For the self portrait project, I already had an idea of a theme I wanted my project to follow. I want my focus to be on the beauty of black skin and natural hair. I researched a few photographers who try to bring out black culture or the African diaspora through their photographs. I found myself being inspired by Endia Beal, who had a portrait series called “Can I touch it?” where she had white corporate women wearing hairstyles mostly seen on black women and sometimes looked down upon when they try to get jobs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another photographer that inspired me is John Edmonds, and his recent exhibit called “American Gods,” showing black men wearing du-rags, which is sometimes interpreted as they are criminals or gangbangers if they wore those.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lastly, Ava Berkofsky who was the director of photography for the tv series, Insecure, which main cast was predominantly black, so she talked about using certain colors and lighting that helps bring out darker skin.

 

 

 

 

 

Endia Beal:http://endiabeal.com/#!/gallery

John Edmonds: http://www.lightwork.org/archive/john-edmonds-anonymous/

Ava Berkofsy:http://www.avaberkofsky.com/