.