The application period for the workshops has closed. Thank you to all that have applied. We will be notifying those selected the week of June 9th.
Frames of the City is an immersive photography and archiving program that empowers participants to explore Newark through the lens of documentary photography. Designed for aspiring photographers, storytellers, and community historians, this program teaches the art and ethics of visual storytelling while encouraging a deeper connection to the city’s neighborhoods, people, and culture.
Through hands-on workshops, guided city walks, and mentorship from professional photographers and archivists, participants will learn how to capture compelling images that reflect the diverse narratives of Newark. From street scenes and local landmarks to personal portraits and hidden histories, Frames of the City invites you to see—and show—Newark in a new light.
Workshop dates: Saturday 6/14/2025 and Saturday 7/12/2025
By the end of the program, participants will curate and present a collective exhibition, sharing Newark’s untold stories with the broader community.
Key components:
- Foundations of documentary photography and visual storytelling
- Ethical storytelling and working with communities
- Technical skills: composition, lighting, editing
- Field assignments across Newark’s neighborhoods
- Story curation and public exhibition
Join us in using photography to highlight the voices, places, and stories that make Newark unique. Participants’ work will also be added to the Newark Public Library’s digital archive, preserving these stories for years to come.
The application period for the workshops has closed. Thank you to all that have applied. We will be notifying those selected the week of June 9th.
Meet the Workshops' Facilitator
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.
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.
This workshop series is co-sponsored by the James Brown African American Room (JBAAR) and the Charles F. Cummings New Jersey Information Center (CFCNJIC) at the Newark Public Library.
Learn more about the co-sponsors
