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Ten new trailblazing photojournalists join VII Photo

Ten new trailblazing photojournalists join VII Photo

Ten new trailblazing photojournalists join VII Photo

The VII Foundation announces the addition of ten visual journalists to its roster of contributing photographers at VII Photo

Photo by Leonardo Carrato/VII

VII Photo has recently transitioned into a pivotal role within The VII Foundation‘s non-profit ecosystem, aligning its vision with the commitment to ensure that decision-makers and citizens are equipped with the truth — that is, the facts — required to make thoughtful decisions that advance humanity in a positively sustainable manner. Its legacy is one of courageous, impactful, and dynamic photojournalism.

The new contributing photographers comprise a combination of young talents elevated from the foundation’s educational programs, including the VII Mentor Program, and leading figures in the industry who have already created significant and pivotal bodies of work. They join a team of authors, educators, and scholars who understand the importance of rigorous journalism and the imperative to engage and mentor a new generation of storytellers equipped to push back against the purveyors of misinformation and artifice.

Education is at the heart of The VII Foundation’s mission to advance uncompromising fact-based storytelling. These photographers will increase our capacity to teach and mentor in multiple languages and train young photojournalists worldwide in the essentials of reporting.

As highly active working photojournalists, they will provide the foundation’s partners with an even broader range of talent that includes working in conflict regions and behind closed borders to fulfill long-term agreements for project-based assignments. Their work will be included in The VII Foundation’s substantial cultural programs and critical initiatives with partner organizations like UNICEF and The Global Fund.

The VII Foundation is excited to welcome the following new trailblazing documentarians to VII Photo:

Leonardo Carrato, Brazil. Currently based in Brazil.

Rena Effendi, Azerbaijan. Currently based in Turkey.

Mary Gelman, Russia / Armenia. Currently based in Russia.

Brenda Ann Kenneally, USA. Currently based in the USA.

M’hammed Kilito, Canada / Morocco. Currently based in Morocco.

Pascal Maitre, France. Currently based in France.

Finbarr O’Reilly, Ireland. Currently based in Spain.

Nicole Tung, Hong Kong / USA. Currently based in Turkey.

Adriana Zehbrauskas, Brazil / USA. Currently based in the USA.

Anonymous/ Anonymous(*)

(*)Anonymity is for security reasons, as the photographer concerned lives in a country where journalists are routinely killed and incarcerated.

Leonardo Carrato, Brazil

Currently based in Brazil

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In August, 2016, Aladino, a native Bora shaman, burns a large amount of dry “cetico” leaves in a small village of Pebas, located in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. The ashes, when mixed with coca powder, add perfect flavor to the most important Bora element. The purpose of burning the leaves deep inside the jungle is the belief of being watched by the ancient spirits. Aladino says that the real tradition is to be guided by the spirits in order to achieve the perfect mixture. The coca is the main source for a shaman. Through the plant's power, a true indigenous shaman gets all his powers and ancestral knowledge. ©Leonardo Carrato

Rena Effendi, Azerbaijan

Currently based in Turkey

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The entire Borca family from Breb put the finishing touches to one of the 40 haystacks they make each summer. Maramures, Romania. June 2012. ©Rena Effendi/VII

Mary Gelman, Russia/ Armenia

Currently based in Russia

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Lisa, a volunteer, with a donkey on a walk. She has been at Svetlana Village for nearly two years. She worked in the bakery, cared for the donkey, and worked on the farm. Young people from different countries often come to live and work in the village. ©Mary Gelman/VII

Brenda Ann Kenneally, USA

Currently based in the USA

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Barbara’s storage unit, Troy, New York. April 8, 2020. The kids wanted to retrieve some personal items to take to the shelter. Amber cried while her brother and sister searched for the unicorn that Amber said would “calm her down.” ©Brenda Ann Kenneally

M’hammed Kilito, Canada/ Morocco

Currently based in Morocco

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Youth emigration is one of the major problems facing the oases of southern Morocco. Hicham, seen here, emigrated to France, and after a year and several difficult and poorly paying jobs, he decided to return to Morocco. To his surprise, no one, including family, encouraged him. Today, Hicham is a fulfilled young man, happy to be in Morocco. He lives in Agadir and works for an association that helps poor and homeless children. ©M’hammed Kilito

Pascal Maitre, France

Currently based in France

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Afghanistan, 1998. Ahmad Shah Massoud above the city of Taloqan. The night before, the Taliban had violated the ceasefire and attempted to take the city. Massoud is pacing back and forth on the roof of a house; he has given orders and is waiting for news of the troops in combat. ©Pascal Maitre

Finbarr O’Reilly, Ireland

Currently based in Spain

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Captured Ethiopian government soldiers at a prisoner of war camp in the mountains of Tigray in June 2021. Some 6,000 government troops were captured by the Tigray People's Liberation Front during fighting in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region. Fighting broke out in Tigray in November 2020 when the government accused the TPLF of attacking military bases across the region, which the party denied. The civil war has drawn in neighboring Eritrea on the side of the Ethiopian government and has been marked by atrocities, starvation, and allegations of war crimes by both sides. The government declared victory three weeks into the conflict when it took control of the regional capital Mekelle, but the Tigrayan guerrilla army known as the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) retook Mekelle and most of Tigray at the end of June after the government suffered a cascade of battlefield loses. Thousands of people have died in the fighting; around 2 million have been displaced, and more than 5 million rely on food aid. ©Finbarr O'Reilly

Nicole Tung, Hong Kong/ USA

Currently based in Turkey

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Residents surveyed the damage to their homes while emergency services worked to extinguish fires after a missile strike hit a residential building overnight in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Monday, October 10, 2022. Several civilians were killed, and another remained missing. Zaporizhzhia has been repeatedly struck in the past few days, with another strike killing at least 17 people on October 9. Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Monday, October 10, 2022. ©Nicole Tung/VII

Adriana Zehbrauskas, Brazil/ USA

Currently based in the USA

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Phoenix, Arizona, January 6th, 2021. Aya Iannon (left) and Ashley show off their guns at a rally to protest election results and show support for President Donald Trump at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix on Jan. 6, 2021. ©Adriana Zehbrauskas/VII

The ten new additions join the 28 current contributing photographers at VII Photo:

Ali Arkady, Iraq;  Anush Babajanyan, Armenia; Jocelyn Bain Hogg, UK; Philip Blenkinsop, UK/Australia;  Eric Bouvet, France; Stefano De Luigi, Italy; Linda Bournane Engelberth, Norway/Algeria; Danny Wilcox Frazier, USA; Ziyah Gafić, Bosnia; Ashley Gilbertson, Australia; Ron Haviv, USA; Ed Kashi, USA; Gary Knight, UK/USA; Joachim Ladefoged, Denmark; Paul Lowe, UK; Christopher Morris, USA; Seamus Murphy, Eire; Maciek Nabrdalik, Poland; Ilvy Njiokiktjien, Netherlands; Franco Pagetti, Italy; Espen Rasmussen, Norway;  Daniel Schwartz, Switzerland;  John Stanmeyer, USA; Maggie Steber, USA; Nichole Sobecki, USA; Sara Terry, USA; Tomas van Houtryve, Belgium/USA; The Estate of Alexandra Boulat; France.

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