Photoville

Jun 72025
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

Through the Lens: A Film Photography Discussion

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Jas Leon

Jas Leon

Join Leica Camera for an in depth discussion regarding the analog perspective in the digital age.

Presenters: Sara Messinger Chris Chu Jas Leon

Moderators: Chrys Davis

Location: St. Ann’s Warehouse

Presented by:

  • Leica Camera

In a time where the digital world is overtaking so many aspects of life, film photography remains a deliberate, hands-on craft—and it’s experiencing a powerful resurgence. Join us for Through the Lens: A Film Photography Discussion, an insightful panel discussion that brings together contemporary film photographers, artists, and enthusiasts to dive deeper into the role of film today. Learn more about the perspectives of Sara Messinger, Chris Chu, and Jas Leon as the discuss why they choose film photography with moderator Chrys Davis.

Presenter Bios

  • Sara Messinger

    Sara Messinger

    Born in 1998 in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Sarah Messinger studied photography at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. Since then, she has been working as a documentary photographer, developing her long-term series depicting stories that focus on gender, identity, and subcultures. In 2021, she was chosen by New York Times Magazine to document the “reawakening” of New York City after a year of strict COVID lockdowns. She lives in New York.

  • Chris Chu

    Chris Chu

    Chris Chu is a documentary photographer living and working in Brooklyn, New York. His passion for his photography has served as the perfect vehicle for his love of people and the words that they carry. From diners, barbershops, and Olympic weightlifting gyms to basketball courts, and South African Zulu villages, Chris’ photography is his way of listening to the world.

  • Jas Leon

    Jas Leon

    Jas Leon (b. in Los Angeles, CA) is a Guatemalan-American photographer based in New York City, where the vibrant pulse of city life serves as both canvas and muse. Through her lens, Leon weaves together narratives of resilience and grace, celebrating both the ordinary and extraordinary. Her photographs are not just visual records; they are poetic eflections on the lives and voices that often go unnoticed in the

Moderator Bios

  • Chrys Davis

    Chrys Davis

    Chrystofer Davis is an award-winning fine art photographer, muralist, filmmaker, and Adjunct Professor at Montclair State University, based in Newark, NJ. Davis’ work is rooted in street and portrait photography that explores themes of culture, identity, and community through a contemporary lens.

    Davis has worked and collaborated with global brands and institutions such as The New York Times, Disney, The Obama Foundation, Leica Camera, and more. He has also led lectures and workshops, promoting the value of analog photography in the digital age. Named one of the “5 Best Fine Art Photographers in Newark” by Peerspace, Davis is praised for his ability to portray Newark’s people and architecture with depth and nuance.

    In 2023, he was awarded the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship in Photography. His work is archived in prestigious collections, including The Schomburg Center, The Met’s Watson Library, The Bronx Museum, Tufts University, and The Newark Public Library.

Organizations

  • Leica Camera

    Leica Camera

    Ignite your passion for photography with Leica Camera at Photoville

    Experience the world of Leica photography at Photoville through a selection of curated photo walks and panels. From Seeing in Monochrome to Moments in Focus, you’ll experience Leica photography and guidance by acclaimed Leica photographers.

    Leica Camera is founded on a tradition of optical excellence and a conscious focus on the essentials of exquisite image making. For over a century, the brand has motivated visual storytelling through the quintessential union of craftsmanship, design and experience, providing essential tools that influence the art, culture, and creation of photography. Photoville attendees can see this firsthand at the Leica Pavilion, which will showcase a one-of-a-kind photographic experience through a variety of interactive Leica activities designed to ignite your passion for photography.

    https://leicacamerausa.com/

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