[S1 E8] Photographing Black hair for the culture with Marvin Bowser

In this episode, Photographer and Actor Marvin Bowser discusses why he was drawn into photography and what’s in store for his upcoming ‘BlackHair’ exhibition. Prior to professional photography, Marvin built a 34 year career in defense and defense intelligence work. Marvin shares what inspired the transition into photography, the importance of representation of Black people in the industry in all areas, and why he sees Black hair as a passage for culture.

The BlackHair exhibition launches on October 19th in Washington DC.

Learn more about Marvin here: https://www.marvinbowser.photography/

[About this week’s guest in his own words]

I am a native Washingtonian and come from a family prominent in local DC politics. My sister, Mayor Muriel Bowser, was just elected to her third term as the Mayor of our Nation’s capital, Washington DC.

As a photographer, I am driven by my love for capturing the interplay of light, shadow, color, and texture, and using imagery to tell a story. Whether I am shooting behind the scenes, headshots, events, travel, or nature, my goal is always to capture the essence of the moment without interfering with it.

I also provide photo restoration services to help clients preserve their cherished memories, which is an incredibly fulfilling aspect of my work. It's an honor to restore and frame images from deceased loved ones and favorite family adventures.

My background in the Defense Intelligence industry and my degrees from The American University and The George Washington University provide a unique perspective and skill set that I bring to my photography work. I am always looking for new opportunities and challenges to push my creative boundaries. I inherited my love of photography from my father, who introduced me to the art form through his own passion for it. I still shoot with Nikon, which I learned by using my father's gear.

Ultimately, my goal as a photographer is to use my art to capture and preserve the beauty of the world around us and the stories that make us who we are.

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