Errol Photography
You can "pick” it out, pat it down, dye it a bright shade of red, take a pair of scissor and trim it short, or you just walk out and let it be; the Afro as a hairstyle is as versatile as it is striking. Some use it to vocalize a stance, and for others it’s merely a hairstyle. Cue India Arie's "I Am Not My Hair." With his “Do you have an Afro” Project, London-based photographer Errol shows the diversity of the Afro while showcasing his creative talent.
inCOLOR: What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you see a person with an Afro?
Errol: Do they want to be involved in my project? (laughs)
inCOLOR: How long has the “Do you have an Afro” project been running and what sparked the idea?
Errol: I’ve been doing this project for nearly a year now. I suppose the idea came about for a few reasons. I’ve always been a huge fan of an American soul/funk group called The Ohio Players. They had the most amazing album covers and, of course, Afros. The Blaxsploitation films were also a major influence.
inCOLOR: Can you tell us a little about your background and how you forayed into photography?
Errol: Well, I’ve always been a creative person. Before photography, it was music. I just seem to meet amazing musicians, photographers arty types in general. I did a few photography courses, then some assisting. The first person I assisted was a guy called Phil Poynter, who at the time was the photographic director at Dazed and Confused. I also assisted Rankin. That was a cool period, long before Rankin and the magazine was famous. Katie Grand, Katy England, Jefferson Hack, Alister Mackie and Perou were all there. I think it was a defining moment. I then took a break from photography and started to get back into it maybe three years ago. I’m still skint but happy.
inCOLOR: Many people associate the Afro with political inclinations. Did you have any political messages you wanted to communicate in starting the project?
Errol: Nope.
inCOLOR: What does photography mean to you?
Errol: Everything. There is something very special about capturing a moment that will never be repeated. It’s quite strange, as I get very frustrated and annoyed with myself sometimes. I look at the images and see 1,000 things that I should have done differently.
inCOLOR: What kind of photographer would you describe yourself as?
Errol: I would say I was a fashion/portrait photographer primarily, a people photographer but having said that, I recently did [a] still life that was quite interesting.
inCOLOR: If you had to choose between black-and-white photography or color, which would you choose and why?
Errol: That’s a good question. Some subjects demand to be in black and white, and others need the in-your-face brightness of color.
inCOLOR: You have another project on sneakers alongside the Afro project. Would you say there is a red thread through your projects?
Errol: Not too sure about red threads. I just choose subjects that interest and inspire. I think if it’s a personal portrait project, then it has to be driven by passion and come from the heart—not be driven by money. Money will hopefully come if the project has depth and integrity.
inCOLOR: What influences your work?
Errol: Everything and anything, film, music, art, life in general.
inCOLOR: What would be your dream project?
Errol: Traveling the world shooting a Gucci [or] Prada campaign and getting paid shit loads of cash; that would be nice. I’m also well up for shooting global sneaker collectors.
inCOLOR: Do you have an Afro?
Errol: No, sorry.
inCOLOR: What are your plans for the future?
Errol: There will be an exhibition later this year for “The Sneaker Business” project and hopefully for the “Do you have an Afro?“ project as well. I just need to tie up a sponsor for that one so if anyone knows someone, hit me up. I’ll be focusing a lot more on editorial and fashion stuff this year. I’d really like to have a body of work that inspires other people to become photographers. That’s my main aim: to leave a mark on the world forever.
For more information, please visit Errol Photography.
