In photographer Hazel Gaskin’s own words, beauty is “something that is exclusive” inside all of us. By that definition, her photos are bonafide capsules of pure bliss, capturing moments of quiet beauty within the mundane everydayness of life.

Gaskin’s distinct eye for documentary storytelling got here naturally from the start. Growing up near the coastline within the suburbs of Dublin, she began snapping stills of seaside locals at any time when she could. Since then, she has remained inspired by – and connected to – her seaside community, despite wanting to “leave Dublin and move to London” for so long as she could remember. 

From taking pictures on the beach to experimenting along with her “first proper camera” while travelling in Japan, photography steadily weaved itself into the material of Gaskin’s DNA. “I just couldn’t see myself doing anything,” she explains. Scrolling through her Instagram feed today, her work is a mixture of ethereal documentary images and dreamy portraiture, all infused with rebellious charm. Gaskin’s work is inherently inspired by ideas of symbolism and pageantry, she says, and the way that manifests within the on a regular basis.

What may very well be just two girls wearing Nike trackies and riding electric scooters on an estate, or thorny roses budding against the bricks of a high-rise, becomes something special through Gaskin’s lens. It’s hard to not be hypnotised by these tranquil yet arresting photographs, which regularly capture the calm before the storm: a mid-air flip-trick within the afterglow of a fading sunset; the crescendo of a gravity-defying cliff-jump; the spark of a cig before taking that first deep drag. Her intimate eye blurs the boundaries between spectator and subject, inviting the viewer to feel an element of the scenes she photographs.

Currently based in southeast London, Gaskin has continued to chop her teeth on a growing variety of editorial and fashion shoots for the likes of Maison Valentino, Stella McCartney and Thebe Magugu, in addition to capturing many stories for Dazed. Here, we meet up with the Dublin-born turned Recent Cross native on her biggest influences, current obsessions, and her predictions for the longer term of beauty.

Are you able to tell us a bit about yourself and where you grew up? 

Hazel Gaskin: I grew up in a suburb on the outskirts of Dublin through the 90s and 00s. [It was a] place that from the surface seemed pretty unremarkable, but has definitely had an enduring effect on me. It was pretty anarchic, I used to be a typical rebellious teenager… all the time in trouble. Ireland on the whole was in transition, it was an interesting time to be growing up. My brother and sister are lots older than me so I used to be exposed to music and rave culture very early on. I wanted to depart Dublin and move to London for so long as I can remember. 

How did you get into photography? 

Hazel Gaskin: I began taking photos once I was out going to clubs with my friends, and it just developed from there. Then I went to Japan and purchased my “first proper camera” and documented the trip, and the remainder is history…

What are you trying to speak through your work?

Hazel Gaskin: I wouldn’t say there may be one message I’m trying to speak. I’m influenced by ideas of community, symbolism, culture and pageantry and the way that manifests within the on a regular basis. 

What’s your earliest beauty-related memory? 

Hazel Gaskin: Hair crimping! Also putting glitter nail varnish on my eyelids as I believed it might be more everlasting… It didn’t have the specified effect.

Describe your beauty aesthetic in three words. 

Hazel Gaskin: Functional, fast, unfussy.

Which fictional character do you most relate to? 

Hazel Gaskin: Suzy in Curb Your Enthusiasm is who I’m channelling at once… 

Who’s your beauty icon? 

Hazel Gaskin: An obvious one, but LeeLoo in The Fifth Element – she’s fascinating.

When do you’re feeling most beautiful? 

Hazel Gaskin: After I’ve had sleep.

It’s the sixth day and you might be creating humans. They’ll look nonetheless you would like them to. What do they give the impression of being like?

Hazel Gaskin: I understand it’s boring but I wouldn’t change how they give the impression of being… I’d, nonetheless, put in a caveat that humans don’t destroy and eat all of life around them!

In case you could have a recent sense on top of your existing ones, what would it not be? 

Hazel Gaskin: Enhanced vision! 

If not your body, is there anything you’ll want to depart behind? An artwork you haven’t done yet, a book, a bloodline? 

Hazel Gaskin: More trees.

What’s the longer term of beauty? 

Hazel Gaskin: Hard to say where we go from here… It’s pretty wild on the minute with people trying to enhance themselves to seem like their virtual version. There may very well be a reset? Or possibly it’s going to maintain advancing and everybody could have access to achieving their AI version of themselves! Hopefully, all of us don’t find yourself looking like cats…

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