Keeping the spirit of Lewes Bonfire alive in 2020 in new portrait book by Carlotta Luke
Every fifth November, for one night only, the quiet streets of Lewes, East Sussex come to life with a bang to celebrate the world’s largest Bonfire Night event in the world.
Hosted annually since 1858, Lewes Bonfire Night is a unique and world-famous celebration attracting thousands of participants and spectators who come to watch a series of processions through the streets. Unfortunately, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the organisers have been forced to cancel the 2020 celebrations. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t still mark the occasion - an important part of Lewisian history.
In this post we talk to Carlotta Luke, a photographer based in Lewes, about a new book and pop-up window gallery that captures and celebrates Lewes Bonfire through a series of portraits taken over the past six years.
A brief history of Lewes Bonfire
Lewes Bonfire Night marks two important events in Britain’s dark history. As well as marking Guy Fawkes Night - the uncovering of a gunpowder plot to blow up the British Houses of Parliament in 1605, it also honours the memory of 17 Protestant martyrs who were burned at the stake in Lewes for their faith during the 1555-57 Marian Persecutions.
The event started in 1858 as a way to commemorate those who fought for freedom from persecution. It is now hosted annually by the seven Bonfire Societies of Lewes whose members dress in elaborate costumes, specific to their society and march through the torch-lit town. In addition to the local societies, some 25–30 societies from around Sussex come to Lewes to take part, which helps to attract some 80,000 visitors each year.
Interview with Carlotta Luke, Lewes Bonfire Photographer.
How long have you been photographing Lewes Bonfire?
I have been photographing the event for about six years. For the first three years, I was an official photographer for one of the local societies, but most recently it has become a passion project as an observer. I have two sons who love marching in Bonfire and our house sits on the procession route of one of the Societies. It is like a magnet. I can’t not do it. It is such a beautiful, crazy spectacle.
What is the atmosphere like on Bonfire Night?
It is really loud. You can’t tell that from the photos but it is very full-on and very intense. There are bangers going off all the time and I still find the Chinese Firecrackers terrifying, even after 15 years in Lewes. I have a lens filter I only use for Bonfire Night. It has a chip in it from being hit by a banger a few years ago. You need your wits about you and I am constantly moving around. There is so much going on and so much to capture, the energy on the night is incredible.
Tell us more about what it is like as a photographer
It is really technically challenging. The lighting is difficult as it transitions quickly from really dark to fast, sharp flashes of light. Everything and everyone is moving all time and you are constantly being jostled by the crowd. It is really intense. But one of the things I love is how people are part of the process. It is such a big deal for them and one of the main things, when I am photographing, is trying to capture how important it is to the people who are in it. Every year I try to find new ways of photographing and a new way to capture the sense of the experience.
What is the most interesting thing you have seen?
There are lots of crazy costumes. The amount of work that goes into the costumes is incredible. I wish I had more time on the night and that things were a little more still to observe them properly. The costumes can be so ornate and detailed.
Tell us about the book
Lewes Bonfire Portraits is a collection of 45 portrait photos taken on November Fifth in Lewes over the past six years. I decided to focus the book on portraits because - it comes back to what I said earlier - it is the people who are so important. Bonfire is in people’s blood here so I wanted to try and capture the people doing it and to focus on their faces.
The thing that is particularly different about the book is that for the first time I have experimented with cyanotype printing.
(Cyanotype is a traditional hand-printing method invented in the 1840s and one of the earliest darkroom printing techniques. Created as a method to reproduce drawings, the name comes from the cyan-blue tone of the prints, or blueprints as they are called more commonly today).
Why did you decide to use cyanotype?
I was actually introduced to it by my daughter who was studying Photography Art Foundation in Brighton. She came home with some prints and I fell in love with the style. Despite being a photographer for most of my life, I had never made cyanotypes so there was a lot to learn in terms of what types of images work well. Not all photos work well as a cyanotype print. I got really into it in lockdown and it has been a long process of experimentation.
The whole book is hand-printed photos which are then scanned and printed as a book. The outcome is great and I love the paper it is on. It is a lovely object to hold.
Which is your favourite photo?
There are about 45 photos in the book and I feel really attached to all of them. But I particularly love the photos of the children. A lot of people grow up marching and taking part from a young age, even babies with noise cancelling headphones. One of the things that is most interesting is that it is multi-generational. There are not a lot of situations in our world now where people from different age groups actively work on something together and that is quite special.
How do you think people feel about the cancellation of Lewes Bonfire 2020?
We all understand why, but I think people will really miss it. However, I know that it will be back bigger and better next year.
I hope in the meantime, that they enjoy the book and the pop-up display. I have had lovely messages from people who have enjoyed seeing the photos on the highstreet. People saying things like ‘thanks for keeping the spirit alive’.
On the Highstreet, display of Carlotta Luke’s Lewes Bonfire Portraits at School Hill Creamery
Where to see Carlotta’s Lewes Bonfire Portraits
You can see Carlotta’s collection, Lewes Bonfire Portraits on display at School Hill Creamery, 204 High Street, Lewes until 06 November.
The book is available to purchase from Skylark and Wickle, both in Lewes.
More information
For more information about the Lewes Bonfire Portraits Book and to find out how to purchase a copy, visit Carlotta’s website. You can also find out more about her other work and photography on the site.
Please make sure to follow and connect with Carlotta on Instagram @carlottaluke
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