To Experience “El Inquilino” DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

Photographer and educator Tom Griggs joins TOTIM to discuss El Inquilino, a series made in Mexico City during the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally planning a short stay, Griggs spent three years photographing daily life as the city quieted and adapted. He describes how the project evolved from his background in fine art into a form of expanded documentary, blending observation and subjectivity to capture the mood of isolation and stillness. Griggs reflects on his process of shooting thousands of images, editing them into cohesive sequences and allowing time and memory to shape his understanding of the work. El Inquilino offers a sublimely intimate portrait of life in a city during a strange and extraordinary time.

Exposures 009 Hosted by TOTIM Founder/ Director Luke Mertz

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In Episode 008 of Exposures, Yen Duong discusses her project Child Brides of China, which documents the trafficking of Vietnamese girls into forced marriages. The work examines the socioeconomic and structural factors that sustain these networks, including gender imbalance, poverty, and limited legal protections. Duong also reflects on her broader career as a photojournalist, covering issues of migration and social inequality and how years of work across Vietnam have shaped her approach to documenting human rights issues with deep sensitivity. The conversation addresses the practical and ethical challenges of reporting on human trafficking, the psychological toll of prolonged exposure to traumatic subject matter and the importance of trauma-informed training and mental health support in helping journalists manage the emotional demands of sustained fieldwork.

Yen Duong

Yen Duong is a Berlin-based photojournalist whose work addresses larger issues of migration, climate change, and social inequality. Before relocating to Berlin, she spent years reporting from Hanoi and Saigon, covering stories on human trafficking, environmental disasters, and the effects of rapid urbanization on marginalized communities. Her photography and reporting have been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Al Jazeera, ProPublica, and Rest of World, among others. A member of Women Photograph and Diversify Photo, she has received awards and support from the Pulitzer Center, One World Media, and the Dogma Collection for her long-term projects.

Salgu Wismath

Salgu Wissmath is a nonbinary Korean American photographer whose work bridges documentary, editorial, and conceptual storytelling. Originally from Sacramento, California, they are currently based in San Antonio, Texas. Their current work explores the intersections of mental health, queer identity, and faith using a conceptual documentary approach. Salgu’s editorial work has been published in The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The San Antonio Express-News, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and NPR amongst others.

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In Episode 007 of Exposures, MaryLynne Wrye speaks with Yen Duong about her project The Olive Grove, documenting life in and around the refugee camps on the island of Lesvos. Their conversation explores the harsh realities within the camp, the ethical challenges faced by photographers working with vulnerable communities, and the dangers and responsibilities that come with long-term commitment to such a story. Wrye’s work is a sustained effort to bring visibility to and amplify the humanity of people caught in crisis.

MaryLynne Wrye

MaryLynne Wrye is an artist working across photography, writing and sound. Her experiences on the borderland of Lesvos, Greece, inform her ongoing research and long-term project on displacement. She holds graduate degrees from the Royal College of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art and her work has been exhibited internationally and collected by institutions including the Guggenheim Museum Library and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Yen Duong

Yen Duong is a Berlin-based photojournalist whose work addresses larger issues of migration, climate change, and social inequality. Before relocating to Berlin, she spent years reporting from Hanoi and Saigon, covering stories on human trafficking, environmental disasters, and the effects of rapid urbanization on marginalized communities. Her photography and reporting have been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Al Jazeera, ProPublica, and Rest of World, among others. A member of Women Photograph and Diversify Photo, she has received awards and support from the Pulitzer Center, One World Media, and the Dogma Collection for her long-term projects.

To Experience “Saudi Tales of Love” DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

In Episode 006 of Exposures, Tasneem Alsultan discusses her project Saudi Tales of Love, where she documents the private, often unseen experiences of love, marriage, and divorce in Saudi Arabia. Her work challenges stereotypes by highlighting the personal stories of women navigating tradition, modernity and social change. Through intimate portraits and candid narratives, Alsultan opens a window into questions of identity, freedom, and resilience. Her story is now available on the TOTIM app.

Tasneem Alsultan

Tasneem Alsultan is a Saudi-American investigative photographer and visual storyteller whose work explores women’s rights and social dynamics in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. Her work has been published in The New York Times and National Geographic amongst others.

Tasneem became the first Arab female Global Ambassador for Canon in 2018, a Catchlight fellow in 2019, was voted the ‘Princess Noura University Award for Excellence’ in the Arts Category and received honourable mention for the Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism. In 2020, she cofounded Ruwa Space, a platform to support visual creatives and offer education and consultation across the Middle East & North Africa. She’s a member of Rawiya women’s Middle Eastern photography collective.

Camille Farrah Lenain

Camille Farrah Lenain is a French-Algerian documentary and portrait photographer. She relocated from Paris to New Orleans in 2013, where she teaches at Tulane University and works on long-term projects that challenges societal preconceptions, exploring the notions of stereotypes, collective memory, and plural identities.

