TOTIM Exposures

To Experience “Shaboura” DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

In episode 012 of Exposures, photojournalist Tasneem Alsultan speaks with veteran visual journalist DJ Clark about Shaboura, a formative body of work produced in Gaza in the early 1990s that emerged from Clark’s decision to relocate to Palestine during the First Intifada, a choice that shaped his career and his understanding of proximity in conflict reporting . Clark reflects on living and working in Gaza under occupation, focusing on the Shaboura refugee camp, an area marked by intense resistance and everyday resilience. They discusses the material realities of film-era photojournalism, the evolving risks faced by journalists, and the stark contrast between reporting then and the lethal conditions confronting reporters in Gaza today. The conversation broadens to examine Clark’s later commitment to education and mentorship as a means of supporting local storytellers and restoring context, nuance, and humanity to visual journalism.

DJ Clark

DJ Clark is a multimedia journalist, educator, and visual storyteller based in Hong Kong. With more than two decades of experience in international journalism, he has worked as a producer, photographer, and video journalist for outlets including China Daily, The Economist, and BBC World Service. Clark is also the director of multimedia at the Asia Center for Journalism and a long-time mentor with World Press Photo and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, where he has trained and collaborated with emerging photographers across Asia and beyond. His work focuses on empowering local voices and advancing innovative approaches to visual storytelling.

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.

TOTIM is a new initiative built to support and amplify a global and diverse community of visual storytellers. As a nonprofit platform, we rely on your support to bring under-reported stories to light and sustain vital, independent photojournalism around the world. Please consider a charitable, tax-deductible gift. 🙌

To Experience “Youth of Belfast” DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

In epidsode 011 of Exposures, Veejay Villafranca talks with documentary photographer Toby Binder about his long-term project Youth of Belfast. They discuss how this important and maximally acclaimed work developed over many years, how slow the early stages were and how gaining access and trust took time (and cigarettes).

Toby and Veejay also discuss the practical side of documentary photography today, including access, funding and how the industry has shifted. The episode gives a direct, honest look at how projects like Youth of Belfast are actually made and why sustained, long-form coverage remains extremely valuable. Youth of Belfast is now available on the TOTIM app.

Toby Binder

Toby Binder is a German documentary photographer known for long-term projects focused on youth, social issues, and everyday life in divided or marginalized communities. He continues to develop long-form documentary projects across the world.

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.

TOTIM is a new initiative built to support and amplify a global and diverse community of visual storytellers. As a nonprofit platform, we rely on your support to bring under-reported stories to light and sustain vital, independent photojournalism around the world. Please consider a charitable, tax-deductible gift. 🙌

To Experience “Vanishing With the Waves” DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

In episode 010 of Exposures, Bangladeshi photojournalist K M Asad joins DJ Clark to reflect on his journey from a student at Pathshala South Asian Media Institute to becoming one of Southeast Asia’s most respected visual storytellers and a World Press Photo Award winner. Trained under the legendary Shahidul Alam, Asad came of age in a generation of photographers determined to tell their own country’s stories from within.

In conversation with Clark, Asad reflects on the evolution of Bangladeshi photography, the importance of patience and proximity and why local photographers remain essential to the truth and impact of visual journalism.

K M Asad

K M Asad is an independent documentary photographer and photojournalist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. His long-term project Vanishing with the Waves earned him a World Press Photo Award and international recognition for its powerful portrayal of communities living on the frontlines of rising seas. Asad’s work has appeared in TIME, The Guardian, and National Geographic and others.

DJ Clark

DJ Clark is a multimedia journalist, educator, and visual storyteller based in Hong Kong. With more than two decades of experience in international journalism, he has worked as a producer, photographer, and video journalist for outlets including China Daily, The Economist, and BBC World Service. Clark is also the director of multimedia at the Asia Center for Journalism and a long-time mentor with World Press Photo and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, where he has trained and collaborated with emerging photographers across Asia and beyond. His work focuses on empowering local voices and advancing innovative approaches to visual storytelling.

Support TOTIM: TOTIM is a new initiative built to support and amplify a global and diverse community of visual storytellers. As a nonprofit platform, we rely on your support to bring under-reported stories to light and sustain vital, independent photojournalism around the world. Please consider a small, charitable, tax-deductible gift. 🙌

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

To Experience “Child Brides of China” DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

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.

To Experience “The Olive Grove” DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

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.

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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.

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