Portland

For a few days in Portland, Oregon, stylist Katie Shillingford and photographer Niall O'Brien immersed themselves in the world of a group of young punks, hanging out, making friends and mischief. Showcased in the S/S11 issue of AnOther Magazine, the photographs reveal the natural moments captured with the gang. Here, Niall shares his experiences of the once in a lifetime trip.

Niall O'Brien: "Punk rock babes, breaking and entering, putting up Mohawks and drinking beer. Pretty much everything I dreamed of when I decided to go to Portland to hang out with a group of playful girls who all shared a passion for concurring boredom. I did it for four years with a group of boys from South West London, documenting it at every available opportunity and I wanted to see if a group of female punks from a different continent could give the same energy and carefree approach. In two days it was risky but there was no disappointment.

I heard about Portland on a 6000-mile trip through Northwest America taking pictures, and it gave me goosebumps. My good friend and co-driver Ryann Bosetti lives there and over our time together, she told me all about the city and what it had to offer – the food, the amazing industrial feel, music, art and most of all the people. Full of creative souls, there seemed to be a vibe there second to none.

Autry, Emily, Erin and Clare are friends, they're fun. Plain and simple good timers. They look for things to do and although they break into disused swimming pools and botanic gardens that are beautifully overgrown, they understand the epic values of the places they frequent. They understood what I liked and brought me there to hang out and take pictures. I love the excitement they created climbing onto five-storey rooftops using the sketchiest ladders man built but “you can’t not go up". They were fearless and beautiful and that for me is all that you need growing up. Americana and punk rock do mix well together."