This weekend, I visited Houston-based photographer, Angelina Denefield, in her Montrose studio. I (not pictured) was lucky enough to be involved in one of her fashion shoots. A 12-hour session that my body still hasn't recovered from, but it was fun nonetheless. Now she's ready to take her photo label, Soap Box Art, to a higher plateau.
Ricky Vaughn: What does Soap Box Art mean?
Angelina Denefield: Artistic point of view, no boundaries, or limitations. It's about reflecting the imagination or compassionate stance visually, whether it's uncanny, dramatic, or suggestive. Within each frame there's a visual story for the audience to interpret, or engage in. Soap Box Art is not only a brand it's a movement.
RV: Who or what are your influences and why?
AD: I'm attracted to color. My process is to work with very vivid colors. I'm also influenced by overexaggerated things, movies, books, color. I have a very vivid imagination. David LaChappelle is also a great influence to me because he tells stories visually and I'm very fascinated by things that are strange and off balance.
RV: You've recently ventured into fashion photography. How do you make your photos stand out from other fashion photographers?
AD: They're not boring! Most photographers just put a pretty model with a man and that's the shot. That's been done already! I'd do something anthropomorphic where animal meets human. I'd achieve that look by putting a horse or tiger head on a human. You'll see the fashion but you'll definitely notice the man in the horse head. He'll be fashionably dressed, but you'll want to engage in the photo and want to know more about the storyline behind it. It gives you more to think about than the standard male and female modelesque photograph. I also like to add the the "Slap Yo Mama" effects in pictures, meaning that you'll be so intrigued by the photograph, it'll make you want to slap your mama. I also, like to add people in the photo that will speak to the average crowd. I like reality and like representing realistic people. Every model doesn't have to be super-skinny. Just real.
RV: How do you choose your locations and subjects?
AD: Locations and subject go hand in hand to me. I decide the concept first, then scout the location. The last photoshoot I did was a dollhouse theme. So I wanted a creepy, embellished feel. I play off subject matter to find location.
RV: Do you rely on lighting or computer manipulation?
AD: Lighting! I love great lighting. I hate having to sit behind a computer doing photoshop. I don't want my pictures to be over-processed because then it looks cheesy and expected. I rely on my light.
RV: One of your recent projects involved aguy wearing a horse's head. What's the story behind that bizarre concept?
AD: Give that horse back its hair! It was played off of insults from highschool. A certain group of guys would taunt girls for wearing hair weaves. They would scream "Girl, that's not all your hair! Give it back to the horse!" And in that particular photo, you see the horse actually taking it back.
RV: If you weren't a photographer, what would you be doing?
AD: I probably wouldn't be breathing! I couldn't fathom it! Cut off my damn leg! (laughs) No, seriously, I'd probably be making films. I'd jump from photo to video. I need the arts!
RV: What direction do you plan on taking Soap Box Art?
AD: Towards politics and intellectualism. I want to keep it fun and lighthearted though. I want it to be ever-evolving because my mind is ever-evolving. I don't want it boxed in. There will always be a trueness behind the visuals. Intellectual, visual stimulation. We will not hold back, regardless of how touchy the subject matter may be.
Check out her site: www.soapbox-art.com
