TOTIM Exposures – Details, episodes & analysis

We begin 2026 with a six-part series centered around themes of place, movement, and conflict. These issues demand deeper human-centered context, as displacement, political instability, and environmental pressure increasingly define daily life for millions.

In Episode 014 of Exposures DJ Clark speaks with Alex Gist about A Conspiracy of Guileless Humanity, Gist’s recent body of work developed in northern Bali. The conversation traces the project’s origins, from an initial workshop encounter to a sustained period of immersion inside a small, locally rooted restaurant that quietly resists the norms of contemporary culinary culture.

Gist reflects on his path into documentary photography—shaped by years of long-distance bicycle travel, wilderness work, and academic study in religion—and how those experiences inform his interest in ways of living that remain closely tied to land, ritual, and community. The discussion moves through process and ethics: staying long enough for trust to form, the role of writing and voice alongside images, and the distinction between simply documenting a place and embedding oneself within it.

The episode also considers the broader conditions facing emerging documentary photographers today, including sustainability, funding, and the value of slow, human-centered work in an increasingly automated media environment.

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Alex Gist

Alex Gist is a documentary photographer and producer whose work examines socially and environmentally sustainable ways of living, with particular attention to how such practices persist, adapt, or resist modern systems characterized by isolation and consumption. His approach foregrounds communities and individuals whose relationships to land and to one another offer alternative models to dominant modes of extraction and disconnection, positioning these practices as critical responses to humanity’s growing estrangement from the natural world.

DJ Clark

DJ Clark is a multimedia journalist, educator, and visual storyteller based in Hong Kong. With more than two decades of experience in international journalism, he has worked as a producer, photographer, and video journalist for outlets including China Daily, The Economist, and BBC World Service. Clark is also the director of multimedia at the Asia Center for Journalism and a long-time mentor with World Press Photo and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, where he has trained and collaborated with emerging photographers across Asia and beyond. His work focuses on empowering local voices and advancing innovative approaches to visual storytelling.

TOTIM is a new, nonprofit initiative built to support and amplify a global and diverse community of visual storytellers. We rely on your support to bring under-reported stories to light and sustain vital, independent documentary photography. Please consider a charitable, tax-deductible gift.

We begin 2026 with a six-part series centered around themes of place, movement, and conflict. These issues demand deeper human-centered context, as displacement, political instability, and environmental pressure increasingly define daily life for millions.

In Episode 013 of Exposures Ecuadorian photojournalist and visual artist Johis Alarcón speaks with documentary photographer Greta Rico to discuss her documentary project, I Am, Still.

The episode traces the personal, political and spiritual foundations of the project of I Am, Still which emerged during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a deeply personal inquiry became a broader exploration of young Indigenous people who choose to remain with their ancestral home, blending modern education and technology with ancestral knowledge, memory and responsibility to the land.

The discussion also situates the work within wider struggles over land, displacement, environmental extraction and cultural survival across Latin America and offers essential context for I Am Still—not only as a photographic project, but as a lived philosophy rooted in place, family, and inter-generational identity.

Johis Alarcon

Johis Alarcón is a freelance photojournalist and visual storyteller based in Ecuador whose work focuses on social justice, human rights, and gender-related issues. She is a National Geographic Explorer and a member of Ayün Fotógrafas, Fluxus Foto, Visura.Co, Fotoféminas, and Women Photograph. Her work has been published by The New York Times, Bloomberg, The Guardian, Reuters, UN Women, and others, and has been exhibited internationally. Alarcón has received numerous fellowships and awards, including recognition from the Magnum Foundation, World Press Photo, and FotoEvidence. She currently works on assignments, teaching and long-term personal projects.

Greta Rico

Greta Rico is a documentary photographer and visual storyteller whose work focuses on gender-based violence, human rights, and the systemic effects of inequality in Mexico and Latin America. With a background in journalism and international cooperation, she uses long-form photographic narratives to explore how institutional failures impact the lives of women and marginalized communities.

Her work has been supported by the International Women’s Media Foundation, National Geographic Society, and Open Society Foundations, among others. Greta is a member of Women Photograph and has been selected as a fellow with the Magnum Foundation, CatchLight, and World Press Photo’s 6x6 Global Talent Program. Her photography has been exhibited in Mexico, the United States, and Europe, and published in outlets including The Washington Post, Bloomberg, and El País.

TOTIM is a new, nonprofit initiative built to support and amplify a global and diverse community of visual storytellers. We rely on your support to bring under-reported stories to light and sustain vital, independent documentary photography. Please consider a charitable, tax-deductible gift.