Her work has been published in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Marshall Project, The Washington Post, T Magazine, Sierra Magazine, The Bitter Southerner and Libération amongst others.

To Experience "Park Fire’ 24" DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

In Episode 005 of Exposures, Noah Berger discusses his career as a photojournalist and his extensive coverage of California’s wildfires. He reflects on the technical and safety challenges of working in hazardous fire zones while offering insights into both his process and the broader professional responsibilities of reporting on natural disasters. His story, Park Fire ‘24, is now available on the TOTIM app.

Noah Berger

Noah Berger is an award-winning San Francisco based photojournalist well known for his extensive coverage of the state’s wildfires. He has worked at length with the Associated Press as well as The New York Times, and National Geographic. In 2021, he shared a Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for coverage of the protests following George Floyd’s murder.

Salgu Wismath

Salgu Wissmath is a nonbinary Korean American photographer whose work bridges documentary, editorial, and conceptual storytelling. Originally from Sacramento, California, they are currently based in San Antonio, Texas. Their current work explores the intersections of mental health, queer identity, and faith using a conceptual documentary approach. Salgu's editorial work has been published in The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The San Antonio Express-News, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and NPR amongst others.

To Experience "Life on the Edge" Pt. 1 DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

In Episode 004 of Exposures, Natisha Mallick discusses her reporting in rural West Bengal, India, where she documents the high risks of childbirth in communities with limited or no access to medical care. Mallick’s work explores the resilience of mothers, the role of unofficial caregivers, and the systemic gaps that contribute to one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Her story, Life on the Edge, is now available on the TOTIM app.

Natisha Mallick

Natisha Mallick is a documentary photographer and data visualization specialist based in London. Her work focuses on underreported social issues, with a particular interest in public health and marginalized communities. She has documented maternal health challenges in rural West Bengal and other stories highlighting systemic inequities. Her photography has been featured in Spiegel Online, The Wire, The Quint, The Irish Times, and L’Œil de la Photographie.

Tasneem Alsultan

Tasneem Alsultan is a Saudi-American investigative photographer and visual storyteller whose work explores women’s rights and social dynamics in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. Her work has been published in The New York Times and National Geographic.

TOTIM is subscriber-supported. To receive new posts and to help amplify this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In Episode 003 of Exposures, Greta Rico interviews documentary photographer Seth Berry about his work in Honduras. Berry shares his multi-year effort to document the harsh realities of life in the Aguan Valley — a region of natural beauty overshadowed by corporate exploitation and government complicity. His story, In the Valley of Death, is now available on the TOTIM app.

Seth Berry

Seth is a documentary photographer based in Honduras. His work is focused on human rights issues and cultural resistance in Central America and beyond. In Honduras, he explores the root causes of migration, where the people suffer from extreme poverty, a corrupt government, and violence towards environmentalists and indigenous cultures. His work has been featured in The Intercept, The Nation, Vice World News, The Guardian and Al Jazeera,

Greta Rico

Mexican Documentary Photographer, Journalist and Educator focused on issues related to; gender, environment, climate change and food. Her work focuses on exploring new social representations in contemporary visual culture. Her work has been published in Leica Photographie International, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Women's Media Center, The HuffPost, El País and Lado B.

TOTIM is an audience supported nonprofit. To receive new posts and support this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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In episode 002 of Exposures, photojournalist Tasneem Alsultan interviews Eros Hoagland about his decades long career as a conflict photographer including his work in Haiti covering the violent overthrow of the government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide. “Coup d'état” is now available on the TOTIM app.

Eros Hoagland

Eros Hoagland is a California-born photojournalist whose work spans global conflict zones—from El Salvador and Iraq to Haiti, Mexico, Colombia and beyond—capturing narratives on political and social upheaval. His work has been published in the The New York Times, Time, Newsweek and Der Spiegel amongst others.

Tasneem Alsultan

Tasneem Alsultan is a Saudi-American investigative photographer and visual storyteller whose work explores women’s rights and social dynamics in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. Her work has been published in The New York Times and National Geographic.

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To Experience “Signos” DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

In episode 001 of Exposures, photojournalist DJ Clark interviews Veejay Villafranca about his work covering the ecological and humanitarian fallout of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. “Signos” is now available on the TOTIM app.

Veejay Villafranca

Veejay Villafranca is a Manila-born documentary photographer and lecturer. He began as a staff photographer at Philippines Graphic before freelancing for AFP, Reuters, and Getty.

DJ Clark

DJ Clark is a Hong Kong–based multimedia journalist with over 30 years of experience in video, photography, audio, and writing. His work has appeared in The Economist, BBC and National Geographic, and he’s the recipient of numerous awards, including World Press Photo’s Interactive of the Year in 2020.

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.