Post by Canon USA

Experience the journey of Dejah McIntosh, an inspiring alumna from TRIPOD and the Writers Room Program. Through her creative spirit, Dejah beautifully highlights the energy and heart of the Museum of Black Joy. "When I walked into the Museum of Black Joy, curated with so much intention by Andrea Walls, I wasn’t planning a portrait. I was just drifting through the room, catching moments as they happened — laughter, movement, the quiet beauty of people simply being themselves. Then Ms. Victoria stepped into my frame. She carried a calm power that made me pause. Before I could even direct her, she reached for the African prints Andrea had laid out, suggesting a headwrap, a drape across her shoulders — a small gesture that opened the door to something deeper. It felt like we were dressing her in memory, in story, in the echoes of women who came before her. Once the fabrics settled around her, the space began to speak. Andrea had encouraged me to use anything that inspired me, so I looked around with new eyes. A basket of cotton caught my attention first — soft, symbolic, familiar in a way that made my spirit hum. This could be something, I thought, placing it gently into the scene. Then the carved wooden staff came next, grounding the portrait with history, lineage, and strength. I made the image on April 12th, 2024 at 5:17 PM, letting the warm window light shape her face and the textures around her. The portrait unfolded naturally — light, fabric, and presence weaving themselves into something that felt like a quiet ceremony. I chose this photo because it carries the weight of collaboration and the softness of joy. It holds Ms. Victoria’s grace, Andrea’s vision, and my own instinct to follow whatever called to me in that room. It became more than a portrait — it became a moment of living culture, a still frame full of ancestry, creativity, and beautifully shared intention." Discover more: https://canon.us/3PFWMV7