Capturing Joy is a poetic documentary that explores the lives and legacies of Black photographers who used the camera not just to record history, but to shape it—preserving beauty, memory, and resistance through the radical act of seeing.

Synopsis: Across generations, Black photographers have framed the intimate, the political, and the everyday moments of their communities—creating a counter-archive that defies erasure. Capturing Joy brings their stories and images to life through a visually rich journey that blends interviews, archival footage, and lyrical narration. From studio portraiture to protest photography, the film uncovers how Black image-makers used their art to tell the stories mainstream media ignored or distorted.

Narrative Focus: The film weaves together stories of pioneering photojournalists, community photographers, and emerging digital artists. These storytellers document Black life with care, crafting a visual legacy that challenges stereotypes and honors the depth of everyday existence.

Themes:

• Representation: Reclaiming authorship of Black narratives

• Memory & Archive: The photograph as historical testimony

• Resistance & Healing: The image as a tool of liberation

• Radical Joy: Celebrating Black life in its fullness

Visual Style: Lush, intimate cinematography mirrors the aesthetic of the featured photographers. Archival images move with breath and rhythm. The soundtrack blends ambient sound, spoken word, and jazz-inflected scores to evoke both time and emotion.

Why Now: As digital media redefines visibility, Capturing Joy asserts the urgency of preserving the Black photographic tradition. It is a film about the past and the present—a tribute to those who dared to see and show us, fully.

Target Audience: For lovers of photography, history, Black culture, and social justice, this film speaks to intergenerational audiences—from students to scholars, artists to archivists.

Runtime: Approx. 75 minutes

Director: Floyd Webb

Status:  In production