To Experience "Life on the Edge" Pt. 1 DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

In Episode 004 of Exposures, Natisha Mallick discusses her reporting in rural West Bengal, India, where she documents the high risks of childbirth in communities with limited or no access to medical care. Mallick’s work explores the resilience of mothers, the role of unofficial caregivers, and the systemic gaps that contribute to one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Her story, Life on the Edge, is now available on the TOTIM app.

Natisha Mallick

Natisha Mallick is a documentary photographer and data visualization specialist based in London. Her work focuses on underreported social issues, with a particular interest in public health and marginalized communities. She has documented maternal health challenges in rural West Bengal and other stories highlighting systemic inequities. Her photography has been featured in Spiegel Online, The Wire, The Quint, The Irish Times, and L’Œil de la Photographie.

Tasneem Alsultan

Tasneem Alsultan is a Saudi-American investigative photographer and visual storyteller whose work explores women’s rights and social dynamics in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. Her work has been published in The New York Times and National Geographic.

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In Episode 003 of Exposures, Greta Rico interviews documentary photographer Seth Berry about his work in Honduras. Berry shares his multi-year effort to document the harsh realities of life in the Aguan Valley — a region of natural beauty overshadowed by corporate exploitation and government complicity. His story, In the Valley of Death, is now available on the TOTIM app.

Seth Berry

Seth is a documentary photographer based in Honduras. His work is focused on human rights issues and cultural resistance in Central America and beyond. In Honduras, he explores the root causes of migration, where the people suffer from extreme poverty, a corrupt government, and violence towards environmentalists and indigenous cultures. His work has been featured in The Intercept, The Nation, Vice World News, The Guardian and Al Jazeera,

Greta Rico

Mexican Documentary Photographer, Journalist and Educator focused on issues related to; gender, environment, climate change and food. Her work focuses on exploring new social representations in contemporary visual culture. Her work has been published in Leica Photographie International, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Women's Media Center, The HuffPost, El País and Lado B.

TOTIM is an audience supported nonprofit. To receive new posts and support this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

To Experience "Coup d'état" DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

In episode 002 of Exposures, photojournalist Tasneem Alsultan interviews Eros Hoagland about his decades long career as a conflict photographer including his work in Haiti covering the violent overthrow of the government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide. “Coup d'état” is now available on the TOTIM app.

Eros Hoagland

Eros Hoagland is a California-born photojournalist whose work spans global conflict zones—from El Salvador and Iraq to Haiti, Mexico, Colombia and beyond—capturing narratives on political and social upheaval. His work has been published in the The New York Times, Time, Newsweek and Der Spiegel amongst others.

Tasneem Alsultan

Tasneem Alsultan is a Saudi-American investigative photographer and visual storyteller whose work explores women’s rights and social dynamics in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. Her work has been published in The New York Times and National Geographic.

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To Experience “Signos” DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

In episode 001 of Exposures, photojournalist DJ Clark interviews Veejay Villafranca about his work covering the ecological and humanitarian fallout of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. “Signos” is now available on the TOTIM app.

Veejay Villafranca

Veejay Villafranca is a Manila-born documentary photographer and lecturer. He began as a staff photographer at Philippines Graphic before freelancing for AFP, Reuters, and Getty.

DJ Clark

DJ Clark is a Hong Kong–based multimedia journalist with over 30 years of experience in video, photography, audio, and writing. His work has appeared in The Economist, BBC and National Geographic, and he’s the recipient of numerous awards, including World Press Photo’s Interactive of the Year in 2020.

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

To Experience “Shaboura” DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

In episode 012 of Exposures, photojournalist Tasneem Alsultan speaks with veteran visual journalist DJ Clark about Shaboura, a formative body of work produced in Gaza in the early 1990s that emerged from Clark’s decision to relocate to Palestine during the First Intifada, a choice that shaped his career and his understanding of proximity in conflict reporting . Clark reflects on living and working in Gaza under occupation, focusing on the Shaboura refugee camp, an area marked by intense resistance and everyday resilience. They discusses the material realities of film-era photojournalism, the evolving risks faced by journalists, and the stark contrast between reporting then and the lethal conditions confronting reporters in Gaza today. The conversation broadens to examine Clark’s later commitment to education and mentorship as a means of supporting local storytellers and restoring context, nuance, and humanity to visual journalism.

DJ Clark

DJ Clark is a multimedia journalist, educator, and visual storyteller based in Hong Kong. With more than two decades of experience in international journalism, he has worked as a producer, photographer, and video journalist for outlets including China Daily, The Economist, and BBC World Service. Clark is also the director of multimedia at the Asia Center for Journalism and a long-time mentor with World Press Photo and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, where he has trained and collaborated with emerging photographers across Asia and beyond. His work focuses on empowering local voices and advancing innovative approaches to visual storytelling.

