During the height of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, I wanted to create work that felt connected to the moment while also celebrating Black history, creativity and representation. As part of my quarantine photography project, I began recreating iconic images that had inspired me. Rather than simply reproducing the photographs, I wanted to explore what made these images so memorable—and what they could look like when reinterpreted through my own creative style.
The Black Panther: Huey P. Newton One of the first images I recreated was the iconic photograph of Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, sitting in a peacock chair with a rifle and shield. The original image has become an important piece of Black visual history. I was particularly drawn to its composition, symbolism and sense of power. For my recreation, I used Photoshop to recreate the overall visual language of the photograph, including the distinctive peacock chair, while putting my own spin on the final image. You can access more information about this famous Black Panther Image in this article: black-panther-wakanda-throne-peacock-chair
Diana Ross for Ebony Magazine For my second recreation, I turned to the fashion archives and discovered a collection of historic Ebony Magazine covers. I immediately gravitated towards Diana Ross’ 1970 cover. Her natural afro, styling and striking expression made the image instantly recognisable, and I loved how much personality it had. I recreated the image digitally, using Photoshop to combine my own features with the original composition. It became an interesting exercise in exploring how iconic imagery can be reinterpreted by a new generation.
Above is the Huey P Newton edit (left) and Ebony Magazine Edit (Right)
This project became much more than something to keep me occupied during lockdown. It gave me an opportunity to research imagery that had shaped Black culture and visual representation, while experimenting with my own approach to image-making and digital editing. I originally planned to create ten videos as part of the project, continuing to explore iconic photographs and visual references from different periods. To see me first 2 videos you can check out my first post here: Quarantine Project – Pinterest Image Recreating
How to support Black Lives Matter?
Click here to see the many ways you can support the movement: https://www.timeout.com/things-to-do/how-to-support-black-lives-matter
You can also attend marches to amplify voices, like i did in Newcastle last Saturday. Images below.
At the time, these recreations were also part of a wider conversation happening around Black identity, representation and racial equality. Alongside creating the project, I attended a Black Lives Matter march in Newcastle and documented some of the day through photography. For me, photography has always been about more than simply creating an aesthetically pleasing image. It can be a way of documenting history, celebrating identity and giving attention to stories and people who deserve to be seen. Looking back, I’m still proud of this project and the conversations that inspired it. It reminded me why researching imagery, understanding its history and putting my own perspective into the work are such important parts of my creative process.
Laurelle