Projects

For Serge Najjar, the city is not a backdrop but a living geometry of light and form. Born in Beirut in 1973 and trained in law in Paris, Najjar brings the discipline of logic to the poetics of the lens. His photographs transform the urban landscape into a dialogue between structure and life — where architecture and the human figure meet in fleeting, deliberate alignments.

“Everyone is surrounded by the amount of magic that they are able to see.” For photographer Kristina Makeeva, this isn’t just a metaphor — it’s her method. Known for her global project Simple Magic Things, Makeeva transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, capturing dreamlike scenes from fleeting moments: a snowfall, a reflection, a shaft of light. “I’m a seeker of magic in the ordinary,” she says. Her work, crafted over 14 years of global travel and collaboration, invites us to look closer — and discover wonder in the everyday.

In NOT AN EXIT, Austin Irving transforms ordinary doorways, corridors, and stairwells into surreal meditations on space and perception. Shot on 4x5 color negative film with a Toyo Field camera, the series presents exits that lead nowhere and hallways that collapse into themselves. Irving’s images, created across multiple countries, turn familiar architecture into unsettling metaphors of absurdity, confinement, and the surreal—inviting viewers to reconsider the built environment as a theater of containment, humor, and quiet strangeness.

UK-based photographer Mike Chudley has built a career rooted in curiosity, community, and storytelling. From brand collaborations to personal projects, photo books, and a thriving YouTube channel, his work transforms everyday moments into lasting narratives. Through workshops, films, and publications, he shares not just images but a way of seeing — where photography becomes connection and a way of life.

For 20 years, the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP) has harnessed the power of visual storytelling to protect our planet. In celebration of its 20th Anniversary Print Sale, four featured photographers—Keith Ellenbogen, Lana Tannir, Scott Trageser, and Tom Vierus—showcase work that spans the ocean depths, Arctic frontiers, and hidden lives of wildlife. Their images, blending science and art, serve as powerful calls to action—reminding us that beauty, when seen through a lens of purpose, can inspire real change.

Belfast-born photographer Paul Killeen captures landscapes where mood and atmosphere take center stage — fleeting light over the Irish coast, mist-filled valleys, and horizons suspended in silence. A purist, he strives to perfect each frame in-camera, a discipline that has earned him international recognition, including UK Landscape Photographer of the Year and World Landscape Photographer. Beyond his own work, Killeen mentors others through workshops, guiding them to refine their craft and discover new ways of seeing. His images are less about place than about feeling — meditations that invite stillness and reflection.

Marzia Chenyao is a philosopher and artist exploring symbolic design, relational sovereignty, and the tension between fatalism and agency. In her series Memento Amicas, she tells the mirrored story of two sisters—one who vanishes, one who arrives—through surreal, cinematic tableaux. With animal masks, fashion noir aesthetics, and post-structural influences, Chenyao turns identity into allegory and routine into ritual. Her work captures girls mid-transformation, inhabiting a world where visibility is always in flux.

Mustafah Abdulaziz (b. 1986, NYC) is a photographer and director based in Berlin and London. For over thirteen years, he has documented the human impact of climate change through global large-scale installations. A Leica Oskar Barnack Award winner and National Geographic grantee, he contributes to The New York Times, TIME, and Der Spiegel. His work is held by the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection, Apple, and the National Portrait Gallery. His first short film, Women Are Beautiful, premiered in Berlin in 2025.

This World Photography Day, COOPH spotlights three remarkable women from the Girls Who Click network – each using photography to tell powerful stories of conservation and our connection with nature. Girls Who Click empowers the next generation of women in conservation photography. These three voices remind us of the urgent need to protect our planet — and of photography’s power to inspire awareness and action.

Tommaso Vecchii is a European-based documentary photographer known for capturing vanishing traditions and remote cultures through authentic, analog imagery. His work, shaped by natural light and immersive storytelling, spans from Ethiopia to Vietnam and Peru, portraying human resilience with intimacy and cinematic depth. Through global exhibitions and ongoing projects, he uses photography as a tool for empathy and cultural connection.

