H-Bomb

Long-term documentary project on Houston’s hardcore punk scene, exploring its raw, value-driven culture beyond stereotypes.

This is an excerpt from my long-term documentary project about the hardcore punk scene in Houston, Texas. Often when people hear the word “punk,” they think of spiked hair, drug use, battle jackets, and a general attitude of carelessness. This is where the hardcore subgenre differs greatly. Devoid of flamboyance and costumes, the hardcore scene in Houston reflects a raw, unfiltered aesthetic, more aligned with skate and hip-hop culture, where style is driven by necessity rather than image. Though it is generally considered the most violent punk subgenre, hardcore is built on a paradox: the extreme physicality and self-endangerment seen at shows coexists with radical ideologies of self-discipline and preservation like the straight edge movement, veganism, or Christianity which a large portion of the community identify as. Many people in this community actively reject mainstream narratives about punk, carving out space for deeply held values and beliefs.

This series is an attempt to show how complex and diverse the hardcore scene is in Houston and explore the ways this group is intertwined with social and economic inequality through digital photography. I’ve chosen to work exclusively in digital photography out of respect for my subjects, many of whom are vegan. I feel that using film when it contains animal byproducts would be betraying the trust I worked so hard to earn. At its core, this project is about dismantling misconceptions. The hardcore community is not just a haven for mindless aggression, but a vital creative outlet for youth seeking meaning, solidarity, and self-expression. Through these photographs, I hope to dispel misconceptions and stereotypes by showing these people the way they want to be seen.