will go towards music education in the Kansas City area". Photography career French’s photography has been showcased in venues such as the American Jazz Museum, The Box Gallery, Buttonwood Art Space, and on Hallmark cards. His photographs, shot in black and white without studio lighting, capture the Kansas City Jazz scene. Saxophonist Bobby Watson once told French, “You really captured something. You’re not just taking pictures, you’re documenting,” something that French says he will always remember. Style and influence French uses black and white film to create a sense of timelessness in his films and photography with a focus around music and romantic love. Being influenced by jazz music, French says "photographing jazz musicians in their element, usually in a dimly lit atmosphere, never using flash, only natural light, allows me to become a part of the music while I'm shooting; attempting to capture a pure moment of musical expression." Solo exhibitions 2013-2014, KC Swing: Jazz Photography, The Box Gallery, Kansas City MO 2013, Jazz Photography, Vine Street Studio, Kansas City MO Group exhibitions 2018 What's Going On, Leedy-Voulkos Art Gallery, Kansas City, MO 2017 Arts KC, ArtsKC, Kansas City MO 2015 Jazz Then & Now, American Jazz Museum, Kansas City, MO 2011 The Note Illustrated Buttonwood Art Space, Kansas City MO 2011 Reflections of Jazz American Jazz Museum, Kansas City MO Screenings 2017 National Archives at Kansas City 2017 ArtsKC 2016 Black Archives of Mid America 2009 BET airing Awards and recognitions 2016 Selectee Kansas City Film Festival 2014 Trailblazer honor Kansas City Jewish Film Festival 2010 Selectee Kansas City Urban Film Festival 2007 Selectee San Francisco Film Festival 2007 Selectee Spaghetti Junction Urban Film Festival 2007 1st place Winner Urban Mediamakers Film Festival 2006 Selectee Urban Film Series Notes 1971 births Living people American film directors African-American film directors African-American photographers People from Kansas City, Kansas 21st-century African-American people 20th-century African-American people