Afropunks by Phil Knott

"...Phil Knott, whose portraits of heavily studded kids are illuminated with heavily contrasted black-and-white tones, was also a frequent contributor to the site. Documenting the growth of Afropunk culture has become a hobby for Mr. Knott, who has been taking street portraits of the alternative black scene in New York for the past five years...

To set up his portraits, he matches his method to the mood. While on the streets, he rolls out a white sheet of paper and tapes it to a wall. Inspired by Richard Avedon’s rich contrast fashion portraits, and to “avoid distraction from their faces,” Mr. Knott uses a white background for all of his portraits.

“I just wanted them to look at the camera and show themselves for what they are,” he said. “I never dressed them. These people were photographed as they were.”..."  SEE PHOTO GALLERY