The guys of the British working class

He is a London-based photographer who first became known for his striking photographs of young men: Alasdair McLellan. 1974 born in Doncaster in northern England he studied photography at Nottingham University. After graduating he moved to London, where he started his career in the mid 90’s.

Today he is one of the industry's major players, photographing campaigns for famed fashion houses like Louis Vuitton and editorials for publications including Vogue, Arena Homme+, Love and i-D magazines. But still the most fascinating objects are the young men of the British working class. He is busy in these days, but a few quick questions are viable.

Alasdair, what’s a lad?
A young male brit, somewhere between being a teenager and his early twenties.

Where did you find these guys?
In northern England. And in London in the streets.

What is typical northern english in the photos?
The clothes. The Hairdressing. Maybe the straightforwardness.

How do you define attractiveness?
For me it’s something very personal.

No guts, no glory - last year you filmed in Bethnal Green's legendary boxing club Repton.

That was a collaborative project with Sunspel. Ryan Pickard. The photos combine the sporty environment of the club with a more urbane city street scenario. Also a lads meal at the nearby E.Pelicci cafe, together with fellow athletes Sam Lawson and Louis Cadman, features in the 5 min long clip.

Alasdair's portraits of young male locals are infused with the strange pallor and virility of the region – a region whose contrasts are mirrored in the lads closely but roughly cropped hair, or their immediate yet sensuous gazes. They look rosy-cheeked (you never know if it is due to the fresh british air or to a way too many pints) and it is more likely to meet them at the local pub closeby than in the Abercrombie & Fitch-Flagshipstore at Picadilly Circus. Always the pictures of the lads are slightly sexist and caricatured at the same time – the authenticity is by design. The britishness seems to be authentic..