Joy in DIY

The show at The Click Clock Gallery in Croydon will be displaying photography by JoyZine editor Paul Maps of the site’s favourite bands and gigs from over the years, showcasing the site’s focus on ‘sharing the music we love, rather than following musical trends’.

Maps describes the site’s ethos as ‘amateur and proud’. 

‘Joyzine is created entirely for the love of it – everyone who helps to make the site has complete freedom to write about the bands, artists and events that inspire them and we don’t cover anything that doesn’t’, he says.

The site is entirely non-profit, with no advertising or paid for editorials, and was founded out of ‘boredom’, says Maps, inspired by traditional DIY printed zines.

The photos on display were taken in London venues including Windmill Brixton, Bush Hall, XOYO and Camden’s Purple Turtle, as well as Truck Festival. Bands featured include The Fades, The Brute Chorus and Arrows of Love.

‘I find that it helps if you’ve seen a band a few times before so that you start to get a feel for their movements and expressions’, says Maps.

‘Timing is everything in getting a great shot, so if you know where the song’s heading and how the band might react to it, it gives you a much better chance of getting the picture that you want.’

He adds, ‘I like to try to capture some of the energy and atmosphere of a performance – I find static images of musicians holding instruments a bit dull, so try to capture movement and emotion.  Gigs are a kinetic, emotional and usually sweaty experience and I try to bring some of that into my pictures.’

The show runs until 9 March at Click Clock Gallery, Katherine Street, Croydon CR9 1ET