2026 Joop Swart Masterclass

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We’re pleased to announce the 13 selected participants for the 2026 Joop Swart Masterclass, coming from 11 countries across the world. For the third year running, the Joop Swart Masterclass will focus on the SWANA region, thanks to funding from the Porticus Foundation.

The core objective of the masterclass is to develop and guide photographers in their practice, while placing a special emphasis on building skills for long and sustainable careers in photojournalism, documentary photography, and beyond.

Bashar Taleb

Bashar Taleb is a Palestinian photojournalist based in Gaza. His work documents conflict, displacement, and daily life, focusing on the human realities of war and its aftermath.
Cam Juarez

Cam Juarez is a K’iche’ photographer and visual artist exploring the intersections of autofiction and documentary imagery. She is developing an audiovisual project in Cuba.
Faiz Abubakr Mohamed

Faiz Abubakr Mohamed is a Sudanese photojournalist whose documentary and editorial work examines political upheaval, conflict, and their impact on communities in Sudan.
Farhana Satu

Farhana Satu is a documentary photographer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, whose work explores overlooked stories, everyday realities, family, environment, and belonging.
Guerchom Ndebo

Guerchom Ndebo is a Congolese photographer and visual artist whose documentary work explores social and environmental realities across the region.
Hadeer Mahmoud

Hadeer Mahmoud is an Egyptian photojournalist and documentary photographer whose work explores women’s rights, displacement, and the lived experiences of marginalized communities.
Haitham Imad

Haitham Imad is a Palestinian photojournalist based in Gaza whose work documents conflict, humanitarian crises, and the resilience of civilian communities.
Lisa Bukreyeva

Lisa Bukreyeva is a Ukrainian photographer whose work explores the psychological and emotional realities of conflict, foregrounding dignity amid war.
Nathalia Angarita

Nathalia Angarita is a Colombian photographer based in Bogotá whose work explores social inequality, gender, human rights, and environmental issues through long-term documentary storytelling.
Parisa Azadi

Parisa Azadi is an Iranian visual journalist and artist whose work explores political violence, social injustice, and resistance within historically oppressed communities.
Riska Munawarah

Riska Munawarah is an Indonesian documentary photographer whose work explores identity, women’s rights, and the social realities shaping everyday life in her hometown.
Ruba Alfaraouna

Ruba Alfaraouna is a Palestinian visual and sound artist whose work explores voice, land, memory, and Bedouin identity through sound, photography, and video.
Zohreh Sabagh Nejad

Zohreh Sabagh Nejad is an Iranian documentary photographer whose practice investigates urban landscapes, memory, and the human stories they contain.

Program

The 2026 Joop Swart Masterclass program consists of three components:

Online mentorship from 24 June to 31 October 2026: Participants will work on a personal project, receive feedback from the mentors and fellow mentees, and participate in online presentations.
In-person masterclass from 2-9 November 2026. The group will come together in Cairo for an intensive week of workshops, visits, talks, and a public presentation where participants will share their work in progress with an audience.
Post-masterclass presentations in November-December 2026. After the masterclass, participants will organize a presentation for their local photography community to share their learnings from the program.

Curriculum

The curriculum addresses the many dimensions of a photographer’s professional life, combining practical skills with critical reflection:

One-on-one mentorship

Individual guidance and feedback throughout project development.

Story development

Research methods, long-term storytelling, printed matter, multimedia, and critical discussions on ethics and decolonial strategies

Career guidance

Building the tools to sustain a career: pitching stories, finding funding, grant writing, and navigating the complexities of the photography industry.

Safety and care

Psychological resilience, personal risk management, and fostering collegial networks of support.

2026 Joop Swart Masterclass

The 2026 Joop Swart Masterclass

Participants

Selection committee

Program

Curriculum

See the Joop Swart Masterclass Alumni