2024 Joop Swart Masterclass participants announced

After announcing the return of World Press Photo’s best-known and most esteemed educational program, we’re excited to introduce the participants selected for the 2024 Joop Swart Masterclass:

“It was a pleasure to spend an intense period working with top global visual journalists to select the next cohort for the Joop Swart Masterclass. We were mindful of the power to elevate diverse voices and visions who will not only see a boost in their career but impact the future of who and how communities are covered,” said Sandra Stevenson, deputy director of Photography at The Washington Post and member of the selection committee.

“Those selected will have an amazing platform to learn, share, and network, which may last for many years,” added Federico Ríos, photojournalist and selection committee member.

Launched in 1994, the masterclass has contributed to the development of generations of visual storytellers for almost three decades. The 2024 Joop Swart Masterclass welcomes photographers from all regions of the world, with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, thanks to funding from the Porticus Foundation.

Ali Jadallah

Ali Jadallah is a Palestinian photojournalist. During his young career, he has covered three Israeli wars in Gaza with a commitment to truth-telling, providing documentation of the region's struggles.
Ali Zaraay

Ali Zaraay is an Egyptian documentary photographer merging with visual art. He’s interested in surveillance, mobility, gentrification, urban expansion and demolition, and the land-human relationship.
Arlette Bashizi

Arlette Bashizi is a documentary photographer and photojournalist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Her work centers on health, environment, and culture, with a focus on women and youth.
Belal Khaled

Belal Khaled is a Palestinian photographer and artist from Gaza. He began photographing when he found himself amidst the reality of conflict and has been covering Israel’s attacks on Gaza since 2010.
Fernanda Pineda Palencia

Fernanda Pineda Palencia is a Colombian photographer and producer. She is dedicated to documenting migration, gender dynamics, and Afro, Indigenous, and rural communities cultures in Latin America.
Kiana Hayeri

Kiana Hayeri is an Iranian/Canadian photographer who lived in Kabul for eight years. Her work delves into themes such as migration, adolescence, identity, and sexuality in conflict-ridden societies.
Myriam Boulos

Myriam Boulos is a Lebanese photographer and co-founder of Al Hayya magazine. She started photographing at 16 to get closer to reality. Today she uses photography to explore, defy, and resist society.
Ri

Ri is a lens-based visual artist from Myanmar. They explore stories rooted in the queer community and intimate relationships, alongside self-portraits, personal stories, and their country's politics.
Richard Pierrin

Richard Pierrin is one of Haiti's youngest emerging photojournalists. Inspired by local peers, he uses his lens to document his community’s daily life and the significant events shaping his country.
Samar Abu Elouf

Samar Abu Elouf is a self-taught photojournalist from Gaza. She has been documenting daily life, news, and the profound effects of conflict on her country since 2010.
Serhii Korovayny

Serhii Korovayny is a Ukrainian photojournalist. His projects center on conflict, environmental issues, refugees, and healthcare, with his current focus on documenting the Russia-Ukraine war.
Taniya Sarkar

Taniya Sarkar is an Indian photographer. Her work focuses on the socio-political reality of Bengal through the stories of women, exploring religion-related topics to uncover colonial narrative gaps.

Selection process

The Joop Swart Masterclass is open to professional photographers with 5-10 years of experience making/and or publishing visual stories in the fields of photojournalism and documentary photography.

An independent committee selects the Joop Swart Masterclass participants from candidates put forward by a panel of international nominators. Of the 12 selected participants this year, six come from the MENA region, and one from each global region complete the selection.

This year’s selection committee was:

Laura Boushnak, Palestine, photojournalist
Khona Dlamini, South Africa, educator, Programs director, Market Photo Workshop
Federico Ríos, Colombia, photojournalist
Sandra Stevenson, United States, deputy director of Photography, The Washington Post
Tanzim Wahab, Bangladesh, curator

Learn more about the selection process.

Program

The format of the Joop Swart Masterclass has been renewed this year, with special emphasis on building skills for long and sustainable careers in photojournalism, documentary photography, and beyond.

The 2024 Joop Swart Masterclass program will consist of three components: online mentorship, a masterclass week in Amsterdam, and post-masterclass presentations in the participants’ regions. The participants will work on their projects under the guidance of four mentors, to be announced soon. Learn more about the program.

2024 Joop Swart Masterclass participants announced

Introducing the 12 selected photographers to take part in the 2024 Joop Swart Masterclass

2024 Joop Swart Masterclass

Participants

Selection process

Program

Learn more about the Joop Swart Masterclass and see the alumni

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