Tasneem Alsultan

Tasneem Alsultan is a Saudi-American investigative photographer and visual storyteller whose work explores women’s rights and social dynamics in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. Her work has been published in The New York Times and National Geographic amongst others.

Tasneem became the first Arab female Global Ambassador for Canon in 2018, a Catchlight fellow in 2019, was voted the ‘Princess Noura University Award for Excellence’ in the Arts Category and received honourable mention for the Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism. In 2020, she cofounded Ruwa Space, a platform to support visual creatives and offer education and consultation across the Middle East & North Africa. She’s a member of Rawiya women’s Middle Eastern photography collective.

TOTIM is a new initiative built to support and amplify a global and diverse community of visual storytellers. As a nonprofit platform, we rely on your support to bring under-reported stories to light and sustain vital, independent photojournalism around the world. Please consider a charitable, tax-deductible gift. 🙌

To Experience “Youth of Belfast” DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

In epidsode 011 of Exposures, Veejay Villafranca talks with documentary photographer Toby Binder about his long-term project Youth of Belfast. They discuss how this important and maximally acclaimed work developed over many years, how slow the early stages were and how gaining access and trust took time (and cigarettes).

Toby and Veejay also discuss the practical side of documentary photography today, including access, funding and how the industry has shifted. The episode gives a direct, honest look at how projects like Youth of Belfast are actually made and why sustained, long-form coverage remains extremely valuable. Youth of Belfast is now available on the TOTIM app.

Toby Binder

Toby Binder is a German documentary photographer known for long-term projects focused on youth, social issues, and everyday life in divided or marginalized communities. He continues to develop long-form documentary projects across the world.

Veejay Villafranca

Veejay Villafranca is a Manila-born documentary photographer and lecturer. He began as a staff photographer at Philippines Graphic before freelancing for AFP, Reuters, and Getty.

TOTIM is a new initiative built to support and amplify a global and diverse community of visual storytellers. As a nonprofit platform, we rely on your support to bring under-reported stories to light and sustain vital, independent photojournalism around the world. Please consider a charitable, tax-deductible gift. 🙌

To Experience “Vanishing With the Waves” DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

In episode 010 of Exposures, Bangladeshi photojournalist K M Asad joins DJ Clark to reflect on his journey from a student at Pathshala South Asian Media Institute to becoming one of Southeast Asia’s most respected visual storytellers and a World Press Photo Award winner. Trained under the legendary Shahidul Alam, Asad came of age in a generation of photographers determined to tell their own country’s stories from within.

In conversation with Clark, Asad reflects on the evolution of Bangladeshi photography, the importance of patience and proximity and why local photographers remain essential to the truth and impact of visual journalism.

K M Asad

K M Asad is an independent documentary photographer and photojournalist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. His long-term project Vanishing with the Waves earned him a World Press Photo Award and international recognition for its powerful portrayal of communities living on the frontlines of rising seas. Asad’s work has appeared in TIME, The Guardian, and National Geographic and others.

DJ Clark

DJ Clark is a multimedia journalist, educator, and visual storyteller based in Hong Kong. With more than two decades of experience in international journalism, he has worked as a producer, photographer, and video journalist for outlets including China Daily, The Economist, and BBC World Service. Clark is also the director of multimedia at the Asia Center for Journalism and a long-time mentor with World Press Photo and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, where he has trained and collaborated with emerging photographers across Asia and beyond. His work focuses on empowering local voices and advancing innovative approaches to visual storytelling.

Support TOTIM: TOTIM is a new initiative built to support and amplify a global and diverse community of visual storytellers. As a nonprofit platform, we rely on your support to bring under-reported stories to light and sustain vital, independent photojournalism around the world. Please consider a small, charitable, tax-deductible gift. 🙌

To Experience “El Inquilino” DOWNLOAD TOTIM APP

Photographer and educator Tom Griggs joins TOTIM to discuss El Inquilino, a series made in Mexico City during the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally planning a short stay, Griggs spent three years photographing daily life as the city quieted and adapted. He describes how the project evolved from his background in fine art into a form of expanded documentary, blending observation and subjectivity to capture the mood of isolation and stillness. Griggs reflects on his process of shooting thousands of images, editing them into cohesive sequences and allowing time and memory to shape his understanding of the work. El Inquilino offers a sublimely intimate portrait of life in a city during a strange and extraordinary time.

Exposures 009 Hosted by TOTIM Founder/ Director Luke Mertz