Photographers and writers Ruddy Roye and Travon Free discuss how and why their cameras are not only an important weapon in modern storytelling, but through demonstrations of their work, will explain why it’s critical to the landscape of photography for black and marginalized people to be the ones telling these stories.
Presenters: Ruddy Roye Travon Free
Location: St. Ann’s Warehouse
Presented by:
Supported by:
Photoville Talks at St. Ann’s Warehouse are produced by United Photo Industries and supported in part by PhotoWings and the Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation.
In 1966, the late Gordon Parks described his camera as a “weapon” against racism, poverty, and injustice. Over 50 years later, photographers and writers Ruddy Roye and Travon Free discuss how and why their cameras are not only an important weapon in modern storytelling, but by demonstrating their work, they will explain why it’s critical to the landscape of photography for black and marginalized people to be the ones telling these stories.
Ruddy Roye is a Cleveland-based documentary photographer known for his coverage of race relations in America and the diaspora at large. He has over fifteen years of experience and specializes in editorial and environmental portraiture as well as photojournalism.
When not on the streets in search of the perfect photograph, Travon Free is a two-time Emmy and Peabody winning television writer, actor, and comedian from Compton, California. He is also the creator of the the HBO show Him or Her, executive produced by Issa Rae. He was most recently a writer/producer for Black Monday, starring Don Cheadle on Showtime, Lena Dunham’s <em?Camping and the new LA Lakers HBO drama Showtime, executive produced by Adam McKay.
He was also co-head writer for Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, and his other writing and producing credits include The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Any Given Sunday With Bill Simmons, Larry Wilmore’s White House Correspondent’s Dinner, and many more. His written work may also be found all over the web, as he is one of the most sought after young, comedic voices on social, political, and pop culture issues.
For 50 years, Leica Galleries across the globe have existed as more than mere exhibition spaces. They are places for imagination, dialogue, and connection. Since the first Leica Gallery opened in Wetzlar in 1976, a global network of Leica Galleries has grown across continents. These galleries are united by the belief that images have the power to move people and change perspectives. The Leica Galleries celebrate the art of seeing and the power of photography. They have been bringing cultures, generations, and stories together, spanning borders, for half a century—reinforcing the idea that true photography is timeless and that seeing is still a universal language.
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