Shaheeda, Sabira, and Kammo, landless laborers on a nearby farm, vividly recall the day of the nuclear test in 1998, just 5 kilometers from Chacha village. Engrossed in their daily chores, they were preparing food at home when the event unfolded—a moment both unseen and unheard of. © Chinky Shukla / VII Mentor Program.

SQUARE MILE

Square Mile is an initiative that presents diverse photographic explorations by members of VII Community. It is a geographic framework, signifying a local focus on spaces where personal, local, and global influences intersect. The projects explore how themes such as climate change, identity, history, legacy, migration, gender, and environment appear within a local perspective.

The initiative aims to inspire conversations on the significance of local stories in a global context, and engage the general public in discussions about social issues and the transformative power of photography. 

Launched in 2024, Square Mile has been exhibited at the Photoville Festival in New York City, screened during the Les Rencontres d’Arles Photo Festival, and featured at the Kranj Foto Fest in Slovenia.

2025

The latest edition of Square Mile offers an insight into the work of twelve photographers. They show humanity’s multifaceted connection to the natural world, explore the resilience of communities deeply rooted in their land, and pay respect to ancestral traditions. They tell a story about nature’s guardians, who are protecting the environment and creatures that populate it, and examine the intricate relations between humans and all living.

Featured photographers


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2025 photovogue festival


In the latest edition, "Square Mile" was featured from March 6 to 9, 2025, at the PhotoVogue Festival in Milan. VII Community members Charlie Cordero, Javier Alvarez, and Margarita V. Beltran presented their projects during the afternoon talks.

2024 Kranj foto festival


"Square Mile" was showcased during the 2024 Kranj Foto Fest as part of the festival's evening screening at Kovačnica.

Les Rencontres d'Arles Photo Festival


This screening of "Square Mile" included a panel discussion with the project’s curators, Ron Haviv and Suzie Katz, along with alumni photographers Mihaela Aroyo and Mahdi Barchian.

Photoville festival


The inaugural edition of "Square Mile" debuted as an exhibition at the 2024 Photoville Festival in New York City, running for two weeks in June.