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Two people in olive green flight jackets stand with heavily customised scooters. The blue scooter on the left is adorned with numerous chrome mirrors and headlights, while the light blue scooter on the right features a checkered screen and a target roundel.

Photographer Barney McCann visits the modern day mods in his series

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Date
3 March 2016

Hong Kong-based Barney McCann has photographed people from around the UK who still define themselves as mods, in his series The Mods. The project started as an exploration of a “subculture that is very deeply rooted in the past” and to find out the different ways it still existed. “I didn’t realise quite how deep it would go and I ended up conducting well over 100 different photoshoots,” Barney says. “Turns out there’s still a huge community that still hold values set in the late 50s and 60s.”

Barney, who’s originally from London, tracked down a mix of ages, groups and styles of mods to include in his series. From the semi-originals with their grey hair and badge-laden Harrington jackets to the new kids smoking in their crisply cut suits, there’s a charm to these portraits. Like a snapshot of Quadrophenia 40 years on, all of Barney’s subjects navigate suburbia with a seemingly no-nonsense attitude and unbridled love for their scooters. “Ultimately the pictures show this massive dedication to something that may seem very odd to other people,” says Barney. 

A person in a black suit sits on a blue scooter on a paved driveway. Beside them on the road, another person sits on a white mobility scooter.
Above

Barney McCann: The Mods

A person in a dark suit pushes a red vintage Vespa scooter through a narrow doorway. Cardboard sheets are laid across the carpet to protect the floor.
Above
Left

Barney McCann: The Mods

Two people wearing white helmets and olive green flight jackets stand beside a blue scooter. The person in the foreground has several patches on their jacket, including a Union Jack and a circular badge that reads “The Mods”.
A person in a grey suit and black trousers leans against a yellow door, smoking a cigarette. To their left, a sign on a metallic wall reads “Clearway” and “Vacant Property Security”.
Above

Barney McCann: The Mods

A person stands beside a blue vintage scooter, hands in their pockets and smiling at the camera. They wear a dark denim jacket adorned with various patches and embroidery.
Above
Left

Barney McCann: The Mods

A person with blonde hair looks directly at the camera. They wear a dark purple suit jacket over a yellow shirt and a dark tie.
A person wearing a black hat and an oversized olive green coat sits on a red and white Vespa scooter. They look towards the camera while parked on a driveway in front of a house and garden.
Above

Barney McCann: The Mods

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About the Author

Rebecca Fulleylove

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Rebecca Fulleylove is a freelance writer and editor specialising in art, design and culture. She is also senior writer at Creative Review, having previously worked at Elephant, Google Arts & Culture, and It’s Nice That.

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