Contributing Photographer
Sara Terry (1955–2025) was an award-winning documentary photographer and filmmaker whose work explored reconciliation, resilience, and community in the aftermath of conflict. Her landmark project Aftermath: Bosnia’s Long Road to Peace led her to found The Aftermath Project in 2003, grounded in her conviction that “War is Only Half the Story.”
A 2012 Guggenheim Fellow, Terry’s long-term work Forgiveness and Conflict: Lessons from Africa inspired her documentary Fambul Tok (2011). She also co-led 1 in 6 by 2030, a global collaborative project with Ed Kashi and Ilvy Njiokiktjien exploring the human dimensions of aging and demography. Her later film, A Decent Home (2022), examined the growing housing crisis in America through the lives of mobile home park residents, continuing her lifelong focus on stories of human dignity and social justice.
Most recently, Terry produced the documentary anthology I Feel Myself to Be Part of Something and directed its inaugural film The Feeling of Home, celebrating how the arts strengthen communities across America through a groundbreaking Community First distribution model.
As part of The VII Foundation, Sara shared her time and wisdom generously — mentoring emerging photographers through the VII Mentor Program, advising participants in the VII Community 1-to-1 Program, and contributing lectures and insights to numerous educational initiatives and online events. She was a constant source of encouragement, guidance, and inspiration to her colleagues and to the next generation of visual storytellers.
