Soles of AFROPUNK

As I prepared to go to my first AFROPUNK Fest in 2014, I thought about the things I would shoot to capture the soul of AFROPUNK, like the music and the scene. AFROPUNK is known for its attendees' statement-making outfits and style, which is what most photographers shoot. Yet while walking around Commodore Barry Park I found myself drawn to festival goers' footwear because many people's shoes were statement pieces in their own right.

Shoes are powerful: they carry us around, they can be imbued with sentimental value and they can be canvases for self-expression--something that is such a large part of AFROPUNK's ethos.

As a photographer, I think that in order to find the soul of a music festival, you need to look to its people. I went to capture the people of AFROPUNK, and then I looked down.

The following photos were taken at AFROPUNK in 2014 and 2015.

EJ Wright, from Harlem, NY, came to Afropunk to document the festival for Snapchat.

Paulina Singer, from Brooklyn, NY

Tom Charles, from Orange County, NY

 Nicole Walker, from Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Rachel Lifter, an Assistant Professor of Fashion Studies at Parsons School of Design, came to the festival to conduct interviews for her upcoming book on music, fashion and youth culture.

Flof, left, and Blessloso, right, traveled from Atlanta to attend this year's festival and were handing out roses to festival attendees.

Ayade Rice, from Brooklyn, NY

Kabira Dame, from Brooklyn, NY

Taj, from Harlem, NY

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