EP 40 • Cornell Watson
About Cornell
Cornell Watson is a dope-ass Black photographer based in Durham, North Carolina. His photography is centered around sharing the stories of Black people. His work has appeared in national ad campaigns for companies like T-Mobile and in national publications such as the New York Times and Washington Post.
He is also the 2020 recipient of the Alexia Foundation grant for his award-winning photo series "Behind the Mask" which has appeared on the Washington Post and Buzzfeed News.
When he’s not creating photos, being the best spouse in the world, or saving his two-year-old daughter from drowning in the toilet, you can find him passed out from exhaustion on the living room couch.
SHOW NOTES:
Website: cornellwatson.com
Where are you based?: Durham, NC
Camera Brand: Fuji
Most Influential Photographer: Gordon Parks
Favorite Lens:
It depends, but recently the Fuji 16-55mm has been my favorite. I can rely on this lens for almost any situation. It's crispy and it stops down to 2.8 which helps a bit in low-light situations.
In your opinion, what is the most/least diverse field of photography?:
I don't know about the most diverse, but I can tell you for sure that family photography is the least diverse. Probably documentary, in general, is the least diverse.
What do you consider the biggest hurdle for Black photographers today?
The next Gordon Parks and Carrie Mae Weems is out there but they don't have access to education/mentorship. Someone has a story to tell, but they don't have access to equipment. I believe one of our biggest hurdles is access to resources.
Instagram: @cornwhizzle
