Four Black Photographers on What Drives Their Work
We spoke with photographers around the world to discuss what it is that drives their work to capture the culture. Each touch base on how loss, family, and community affected their drive for photography and emphasize the importance of documenting the black experience in todays society.
Henry R. Jones II
MM: You’re in a rush before you leave the house.. which camera must you bring?
H: Canon 77D and most importantly my 85mm lens. I enjoy portraits and this set up helps me to create depth in photos.
MM: What, or who, made you want to begin documenting the black experience?
H: My mother passed away in 2014 from breast cancer and she was/is a legend. To her family, to her friends, to the community and when we were planning her services there just weren’t enough photos of her to really articulate her story. This drove me to capture the black experience and just memories overall. Our culture runs deep and it has always been a source of love, life and light, we must never leave that unseen.
MM: What is it about black culture specifically that inspires you to capture it through your lens?
H: The black culture is one that has many different facets. If you were to sit and think about all the different people you have met that may even stay in the same household but are all different, THAT is the black culture. A pot of individuals all compromised of the same tone but different. No offense but I like to say my culture, the black culture has so many characters and figures that others just don’t. Our style is unique and unmatched globally.
MM: One tip you’d share with fellow up and coming black photographers.
H: One tip I’d share is make your work yours, don’t try to be anyone else or try to force what we have naturally. From how you set up shoots and how you cast models, don’t over think the process. Go out be great and know your worth.
View more of Henry’s work here.
VelliVVS
MM: You’re in a rush before you leave the house.. which camera must you bring?
V: Always my Canon 60D! I have a Rebel T6 thats been with me through thick and thin when I first started photography but It doesn’t feel right if its not my 60D.
MM: What, or who, made you want to begin documenting the black experience?
V: Aside from my environment and life around me, I would have to say a photographer from Detroit named Vuhlandes. I have been watching him since I started back in 2017 and he has been a big inspiration with his work as well as showing me thats it’s ok to actually photography your life as a black man living in the hood and documenting black culture.
MM: What is it about black culture specifically that inspires you to capture it through your lens?
V: Honestly, everything! I just love it all. From skin tones, to fashion, even the embodiment of that black model in that moment. I like to take a twist on my photography and while I try to capture typical everyday black culture I try to put a twist on it and make it artistic. Because black is art to me honestly. Its so great seeing people of my skin color and lifestyle acknowledged and admired because of my work, and shown in a light that is powerful and creative.
MM: One tip you’d share with fellow up and coming black photographers.
V: Keep going even when your down. You’ll have those days where you are over it and feel down but keep going. Also, make sure your art is for YOU. Don’t create for social media and public acknowledgement, create what YOU love and bring out the vision YOU created. Finally, always keep an extra battery with you. I promise it will save your life.
View more work by VelliVVS here.
Judah Iyunade
MM: You’re in a rush before you leave the house.. which camera must you bring?
I would take my canon Rp with me because I feel comfortable using it.
MM: What, or who, made you want to begin documenting the black experience?
My first and probably biggest influence is my Mom, she made documenting life and experiences a core value for me and siblings. I feel like it's a purpose for me to do the same in a broader sense.
MM: What is it about black culture specifically that inspires you to capture it through your lens?
There are alot but I feel the one that speaks to me more is our resilience as a people, how we have accomplished a lot from nothing and how we have and are still transforming all negative stereotypes. Also, I am inspired by Black joy and why there's a need for it in all of our representations and in our lives too.
MM: One tip you’d share with fellow up and coming black photographers.
The only thing I will say is to always be yourself, know what you want and always understand that it is a process.
View more work by Judah here.
Yolanda Hoskey
MM: You’re in a rush before you leave the house.. which camera must you bring?
Y: I am a #fujishooter through and through! There’s something about the Fuji X system that makes you work a little harder at photography which I LOVE, keeps me on my toes, always learning, always growing, always adapting.
MM: What, or who, made you want to begin documenting the black experience?
Y: I grew up in East NY, also pronounced “Le Hood” haha. Growing up in that environment, looking at the struggle, pain and more importantly, beauty of the black and brown bodies around me really molded how I viewed the black identity. I just want to show the world the black that I see (dope af).
MM: What is it about black culture specifically that inspires you to capture it through your lens?
Y: Blackness is not monolithic, we aren't just one thing. We come in so many different shapes, sizes, colors and from so many backgrounds, culturally, socioeconomically and everything in between. I began photography with one mission: to capture blackness as I see it; unrefined and beautiful.
MM: One tip you’d share with fellow up and coming black photographers.
Y: Trust yourself, trust your vision and always be a student of the craft. P.S: INVEST IN YOURSELF!!
View more of Yolanda’s work, here.
