Bio
Doug Barrett owner of 400 North Creative an African American photographer & cinematographer, internationally recognized, currently based in Kansas covering the midwest available for assignments. (Kansas City Kansas, Kansas City Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma and everything in between.
I work to disrupt narratives that perpetuate inequality and lift underrepresented voices across race, gender, and ability. Hence, the perspectives and experiences of these communities shape a more inclusive world. I am a photographer because I believe that relationships foster a deliberate meaningful life. Relationships are the core of collaboration and intimate visual storytelling. Relationships create change which is a catalyst to the world we want to see. My work documenting justice issues, and marginalized communities in America is where I find deep relationships and conversations. Apart of a deeply impactful body of work, it’s not lost to me that such a body of work and the magnitude of the issues I cover is far greater than its creator, and just as much relies on those who recognize the wide potential of the art and are willing to embrace its message in ways that I alone can’t do alone.
I believe the camera is a tool, sacred, which holds power in the photograph when used properly. At the intersection of documenting history and the world for posterity, and the educational process has always been the main force multiplier for my work, both in learning and in sharing. It is my belief, education leads to empathy, compassion, and equality, which is the first step in any change for good or justice. For me It is about powerful, long-form, visual documentary storytelling. Pictures are great but what is the impact?
On this path that I’m on I understand that it takes less than a millisecond to miss it but when that time comes to frame the moment in time and press the shutter I relish it. A feeling so familiar, my index finger touching the metal like, circular shutter of my Leica M body. By this point the sequence is muscle memory similar to growing up in the south shooting firearms, but each time I do it, the moment feels sacred as I have the pleasure to have a photograph fixed within my rangefinder frame lines, instantaneous gratitude.
Photography has become the way that I communicate. The way I feel about telling a story is in large part by making photographs intimate with delicacy, moments that I hope will stand the test of time as I grew up looking at my fathers prints now looking at work in a digital time. Photography can act as a time capsule, allowing you to revisit some of the most beautiful moments of your life. pictures represent all of the moments that brought me to where I am today. By now, we know the importance of cultivating our curiosities and how we can find our passion in the intersection of various curiosities. When I talk about passion, maybe you imagine an artist expressing him or herself furiously through his art... but for me, that kind of passion is expressed in the mature phases of the creative cycle.
The passion that I'm talking about today is another kind of passion, one that is crucial in my work to help me focus and move forward with my projects. This kind of passion makes you gritty; it makes you submit your work courageously even when you don't know what the result will be; this passion helps you to be brave and persevere even when you are exhausted, and your motivation is low. In my work, where artistic creativity plays a huge role, different internal drivers move me through the different phases leading up to my creative output. So while curiosities would be the building blocks for creativity, other crucial drivers move us, such as inspiration, motivation, and of course, passion. Passion is one of the most crucial tools available to us to fight distractions and overcome the numerous challenges along the way. Passion is basically a powerful focusing mechanism for our minds, and it helps me to get into flow states. Flow always follows focus, which is why using mindfulness passion can induce flow states, making me get absorbed in the task at hand and perform at our best. What makes you stay up until late or get out of bed before sunrise? I am a wandering wanderer!
Doug completed his undergraduate degree from St Augustine’s University and completed graduate school from Southwestern College where he holds a M.S in IT Cyber Security Administration. Doug has work in the permanent collection at the Ulrich Museum, Mulvane Museum, and the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art. FAA Part 107-certified drone pilot. Doug is a regular contributor on social media; @everydayblackamerica, @everydayprojects, and @everydayruralamerica.
Doug’s editorial clients include Bloomberg News, TIME Magazine, National Geographic, Politico, New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Education Week, The Chronicle, CNN, AARP, Capital B News, and has been featured on the Nasdaq billboard in Times Square NYC. Doug has also been featured on VICE, Foxnews, and BBC World News for his work.
His professional organizations include NPPA, ASMP, NABJ, is on the VP on the board of advisors for the Friends of the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, The Manhattan KS Area of Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors,and Vice President of New Territory Magazine Board of Directors.