Photography by Jasmin Brutus for The VII Foundation.
James Nachtwey meets with workshop participants at The VII Foundation in Arles during the 2024 Les Rencontres d'Arles Photo Festival. July 2024. © Amelie Blanc for The VII Foundation.
In the heart of the Netherlands, the Noord Ginkel forest stands as a stark example of the environmental challenges posed by modern agricultural practices. This forest, once lush and vibrant, is now suffering from the effects of excessive gas emissions, particularly ammonia released by nearby livestock farming, predominantly from cows. The high concentration of these gases has led to soil acidification and nutrient imbalance, severely affecting the forest’s ecosystem. The decline of the Noord Ginkel forest highlights the broader issue of environmental degradation due to intensive farming. It serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between agricultural productivity and ecological preservation. Efforts are being made to mitigate these effects through sustainable practices and innovative solutions, aiming to restore the health of the forest and protect the biodiversity that calls it home. © Stefano De Luigi.
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workshops

The VII Foundation trains practitioners to develop new, critical, and underrepresented perspectives in visual journalism.
We deliver educational courses, workshops, and professional training at our campuses in Arles and Sarajevo, as well as through our online platforms and in the field.

Photography Workshop with Stefano De Luigi: Crafting Stories that Linger

A Site of Industrialized Extermination Auschwitz was the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp, where over 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, were systematically murdered. The preserved barracks, gas chambers, and personal belongings serve as evidence of the Nazi regime’s genocidal policies. Today, it stands as a historical record of the Holocaust and a warning about the consequences of totalitarianism. © Stefano De Luigi.

Visualizing the Invisible: Tomas van Houtryve

"Visualizing the Invisible," a three-day photography workshop with Tomas van Houtryve at The VII Foundation, Sarajevo. September 2025. © Jasmin Brutus.

Frame & Focus

Frame & Focus: Advanced Photography Course 2025. Doha, Qatar. © Ziyah Gafic.