A docuseries by two Brooklyn photographers exploring printmaking and the lives of Black photographers has been nominated for a Webby People’s Voice award.
The Darkroom Masters of Culture was created from a desire to tell stories through the perspectives, lenses, and voices of some of the most underrecognized Black and brown photographers of our time, according to creators Russell Frederick and Anderson Zaca.
For too long, the rich legacy of Black photographers and artists has not received its proper respect, leaving many of this elite class unknown, the photographers said. In the series, seen on All Arts/WNET in 2025 and currently streaming on Apple TV and ROKU, the two photographers interview various colleagues in action to create an intimate and authentic exploration of each photographer’s mission, perspective on the industry, and the social and political importance of their work.
The series shines the spotlight on artists including Beuford Smith, Joseph Rodriguez, Adama Delphine Fawundu and Ozier Muhammad.
“We feel blessed to be in conversation with our friends, our mentors, and our contemporaries about the past and future of our art, the industry and the significance of our contributions to the cannon of photography," Frederick and Zaca said in a statement.
Frederick, who is facing vision loss, has lived and worked in Bedford-Stuyvesant since 1989. He is known for his ability to capture the quiet moments of family, love, dignity and everyday joy in the lives of Black and brown people across the city and beyond. Zaca is a visual storyteller, and the creator of several books and films. He has written several feature screenplays that are now progressing into the production phase.
Watch the trailer below and vote for the Webby People's Voice award until April 16.
