Greater Cincinnati was a major center for the development of early American photography. Yet, few know about the photographers who helped this revolutionary medium grow from a scientific invention into a thriving business. Capturing Life (1839-1869) features the remarkable careers of Dr. John Locke, Ezekiel Hawkins, James P. Ball, Charles Fontayne, William Porter, Charles Waldack and John Wildman Winder. The documentary examines the social, economic and cultural impact of photography as our region rose from modest river towns into a thriving commercial center in America's heartland.