Through a lens darkly black photographers and the emergence of a people
(DVD Video)

"Inspired by the book 'Reflections in black : a history of black photographers 1840 to the present' by Deborah Willis."

Originally released as a documentary film in 2014.

Director, producer, writer, Thomas Allen Harris ; producers, Deborah Willis, Ann Bennett, Don Perry ; writers, Don Perry, Paul Carter Harrison ; editors, K.A. Miille, Matthew Cohn ; composer, Vernon Reid ; director of photography, Martina Radwan.

Inspired by Deborah Willis's book, Reflections in Black, Through a Lens Darkly, casts a broad net that begins with filmmaker Thomas Allen Harris's family album. It considers the difference between black photographers who use the camera to define themselves, their people, and their culture and some white photographers who, historically, have demeaned African-Americans through racist imagery. The film embraces both historical material (African-Americans who were slaves, who fought in the Civil War, were victims of lynchings, or were pivotal in the Civil Rights Movement) and contemporary images made by such luminaries as Roy DeCarava, Gordon Parks, and Carrie Mae Weems. The film is a cornucopia of Americana that reveals deeply disturbing truths about the history of race relations while expressing joyous, life-affirming sentiments about the ability of artists and amateurs alike to assert their identity through the photographic lens.

DVD; NTSC; widescreen presentation; 5.1 surround, 2.0 stereo.

In English with optional subtitles in English and Spanish.

Sundance Film Festival, official selection; Africa Movie Academy Awards, winner.