About

Black and white image of a man standing on a sidewalk wearing a hoodie, long pants, flat brim hat and prescription glasses. He is holding a camera in one hand at his side and looking at the camera.

📷 Kevin Casey 2025

Kona Franks-Ongoy is a Helena, Montana-based documentary-style photographer with a soft spot for the quiet drama of everyday life. For over 20 years, he’s been capturing moments on film—mundane fragments that might one day become relics of memory or cautionary tales, depending on who’s looking. When he’s not behind a vintage camera marveling at its decades-old guts, he serves as the Director of Communications at Disability Rights Montana, where he leads storytelling and advocacy work with heart and grit. Kona holds a Master’s in Education from Western Washington University and has collaborated with organizations like ACLU of Montana and Ability Montana on creative video and audio projects. His work—both visual and professional—is rooted in care, realism, and a quiet hope that his daughters will one day see the world he lived in, just as it was.

Let’s Work Together

Tell me more about your project

I welcome collaboration with those who share a commitment to collective liberation and meaningful change. With skills in audio recording and photography, I am eager to work alongside others who value thoughtful communication and environmental justice. Together, we can amplify voices and create a more inclusive future.