Through the Light of Hope: Exploring the Healing Power of Photography

In partnership with the International Center of Photography

Join Harlowe and ICP for The Light of Hope: Exploring the Healing Power of Photography, a groundbreaking symposium at the intersection of art and science, where renowned photographers, artists, and medical professionals come together to explore the profound and very real impact of photography on healing trauma.

Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive experiences, and hands-on sessions, we will uncover how photography has the power to document, process, and ultimately rewire our brain to unlock our potential.

Join for a single talk, an engaging panel, or immerse yourself in the full day of programming. This symposium is designed to meet you where you are—whether you want to drop in for a session that resonates or engage deeply in the entire experience.

Reflect – Examine how photography can serve as a witness to personal and collective trauma.
Repair – Explore the neuroscience of creativity and how imagery can rewire pathways for healing.
Reframe – Engage in hands-on activities that harness photography as a tool for self-discovery and renewal.

Keynote: Shooting: Through the Light of Hope – James Rice’s deeply personal story of loss and healing through photography.

Reflections on Trauma & the Role of Photography in Healing – Dr. Gene Beyt, a medical professional and visual artist, shares insights on the neuroscience of trauma and how photography can facilitate recovery.

Healing Through the Eyes of a Witness – David Butow on the balance between documenting suffering and preserving humanity.

Trauma-Informed Visual Storytelling – Sarah Blesener explores the role of narrative in identity and recovery.

Healers & Artists Panel – A dynamic discussion featuring Dr. Natalie Gukasyan, Lynn Jonson, Ana Rosa Orozco Rubio and Oliver Halfin offering unique perspectives on the intersection of art, neuroscience, and healing.

Sharing Circles – Small group discussions led by esteemed photographers and medical professionals, offering a safe space for personal reflection and dialogue.

Self-Reflection Portraits – A closing experience where attendees create deeply personal images, lit by Harlowe’s innovative lighting solutions.

Bonus: Take-Home Photo Assignment – Extend your exploration beyond the event with a guided creative exercise designed to deepen personal reflection and healing.

Secure your space in this complimentary program and be part of this groundbreaking conversation at the intersection of art, neuroscience, and healing.

PLEASE NOTE:

Please note, the content in this program is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition.

1-800-273-8255

text “start” to 741-741

has chat options as well as TTY 800-799-4889

877-565-8860

LGBTQ+ crisis support 1-866-488-7386

800-944-4773

TRIGGER WARNING:

We recognize that the themes explored in Through the Light & Lens of Hope—including trauma, healing, and personal storytelling—may evoke strong emotions. This symposium is designed to be a safe and supportive space for creative expression and discussion, yet we acknowledge that some topics may be sensitive for those navigating their own healing journey. If you are currently experiencing PTSD or are in a particularly vulnerable place, we encourage you to prioritize your well-being.

Photo Credit:

David Butow

James Rice

JAMES RICE

James Rice is a Midwest American photographer whose roots in photography go back to the days of black and white film in the late 1950s. His father was a civil engineer, and his mother was an aspiring artist who introduced him to photography when he was 6 years old. For the next three years, he was either making photographs or sitting in the floor of the living room surrounded by hundreds of black and white photographs made by his mother. When he was 9 years old, he gave his mother a goodbye kiss and left the house to get on the school bus. Moments after he left, a mentally ill man with a loaded shotgun entered the house and shot his mother to death and shot his father, who barely survived but was crippled for life. His mother was only 31 years old when she died.

Because of the trauma of the shooting, James did not photograph for the next 40 years. At age 49, after a 28-year marriage fell apart, a counselor began to help James look at his life. The counselor realized that James had never recovered from the trauma of his childhood and suggested that picking up a camera again might be worth trying.

For the last two decades, James’s black and white photography has been both a way to share his art with others and a means of personal therapy. “My goal is to document the ordinary moments of life that we too often take for granted that are simply part of the human condition. I try to capture not only the authenticity of the ordinary moment, but the precise moment when the ordinary has a touch of magic associated with it.”

