BTS DOC

This behind the scenes project captures the making of a documentary that follows a young Black jazz musician named Joshua Peeler, and his experience with jazz, community, Black identity, and how those three aspects shape his music and personhood.

I aimed to capture the director’s vision of earth tones, especially rich browns, by suing Fuji Superia. These tones symbolized not only the color of jazz, but also emphasized darker skin tones beautifully.

This run & gun documentary followed Peeler as he carried his saxophone to landmark spots in Philly such as the subway, City Hall, and the Delaware River. With little time in-between location changes, this project called for a lighter camera with beautiful glass, such as my Pentax K1000.

I also aimed to capture the director, Victoria Wilcox, and her proximity to the story, which can be seen as she spots her DP, Jalen Ramseur-Williams. Wilcox’s involvement was astute in terms of how she tended to her subject’s story, and her ambition to center a young Black jazz musician being that she’s a Black creative herself.

This documentary aimed to capture Peeler coming into his identity, where he belongs and his passion with music. I wanted to capture images that felt isolating, but grounded simultaneously with his passion for jazz. This theme is seen in images such as Peeler being alone in the subway contrasted with images where he’s surrounded by records.