Jonathan Hodder is a British–Filipino street photographer whose lens captures more than moments—it documents movements. Based in Myanmar, where he leads digital transformation initiatives for the United Nations, Jonathan uses photography to translate urgency into empathy. His work—featured in Vogue, The Independent, and more—reveals the emotional duality of hardship and hope, struggle and strength. Each image is a meditation on resilience, underscoring the dignity that persists even in fractured settings

Berlin-based photographer Anton Hangschlitt explores the capital’s underground transit spaces with his Leica M6, capturing their haunting stillness on film. His grainy, analog compositions transform everyday infrastructure into cinematic moments—revealing the beauty in overlooked corners.

Swedish photographer Gabriel Isak transforms personal struggle into hauntingly beautiful art. In The Blue Years, a deeply introspective series inspired by his battle with depression, Isak uses faceless figures and surreal landscapes to explore themes of melancholy, identity, and healing. Each image invites viewers into a quiet, dreamlike world—one shaped by solitude, but also by resilience. From "Birth," symbolizing emotional rebirth, to "The Flight," representing liberation from depression, his work offers a moving visual journey through the emotional spectrum. The Blue Years is not just photography—it’s a visual testament to the power of art in confronting and transforming pain.

Frankie Adamson bridges the worlds of wildlife and pet portraiture with a unique artistic style. Based in Cumbria, her work spans from Kenya’s Masai Mara to soulful dog portraits. Her image ‘Kiss of Death’ earned her the title of Overall Photographer of the Year 2024 and is now competing in the World Photographic Cup. After her acclaimed Hounds of Hong Kong series, she’s back in the UK with Photography by Frankie, currently touring 12 Northern cities for a 2026 charity calendar supporting dog rescues. In this PROFOLIO, Frankie shares her favorite images and the stories behind them.

As we honor Earth Day 2025, COOPH is proud to highlight five photographers whose powerful images have made a lasting impact on conservation efforts around the world. From exposing environmental injustices to sparking policy changes, these photos exemplify the power of visual storytelling in protecting our planet.

Brad transforms sports into art with his latest aerial series on tennis and track & field. Capturing athletes from above, he turns their movements into striking compositions, blending symmetry, color, and form. His unique perspective has been featured in major publications like The Washington Post, The Guardian, CNN, and The New York Times.

Galician photographer Xan Padrón captures the soul of cities through street portraiture, blending his musical background with visual storytelling. Best known for his global “Time Lapse” series launched in 2011, Padrón’s work has been exhibited internationally—from the UN Headquarters to New York’s subway stations—and featured in top publications. Rooted in a passion for the everyday, his portraits chronicle the rhythm and character of urban life across the world.

Immerse yourself in “The Muses” – an ethereal underwater photography exhibit by Christy Lee Rogers at The Parthenon in Nashville. Enjoy a free opening reception and interactive art workshops!

Meet five extraordinary women conservation photographers using their lenses to tell critical environmental stories. From documenting wildlife preservation to exposing threats to endangered species, these visual storytellers are making a global impact.

Explore Jaroslav Brabec’s DEUS ARTIS exhibition at Prague’s DOX Centre, featuring 102 intimate portraits of global creatives like Ai Weiwei and Yoko Ono. Curated by Otto M. Urban, the show highlights unedited, film-based photography. Open until March 2, it’s a must-see celebration of contemporary artistry.

Deeply inspired by Old Lahore’s heritage, architecture, and bustling lifestyle, Fakhar strives to capture the city’s essence by weaving together historic backdrops and everyday human connections. He prefers a 1:1.25 aspect ratio, allowing him to build layered stories within each frame—juxtaposing Lahore’s timeless buildings with its vibrant, modern pulse.