For more than a decade photographer David Wright has documented Jacksonville from behind the camera. Now, some of the people, places and moments captured through his lens are taking center stage.

The Ritz Theatre and Museum opened “Through My Eyes: What I Make of My Future,” on Sept 17, a photography exhibition featuring the work of  longtime Jacksonville Free Press staff  photographer. The exhibition showcases Wrights photographs of Jacksonville’s business, faith, military and community leaders, reflecting years spent documenting the people and events shaping the city. Wright’s relationship with photography began long before his work in Jacksonville. Growing up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, he watched his father develop black-and-white photographs. His father eventually built a darkroom in the family home, helping spark what would become Wright’s lifelong passion.

For Wright, “Through My Eyes” is both a showcase of his work and a reminder of photography’s ability to preserve stories long after a moment has passed.