Our Vision
Fotophase envisions a world in which photography-based Neuroarts is established within the Neuroarts field, with the act of making images understood as an aesthetic experience that supports transformation and growth through education, experiential learning, and community engagement.
Our Core Values
Safety & Inclusion
We create welcoming, judgment-free spaces where all individuals — regardless of background, experience, or skill level — feel safe to explore, express, and grow.
Human-Centered
We honor dignity, agency, and lived experience. Our work celebrates human connection and creative expression.
Collaboration
We partner with healing professionals, educators, artists, and institutions to amplify arts-based healing in our communities.
Grounded in Research
Programs are informed by neuroaesthetics, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based practices in creative wellness and healing.
Accessibility
We strive to make programs accessible through free community labs, sliding-scale fees, and partnerships with underserved communities.
Integrity
We operate with transparency, accountability, and a steadfast commitment to our mission and communities.
Our Team
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 mother introduced him to photography when he was 6 years old. When he was only 9 years old, a mentally ill man with a shotgun invaded the Rice home, shot his father, wounding him critically, then shot his mother in the head, killing her instantly. Because of the trauma of the shooting, James did not seriously photograph for the next 40 years. At age 49, after a 28-year marriage fell apart, a mental health counselor suggested that James should risk seriously engaging in photography again. That suggestion turned out to be lifesaving. Over the last two decades, James’s black and white photography began to rewire his brain, allowing him to remember life events that had been lost for over 40 years, while also mitigating the effects of the PTSD that had impacted his life for four decades. James documented his trauma and recovery in a photo essay titled “Shooting”, which led to a symposium at the International Center of Photography in New York City and ultimately the formation of the nonprofit organization Fotophase.
Gene Beyt, MD, MS
Senior physician and professor at Tulane University, teaching human-centered design and patient-centered innovation. He is a student of art-based discovery and healing after trauma, putting human needs and wellbeing at the center of all that we do. Gene has been a fine art photographer for 50 years. His current work makes use of the camera as an instrument of discovery. As a traveler in a strange land, he searches for understanding and enlightenment.
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.
Kiran Karnani
Kiran Karnani is the Chief Marketing Officer of Harlowe, a woman-owned brand of innovative lighting solutions for content creators. An executive coach and member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Kiran serves as Vice President of Marketing for the ICF New Jersey chapter. Previously, Kiran was Vice President of Marketing for Leica Camera USA, where she launched initiatives amplifying diverse voices in visual storytelling. She is the founder of the Leica Women Foto Project, a pioneering platform dedicated to elevating the feminine gaze through grants, exhibitions, and programming. A member of Chief, the private network for senior executive women, Kiran continues to mentor photographers and creative leaders, offering marketing guidance to help emerging artists navigate their careers.