I’m a documentary photographer, investigative journalist and National Geographic Explorer. I tell stories about environmental conflict and social justice, with a focus on Africa. My reporting and photography have taken me to the heart of mining zones, climate frontlines and communities resisting exploitation. My work has been featured in The Guardian, Süddeutsche Zeitung, De Groene Amsterdammer, Al Jazeera, El País, Mongabay, BBC News, and The Washington Post Magazine. I also direct TV documentaries for Arte/ ZDF.
I hold a Master’s in Fine Arts from the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf and exhibit my work internationally. My storytelling has been supported by grants from the Pulitzer Center, Journalismfund Europe, the IWMF, and more. I’m a member of the International Press Institute, Women Photograph, Frontline Freelance Register and the Red Line collective.
Freelance Journalist (2017–present)
- Features and reportage with photo/video for: Al Jazeera, BBC News, Christian Science Monitor, Courrier International, Daily Maverick, De Groene Amsterdammer, Deutsche Welle, El País, Hinterlands, Internazionale, Mail & Guardian, MO*, Mongabay, New Internationalist, New Lines Magazine, NRC, Reportagen, Sunday Times, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Tages-Anzeiger, The Guardian, Trouw, Vreme
Documentary photographer (2011–present)
- Photos published in: Brand eins, China Dialogue, Chrismon, Dagbladet Information, Der Standard, Die Welt, Die Zeit, Financial Times, Granta, Irish Times, La Corriere della Sera, Lettre International, Nature, PRI/The World, The Telegraph, Voice of America, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post Magazine
- Contract photographer for The New York Times (2023–Present), Bloomberg (2020–2023), UNOPS (2019-2024).
- Photography assignments for NGOs including Greenpeace, ODI/Gage, Oxfam, Fairtrade, BMZ, Heinrich Böll Foundation, Irish Aid and Volkswagen Stiftung.
Documentary filmmaker, Arte/ZDF (2021–present)
- Directed and filmed investigative documentaries on wildlife trafficking and trade.
Freelance artist (1993–present)
- Founder of PLUS, an independent art space in Düsseldorf (DE) (1999-2001).
- Member of Betonbox, an independent art space in Düsseldorf (DE) (2012-2017).
- Exhibited internationally.
Studies
1994 – 2002 Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Germany – MFA
2001 Nagoya Zokei University of Art & Design, Japan – Artist residency
1998 Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France – Artist residency
1997 – 1998 San Francisco Art Institute, USA – Postgraduate Studies
1988 – 1993 Akademie Beeldende Kunsten Maastricht, Netherlands – BA
Awards
2025 Deutscher Preis für Klimajournalismus – Finalist
Lagois Fotowettbewerb – Shortlist
Earth Photo 2025, Royal Photographic Society – Finalist
Gomma Grant – Finalist
Les Boutographies – Shortlist
2024 Marilyn Stafford Foto Reportage Award – Shortlist
True Story Awards – Finalist & Honorable Mention
2023 Kolga Tbilisi Photo Awards, Georgia – Shortlist
Dejan Anastasijević Award for Investigative Journalism, Serbia – Winner
2022 Superscrieri Award, Romania – Winner local news + jury prize
Dejan Anastasijevic Award, Serbia – Nomination
2021 Fetisov Journalism Awards – Shortlist (Outstanding Investigative Reporting)
2020 N-Ost/Renovabis – Research Prize Eastern Europe, Georgia
2019 Kolga Tbilisi Photo Awards – Shortlist
2018 Hostwriter Story Prize – Winner
2016 Martin Lagois Photo Prize – Finalist
Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards – Finalist
Hostwriter Story Prize – Winner
2015 Kolga Tbilisi Photo Awards – Shortlist
European Commission – Lorenzo Natali Media Prize
Felix Schoeller Photo Awards – Finalist
2013 Royal Photographic Society – Joan Wakelin Bursary, Finalist
Grants
2025 Journalismfund Europe – Earth Investigations Grant
2024 Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting – Research grant
2023 Stiftung Kulturwerk/ VG Bildkunst – Photography grant
Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting – Research grant
Journalismfund Europe – Earth Investigations Grant
Fonds Bijzondere Journalistieke Projecten – Reporting grant
Journalismfund Europe – Earth Investigations Grant
2022 IWMF – Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists
Journalismfund Europe – European Cross-Border Grant
Free Press Unlimited – Reporting grant
Fonds Bijzondere Journalistieke Projecten – Reporting grant
Journalismfund Europe – Earth Investigations Grant
2021 National Geographic Society – Storytelling grant
Fonds Bijzondere Journalistieke Projecten – Reporting grant
2020 IJ4EU – Investigative Reporting Grant
2019 Robert Bosch Foundation – Reporters in the Field fellowship
Fonds Bijzondere Journalistieke Projecten – Reporting grant
Free Press Unlimited – Reporting grant
2018 Earth Journalism Network – Reporting grant
National Geographic Society – Storytelling grant
European Journalism Center – Global Health Journalism grant
2017 Free Press Unlimited – Reporting Grant
Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting – Reporting grant
Stiftung Kunstfonds – Photography grant
Books
2024 Women Photograph: A Year in Pictures
2018 Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting: Toxic Planet
2017 Bertrams/Gazit: Outcast – Refugees in Israel
2016 International Journal of Media and Information Policy (MIPJ): Indigenous Edition
2015 World Future Council: Kinderrechte
2013 Bertrams: Madagascar. Travel photography
2012 Bertrams/Neuberger: Forests for People – Insights into Rwanda’s Forest Policy
Bertrams: Crossing Borders – Vom Atlas zur Goldküste
Bertrams: Crossing Borders – Vom Kap bis Kairo
Hefat training
2022 Cosain Consultancy & Acos Alliance, Birmingham, UK
Affiliations
Red Line collective, Reporters Without Borders, International Press Institute, Frontline Freelance Register, Women Photograph