It consisted of online sessions on June 28–29, followed by in-person seminars and activities during Les Rencontres d’Arles on July 9–10 at Maison Close, Arles, France.
At a time when climate change, industrial pollution, and ecological degradation demand urgent global attention, Europe needs skilled visual storytellers who can bridge the worlds of journalism and photography. These practitioners play a critical role in making environmental crises visible, tangible, and impossible to ignore.
This workshop was structured to equip participants with the ability to identify and develop powerful environmental narratives.
Participants learned how to identify compelling environmental stories, collaborate with journalists-photographers and scientists, and use tools such as satellite imagery and open-source intelligence.
The program combined expert-led seminars, practical training, and in-depth portfolio reviews, while also encouraging participants to experiment with diverse storytelling formats—whether through books, exhibitions, or innovative digital platforms—to ensure their work reaches and resonates with broader audiences.
Participation was free, and one participant received, at the end of the project, a €1,500 grant to continue developing their project. The grant recipient was Masoumeh Behrami with “Tears of Motherland” , a photographic project on environmental issues in the Caspian Sea.
Online Seminars: trainers
- Boštjan Videmšek is an award-winning freelance crisis reporter for the Slovenian daily DELO and various European and U.S. publications. His work focuses on climate change, technology, conflicts and migrations.
- Margaret Keady is an experienced photo editor, project editor, digital storyteller, and producer. She collaborates with photographers, writers, editors, developers, and designers to create visually compelling and journalistically rigorous stories. She is currently the International Photo Editor at The Wall Street Journal.
- Alexandre Brutelle is the director and co-founder of the Environmental Investigative Forum (EIF). He is an investigative journalist, mentor, and trainer specializing in cross-border collaboration and environmental issues. He leads EIF’s development, strategic direction, and external partnerships.
- Annika McGinnis is the co-founder of InfoNil.org and NileWell.org.
Arles Seminars: trainers
- Kateryna Radchenko is an artist, curator, and photography researcher. She holds degrees in Philosophy and Journalism from Odesa National University. Since 2015, she has been the founder and director of the International Festival Odesa Photo Days.
- Valerio Vincenzo is a photo editor at Geo France and the founder of the association Borderline – Frontiers of Peace, which organizes photo exhibitions and visual education workshops across European schools. He also performs regularly as a speaker for Live Magazine.
- Melanie Wenger is a French documentary photographer and founding member of Inland. A National Geographic Explorer, she holds degrees in Literature and Journalism, and her work often focuses on long-term, intimate narratives.
- Tommaso Rada is an Italian documentary photographer based in São Paulo, Brazil. His work explores social, economic, and environmental issues, often focusing on the relationship between communities and their environments.
- Matjaž Tančič is a Slovenian photographer and visual artist based between China and Slovenia. His work spans documentary, portrait, and art photography, often dealing with environmental and social themes. He is a member of Inland and actively develops cross-disciplinary visual storytelling projects and educational programs.
- Alex Kemman is a photographer at Inland Stories.
Photo (c) Tommaso Rada
