Inside Block 9: My First Glastonbury Photography Experience
I photographed my first Glastonbury Festival. It’s one of those professional milestones that so many photographers dream of, and this year I was lucky enough to make it happen.
I wasn’t just covering any part of the festival—I was working with the incredible people at Block 9, the legendary nightlife district on the southernmost edge of the site, created by Gideon Berger and Stephen Gallagher. If you’ve ever been there, you’ll know it’s not just a stage area—it’s an entire world in itself.
From the very first day, the Block 9 team felt like family. The atmosphere was warm and collaborative, and even though we were working long hours across five intense days, there was always a sense of calm and mutual support. That energy carried me through one of the most challenging and rewarding shoots of my career.
Three Stages, Three Completely Different Worlds
My Glastonbury assignment was focused on just three Block 9 stages: IICON, GENOSYS, and NYC Downlow & Meat Rack. This meant I could really get to know each space and find the best ways to capture its unique character.
IICON
A towering 360-degree arena dominated by a giant sculpted human head wearing a visor, IICON is as much a piece of monumental art as it is a music stage. The structure doubles as a projection surface for jaw-dropping visuals, and the music is rooted in bass-heavy, forward-thinking electronic sets. From a photography point of view, IICON is clean, open, and straightforward to shoot—you’re almost guaranteed striking frames no matter where you stand.
GENOSYS
GENOSYS feels like an industrial rave fortress—an open-air stage built from stacked shipping containers, with a heavy focus on house and techno. It’s raw, gritty, and often lit only by strobes, lasers, and haze machines. Photographing here is a test of patience and timing—the lighting can go from impossible to perfect in seconds. But when you hit that sweet spot, the images are electric.
NYC Downlow & Meat Rack
And then there’s NYC Downlow.
NYC Downlow – The Beating Heart of Queer Glastonbury
NYC Downlow is the peak of queerness at Glastonbury—nothing else over the five days even comes close.
It’s a steamy, glitter-soaked reimagining of a 1970s New York gay nightclub, complete with a secretive speakeasy-style entrance. Inside, the air is thick with basslines, sweat, and freedom. The queues outside are endless, the crowd inside is wild, and the atmosphere is unapologetically decadent.
It’s also a magnet for famous faces—not for attention, but to disappear into the music and energy. This year, news outlets picked up on sightings of Harry Styles, Lorde, and Tilda Swinton in the crowd. Beyond that, I met models, film directors, top-tier influencers, creative directors, and artists—people I never imagined I’d cross paths with in my lifetime. Out of respect for their privacy, I’ll leave the rest unnamed.
The Real Stars – Go-Go Dancers and Drag Royalty
The true soul of NYC Downlow lives in its performers. The go-go dancers, drag queens, and drag kings are works of art in motion—each bringing their own eccentricity, beauty, and theatricality to the space.
They come from all over the world to give Glastonbury their all, day and night. Photographing them wasn’t just visually rewarding—it was emotionally meaningful.
Being the only Black photographer on the Block 9 team, I felt slightly out of place when I first arrived. But the warmth I received from both the crew and the performers was immediate. The dancers welcomed me into their space, invited me onto the stage, and even incorporated me into their acts while I worked. Their openness made every frame more personal and authentic.
By the end of the festival, I’d spent almost every day at NYC Downlow—not because I had to, but because I couldn’t stay away. It was where the energy, artistry, and humanity of Glastonbury came alive for me.
Why Shooting Glastonbury Changes You
Glastonbury is unlike any other festival. The sheer scale, the variety of people, and the creative scope push you to adapt constantly—light shifts in seconds, crowds swell and thin, and moments happen without warning.
Shooting Block 9, especially NYC Downlow, taught me to anticipate the unpredictable. Sometimes you wait patiently for the right moment; other times you have to move fast and claim the shot before it’s gone. You learn to balance being present in the moment with being invisible enough to let the story unfold naturally.
More than anything, Glastonbury doesn’t just give you photographs—it gives you experiences you carry for life. Those hidden corners, private encounters, and flashes of raw performance are now part of my own creative history.
My first Glastonbury was exhausting, exhilarating, and deeply rewarding. I went in ready for the challenge. I came out knowing this was only the beginning.