Banger racing, big hats and the beach: photographer Sophie Green celebrates British subcultures and social rituals

“Colour, to me, is emotional as much as visual,” says the photographer Sophie Green in the introduction to Tangerine Dreams, her uplifting, rainbow-hued book and exhibition celebrating the community gatherings and rituals that shape contemporary Britain. 

Whether she’s capturing young Irish dancing hopefuls with their red-stained lips, devoted church congregations dressed in bright Sunday best, or petrolheads preparing their souped-up cars to go banger racing, there’s real heart and soul in Green’s pictures – they are colourful partly because they buzz with shared joy. Driven by curiosity and respect, Green devotes proper time, sometimes years, to embedding herself within the groups she photographs, following their rituals and traditions. “In a world fractured by nationalism, culture wars, individualism and loneliness,” she says, “these practices anchor us in our shared humanity.”

Green was born in London in 1991, has worked for clients as wide-ranging as Louis Vuitton, the NSPCC, Vogue magazine and Time, and has shown work at major institutions including the National Portrait Gallery. Her work caught the eye of acclaimed photographer Martin Parr a few years before he died, and he helped her edit the book version of Tangerine Dreams, for which she’s enormously grateful. “I’ve always loved the contradictions in his work,” she says, “capturing British life with both formality and decorum, while embracing the eccentric and the bizarre.” 

Now, fittingly, an exhibition of the Tangerine Dreams images is opening at the Martin Parr foundation in Bristol next month – Sophie’s most comprehensive solo show to date. Full of wit and warmth, beachgoers and big personalities, it feels a fitting tribute.

Words by Imogen Carter

”I photographed Kallin sitting on his dad's banger car at Standlake Arena, his blue overalls perfectly matching the blue paintwork. Slumped across the rear of the car, he looked every bit the family’s little lucky mascot. For over a decade, my ongoing project Bangers & Smash has explored the raw, high-octane world of banger racing – a subculture where scrap cars are meticulously rebuilt, smashed to pieces, then repaired and raced again the very next week. It’s a cycle of creation and destruction that feels almost whimsical, one that defies convention and embraces a kind of joyful anarchy.”

”An Ascot adrenaline rush for most is seeing their horse win, but for me, it was spotting this woman’s fabulous hat. I snapped this photo of her self-made masterpiece at the Ascot horse races – complete with astroturf, plastic horses, and a grazing scene. Dressing for the races is often an eccentric performance and I felt she was subtly mocking the event’s pomposity.”

”An image that speaks to the sense of British eccentricity captures Elise at the Bath Dog Show, posing her Yorkshire terrier on a red velvet box. It is a longstanding tradition at dog shows to present this particular breed this way, elevated and framed to help them stand out in the lineup. It was a striking blend of ritual and visual excess – the dog perched proudly, the owner dressed in a metallic suit, and all of it unfolding just behind one of the tents where dogs are blow-dried, styled and prepped for the day before they run around the ring. I think the image reveals the eccentric lengths to which the British will go to indulge their unique tastes.”

“I photographed Emily at New Brighton Beach as she emerged from an arcade, clutching a tangled mass of prize tickets, the kind dispensed after each small win. It was the illusion of a grand haul, but in truth, the tickets likely amounted to nothing more than a single lolly. Still, the moment captured the spirit of seaside nostalgia perfectly. This picture is from my ongoing project Beachology, which explores Britain’s 3,000-mile coastline, documenting the traditions, aesthetics and social rituals that shape seaside life.”

“A small army rallies to revive a damaged banger car. Family, friends, partners and fellow drivers pitch in together – pure resourcefulness, camaraderie and teamwork in action. Banger racing is more than a sport; it’s a performative ritual passed down through generations, fostering community and a deep sense of purpose.”

“This portrait of Simone embodies the epitome of beach glamour at Southend-on-Sea. Her flamboyance immediately drew me in, from the heavily applied lip gloss and eyelash extensions to the elaborate fake nails, compelling me to make her portrait.”

”Twins ride a fairground attraction side by side, their mirrored presence creating a striking sense of symmetry. Bold colour blocking, identical outfits and the vivid saturation of primary colours combine to shape the scene.”

“I photographed this Irish dancer outside the competition venue while she was taking a break between performances. I was drawn to her red lipstick, which echoed the tones of her outfit. The sunlight catches the gems on her costume, making them sparkle, while the vivid red contrasts beautifully against the blue sky. My Fast Feet & Feis project documents Irish dance culture across the UK – a tradition shaped through competition, performance, and intergenerational exchange, where highly stylised costumes and precise footwork heighten the theatricality of the form.”

Tangerine Dreams: Rituals of Belonging in Contemporary British Life by Sophie Green is at the Martin Parr Foundation, Bristol, from 4 June to 6 September. The book is available to pre-order from the Martin Parr Foundation shop (£40)

All photographs © Sophie Green