The 'troublemaker' who captured 50 years of rebellion

When Alan Lodge arrived in Nottingham to study photography at the age of 40, he did not see himself as an artist.

Instead, he described himself as a "professional troublemaker".

After attending his first free festival in 1972, the scene became part of Lodge's life and later, he left a brief career as an emergency paramedic in the London Ambulance Service to dedicate his life to capturing scenes of alternative culture.

His passion was initially borne out of documenting evidence of clashes between festivalgoers and police, which he said were often covered in the media at the time.

"I didn't just photograph policemen," he said.

"I looked over my shoulder behind me and realised that there was a bunch of interesting people that weren't getting coverage."

Free music, art and culture festivals became popular in the late 60s and 70s and led to a movement of free parties and raves.

Over time, Lodge said his work had become era-defining.

From 25 September, 50 years of protests, raves and alternative culture captured in photographs taken by Lodge will go on display in an exhibition at Nottingham Trent University's Bonington Gallery.

Lodge's first free festival was at Windsor Great Park, which took place annually between 1972 and 1974.

The event was controversial from the outside due to its location close to Windsor Castle, in "the Queen's back garden".

"I didn't realise that at 18 I was being quite as political I was. But I was, wasn't I? So, there it is."

In 1985, the photographer joined the Peace Convoy - a group of new age travellers - on its annual journey to a free festival at Stonehenge.

That year, the travellers' journey was blocked by hundreds of police officers who had been attempting to enforce an injunction preventing festival goers from reaching Stonehenge.

The clash between travellers and police became known as the Battle of Beanfield, and Lodge's photographs of the fallout became some of his most well-known, he said.

In 1990, Lodge became involved with the house music collective DiY Sound System, formed in Nottingham, which held free parties across the UK.

Among his collection of images are those from the largest illegal rave in British history, which saw thousands of people descend on Castlemorton Common in Wiltshire in the summer of 1992.

Now 73, Lodge continues to photograph events in the city, including religious and cultural gatherings.

One section of the exhibition, called 'Local Nottingham Journalism', is made up largely of photographs he has taken during Saturday afternoons in the city's Market Square.

"If there's not a protest, but just a standard Saturday afternoon in the summer, there are just really interesting people, aren't there?

"They go to sci-fi conferences, they go on treasure hunts, they all dress up in their gear.

"You end up with some really fine portraits of groups of people that you wouldn't generally, you know, being exuberant in one way or another."

He said he hoped his collection of work will be seen outside the scope of artwork.

"I do hope it goes beyond that because I reckon myself a professional troublemaker.

"I want to stir things up.

"Since I was at school I have never been satisfied with the way it is, and I think that it's a duty, if you're not satisfied with the way it is, you can take others with you, to try and improve things, and to try and change things," he said.

Tom Godfrey, director of the Bonington Gallery, said: "I am delighted to be exhibiting Alan's work in Nottingham, a figure so connected to the city and region but whose impact goes well beyond.

"His photographs offer an important visual history of the people and communities that have shaped modern Britain, but who are often overlooked in mainstream historical narratives.

"Charting five decades of alternative culture, the exhibition highlights ongoing questions around protest, civil liberties, police surveillance and land access, which feels very pertinent to our current moment."

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