James has published four books, “Second Look”, “Chicago Avenue”, “Real Cuba”, and “Shooting”. He has had solo gallery exhibitions at the Rangefinder Gallery in Chicago and the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts in Seymour, Indiana. James photographs have been published in Leica Fotografie International (LFI) magazine as well as LFI’s online galleries. Viewfinder Magazine, a quarterly journal of Leica Society International, featured one of James’ photographs from Havana, Cuba on the cover of Volume 51, Issue 2, in July 2018. That issue also included a feature story titled “Real Cuba” from James’ book of the same name. Viewfinder Magazine also featured a story by Richard Rejino based on James’ book “Shooting” in Volume 57 Issue 1, Spring 2024, titled “A Story About Childhood Trauma and the Healing Power of Photography”. James has been a guest on two live stream broadcasts sponsored by Leica Camera USA hosted by John Kriedler and Dan Tamarkin, as well as a guest on an episode of the “Life of Phys” podcast hosted by Tyson Martin.

James’s work can be found at jsricephotography.com and various social media outlets including Instagram (jsrice00), Facebook (jsrice00), and Flickr (jsrice00).

David Butow

David Butow is an acclaimed American photojournalist whose work spans decades and continents, known particularly for his unflinching documentation of social and political issues around the world. After beginning his career as a staff photographer for various newspapers, Butow transitioned to freelance work that has appeared in major publications including National Geographic, TIME, and The New York Times Magazine. His notable projects include coverage of the 2003 Iraq invasion, the Asian tsunami of 2004-05, and the 2019 democracy protests in Hong Kong. His 2021 book "BRINK" chronicled American politics during the Trump presidency. Butow's distinctive visual style combines journalistic integrity with an artistic sensibility that captures both the gravity and humanity of his subjects, earning him recognition through multiple awards and exhibitions of his work in galleries and museums internationally.

Gene Beyt, MD, MS

Gene Beyt is a senior physician and a professor at Tulane University, where he teaches human-centered design and patient-centered innovation. He is a student of art-based discovery and healing after experiences of trauma, putting human needs and wellbeing at the center of all that we do. Over the last 50 years, Gene has been a fine art photographer. His photographs have been paired with poetry in the tradition of physician-author Walker Percy and published in the book The Quotidian. His current work makes use of the camera as an instrument of discovery, with a focus on forms and shapes held in relationships revealed by the light. Gene is also co-host of the podcast Artists Telling Stories, offering stories of the transformative power of art. As the language of humanity, art tells stories of empathy, inspiration, hope, beauty, and healing even as we acknowledge the hurt and despair that afflicts us all.

LYNN JOHNSON

Lynn Johnson photographs the human condition. Johnson has worked for LIFE and Sports Illustrated and published 40 feature stories in National Geographic Magazine and is a National Geographic Society Explorer. She is the recipient of numerous awards and grants including the Robert F. Kennedy Award, the Chris Hondros Fund, and has been a Pulitzer finalist on two occasions.

DR. NATALIE GUKASYAN

Dr. Natalie Gukasyan is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She graduated from Cornell University where her undergraduate studies focused on biology and nutrition. She attended medical school at Tulane University and went on to complete residency in psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She then went on to complete a research fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit under the mentorship of Dr. Roland Griffiths, where she led a pilot study of psilocybin-assisted therapy for individuals with anorexia nervosa and studied long-term outcomes of patients receiving psilocybin therapy for major depressive disorder. After fellowship Dr. Gukasyan served as the inaugural Medical Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.

OLIVER HALFIN

A renowned portrait and music photographer, Oliver Halfin has an innate ability to capture the essence of human expression, often working with some of the world’s most recognized artists. His work delves into the raw, unfiltered emotions of his subjects—exploring themes of vulnerability, transformation, and identity. At the symposium, he will share his perspective on how portrait photography can be an act of self-discovery, both for the subject and the photographer, and how the simple act of being seen can be a powerful force in the healing process.

KATYA GRUZGLINA

A Juilliard trained opera singer and voice teacher turned therapist, Gruzglina uses her experience in music to be attuned to emotional expression, body awareness, and the nuances of interpersonal communication. She was trained at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Hospital where she worked with veterans and their partners to navigate how trauma shows up both on the individual and relational level. Her focus is also on artists and creatives as they face unique stressors inherent to their fields. She will share a therapeutic approach to creating a safe space for healing and strengthening the emotional ties that bind us together.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

International Center of Photography Museum, 84 Ludlow Street, New York, United States