Here is Part Two of our interview with British photographer Dene Soma — introducing Terrell, and telling us more about his art. Part One is here in case you missed it.

What was the first photograph that you remember making an impression on you?
‘Mask’ by Herb Ritts — it’s still one of my all-time favorites.

Can you describe the first photograph you took that made you — or someone else — think that you might have a calling as a photographer?
I can’t say there was one image. It was more a series of progressive recognitions. I started out with a simple instant camera, and have spent years outgrowing each camera and upgrading to the best I can.

Are you a self-taught photographer or did a mentor show you the ropes?
Mostly self-taught, but I have attended courses here and there to develop my skill.

Which photographers influence you most?
Annie Leibowitz is a big one, but I’m also becoming a huge fan of Kai Z Feng, whose fashion work is awesome. There’s a newish Canadian photographer called Chad Coombs whose work is outstanding. He’ll be massive one day.

What’s the most important quality a photographer needs to have?
Tenacity. Never stop pushing yourself. No matter what you produce, a quick search on the net and you’ll find another photographer whose done something better. I spend hours reading magazines and trawling the net, even just watching MTV. All of these will keep you abreast of current trends.

Define the word ‘beauty’.
God. I guess it’s almost impossible to define beauty, but on the other hand, we as photographers are always striving to achieve that beauty.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Talent turns me on — when I see it in whatever form, it’s awesome.

What turns you off?
Cruelty.

What can you tell us about Terrell?
Terrell is a model who lives in the UK. I was really excited to see him do some work with Mariah Carey shortly after this shoot. He was so professional, and had more ideas than we had time for. I’ll definitely work with him again.

Any anecdote about the shooting?
Halfway through our shoot, as I was trying to get him to smile, his girlfriend stood behind me and did something to get him smiling.

Dene Soma photography