Roy DeCarava

Roy DeCarava (1919-2009) was an American photographer born in Harlem, New York. He began his career as a painter, but later turned to photography and became known for his black-and-white photographs that depicted African American life and culture.

DeCarava attended the Cooper Union School of Art and Engineering in New York, and later studied at the Harlem Community Art Center. In the 1940s, he became involved in the Harlem art scene and was associated with the Harlem Renaissance. He became friends with writers Langston Hughes and James Baldwin, who inspired him to explore the social and political issues affecting African Americans through his art.

DeCarava's photographs often depicted the everyday lives of African Americans in Harlem, capturing both the struggle and the beauty of their existence. He was known for his use of shadow and light, which added depth and emotion to his images. He was also a master printer, and spent countless hours in the darkroom perfecting his prints.