Alumni Spotlight: Henry Danner
Name: Henry Danner
Current Occupation: Nonprofit Visual Storyteller & Program Manager
Workshops: Project NOLA 2025
Faculty: Marianne Sabrier, Annie Flanagan, Jamie Rose, Gabi Perez, Jaime Windon, Chris Usher, Matt Rose, Dotan Saguy, John Christopher Anderson
1. What motivated you to take a photo workshop, and why did you pick Momenta?
I first heard about Momenta about 3-4 years ago when I heard an advertisement for it on The Candid Frame podcast and I was intrigued and motivated to attend ever since then. I finally got an opportunity to attend in 2025 due to my job sponsoring me for a professional development opportunity.
I have worked for over a decade in various non-profits and as I've gotten deeper into my photography practice I wanted to learn how to combine that professional experience with my passion to tell stories about marginalized communities that many nonprofits work with. Momenta's workshop represents a perfect marriage of the two areas of my life that I want to join together to take my nonprofit and photography careers to the next level.
2. What surprised you most about the experience of working with a nonprofit?
I don't think there were any surprises mainly because I am so used to working with nonprofits that I have a deep understanding of how they operate.
3. What was the best lesson you took away from your workshop?
The biggest lesson I learned was not to rush and spend a lot more time working a scene. This is something I learned during my advising session and I put it into practice by using my phone to set a timer while photographing a scene. It's a lesson that I will continue to apply!
4. What was your favorite creative part from this workshop & why?
This photo (featured below) pulls me in due to the raw emotion of the moment. It was captured during the 9-steps class, which is usually the first program that new F72+ participants start with.
It is the beginning of their journey to re-integrating and receiving the necessary support to live a healthy life. The man to the right was sharing his story and what brought him there. He couldn't hold back the tears as he talked about the various trauma he had experienced recently.
It seemed like a much needed release for him, and it was beautiful that he felt safe in that space to share his story and be vulnerable. The man to the left was also a new participant. To me, his intense gaze on the other subject represented an attempt to understand his story and make sure he felt comfortable. He was the one who handed him the tissue that he's using.
5. What would you tell a potential student to help them prepare for their experience with Momenta?
I would tell a student to do as much research on the landscape of New Orleans as possible. Read news articles, study the map, do whatever is necessary so that you don't have to spend time learning the logistics in real time and you can focus mainly on tapping into your photographic senses.
The images featured in this story were taken on the Momenta Project New Orleans 2025: Documenting Nonprofits in partnership with the nonprofit The First 72+.
Photos © Henry Danner/Momenta Workshops 2025.
Bio
Henry Danner is a photographer and visual storyteller committed to using his camera as a tool to influence change. He uses the photography subgenres of street photography, documentary photography and photojournalism to highlight the poetic nature of everyday life, display the strengths of communities and share stories that heal. His work focuses on the various aspects of Black identity while highlighting themes related to social justice, criminal justice, youth development, education and community development. Henry is most interested in sharing stories about how marginalized communities work to find solutions to the issues that plague them.
Website: www.henrydanner.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/henrydanner.photo/