In photographer Bob Brand’s world, there are three sorts of people: those who stay in place, those who go away from it, and those who go toward it.

Take one look at Brand’s photography, and there’s no question that he falls into the third category.

In 1966, at age 20, he traveled from Philadelphia to Jackson, Miss., to take part in the James Meredith March Against Fear, named after the civil rights activist. He was shot and wounded by a white sniper during the second day of his march from northern Mississippi to Jackson, the state capital, advocating for Black voter registration.

Brand, from West Mt. Airy, nevertheless spent three turbulent weeks in Mississippi, taking stark black and white pictures with his trusty Miranda DR camera, gaining an unparalleled view of the crusade from the inside out. His photos along the route could not have been taken from any other angle. There’s one remarkable image taken from his standpoint within the crowd, notably including the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights leaders. There’s another shot depicting white separatists along the route, one of them wearing a shirt sewn from Confederate flags, his face contorted in rage.

You can hear Brand’s recollections and see some of his work at Woodmere’s Smith Hall on Monday, Oct. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m., in a special event, “The Fight for the Vote: An Evening with Bob Brand,” presented by state Rep. Tarik Khan and state Sen. Art Haywood. Smith Hall is at 9201 Germantown Ave. in Chestnut Hill. The public is invited.

Some of Brand’s photographs capture civil right leaders in candid moments of all too human vulnerability.

“I actually photographed [King associate] Ralph Abernathy in Mississippi, and he used to complain about his feet from walking all day and I have a great picture of him taking off his boots to massage his feet,” Brand says.

If Brand’s point of view was different and unique, it’s because he was not there as an emotionally detached photojournalist, but as an active participant. He still is.

His advocacy for many political causes, he says, gives him a unique point of view — a view that makes his images stand out.

Not everyone completely agrees with that approach.

“There’s a wonderful photographer who used to teach in Philadelphia, somewhat retired now, but we were once talking about photography and he did a lot of political stuff,” Brand said. “And he said, well, what do you do if you’re taking pictures and all of a sudden the guy you’re taking pictures of is getting really beaten by cops? What do you do? And I said, well, I go and help him. He said, that’s why you’ll never be a great photographer.”

Others maintain that Brand’s photographs redefine what it means to be great. Tuskegee University recently received a portfolio of pictures from a member of its alumni, including some of Brand’s photography.

“They have a curator who was planning an exhibit, and he said not to me, but to the alum who gave the portfolio, the perspective on these [Brand] pictures is different, and I don’t know why. The guy who donated the portfolio told me the story and I said, well, I know why. Photographers try to keep a distance and so their perspective is a little bit elevated at some distance. My perspective is different, and so the angle I shoot from is different.”

One theme from Brand’s time in Mississippi stands out and continues to animate the political discussion today: voting rights.

“At Woodmere, we believe art has the power to inspire, move and bring people together. We are honored to host Bob Brand, showcase his work, and celebrate the unique power of photography to capture pivotal moments in history, preserve our shared experiences, and tell stories that can spark meaningful change,” said William R. Valerio the chief executive officer and director at Woodmere. “We hope this town hall inspires everyone to recognize the extraordinary power they hold as individuals and as a community, and to turn that power into action and get out to vote.”

“The right to vote is a sacred pillar of our democracy, and heroes like Octavius Catto, Medgar Evers and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave their lives fighting to ensure everyone had access to it,” Khan adds. “Bob Brand was there to photograph the struggle for voting rights in the South, and we have a rare opportunity to hear firsthand what he witnessed.”

Says Haywood: “We won the vote in the struggle for our dignity. Bob’s pictures are proof of the bravery and sacrifice it took for people to vote. His photos opened our eyes then. Let’s open our eyes today to the power of voting.”