Photography and the Territories of the Other

A handbook on visual responsibility, written for the Vadoinafrica community

Members of the Vadoinafrica community know that visibility matters. Whether you’re sharing a project, promoting an initiative, or raising awareness, including one or more photographs can help slow the scroll—drawing the eye, sparking interest, anchoring attention. A good image can make a message linger /  read the handbook

But here’s the challenge: Many of the projects shared within this vibrant, 13,000-member network — whether entrepreneurial, nonprofit, or somewhere in between — are aimed at individuals facing hardship, transition, or systemic injustice. And in these situations, the pursuit of visibility can come into conflict with the ethical imperative of fair and dignified representation.

Even with the best intentions, it is never acceptable to reduce a person to a category: poor, vulnerable, sick, victim. Each of these labels, once visualized, risks turning someone’s complexity into a narrative shortcut—easier to share, but harder to correct.

Africa, the Gaze, and the Responsibility of Framing

Since our shared focus is on the African continent, the risk becomes even sharper. Too often, images perpetuate the classic polarities: 1. the “suffering Africa”, in urgent need of saving; or 2. the “joyful Africa”, ever-smiling and colorful, reduced to aesthetic or emotion.

Neither tells the whole story. Both flatten lived realities. And both can be co-opted—fueling outrage, attracting pity, or serving political agendas that do not benefit the communities depicted.

But photography can do more. It can be a tool of connection. A gesture of empathy. A mirror of shared humanity, in all its contradictions and dignity.

Why This Handbook?

Photography isn’t a central pillar of Vadoinafrica. But visual storytelling touches nearly every project within the network. That’s why we felt the need to open this space for reflection—and to do so not with theory or condemnation, but with practical tools.

This handbook offers a framework for more conscious photography:

  • real-world examples
  • short descriptions of common challenges
  • suggested solutions for more respectful and effective visual communication

It’s not a definitive guide. It’s a starting point. A way to photograph with rather than about. A way to tell stories without erasing people.

Stories from the blog

CML 5505
Where Is Home?
I originally wrote this text for the Camp Erech Box — the publication we created during our time in the Mauritanian desert. It was never meant to be public, but now that the project continues to travel and evolve, I feel ready to share it here.  — Giulia...
CML 3062
Centro Educativo Pavarotti in San Lucas Tolimán
Known locally as Programa Utzilal Tijonikel — “Teaching Goodness” in the Kaqchikel language — the Centro Educativo Pavarotti offers more than education. It offers direction, dignity, and the tools for indigenous youth to shape their futures...
GZH 5597
Learning from Vulnerability
I wrote this during the long return from Camp Erech — to hold together fragments, emotions, and questions that still echo through my days. I wasn’t sure I would share it. But the desert has a way of continuing to speak, even after you leave it behind....
CML 2358
Echoes of Ancestral Winds
Ayzoh!’s workshops are more than technical training or guided travel. They are invitations to experience the world from the inside out—to observe, listen, feel, and connect in ways that transcend photography, language, or even intention. Each journey...
CML 1360
Hope Cathedral
Hope Cathedral is an interfaith and environmentally focused art project located in Fredrikstad. Built on a 120 m² wooden barge, the structure takes architectural inspiration from traditional Norwegian stave churches. Its 300 m² roof is made from recycled...
CML 9750
Penzi: A Labor of Love
I met Guadalupe Alvarez in Lalibela, Ethiopia, during the war. The town was tense, the air thick with fear, and then — there she was. A woman from Mexico. Alone. Calm. Fully present. She wasn’t a journalist. She wasn’t on assignment. She was just there....

Latest Publications

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Somos / Pueblo Ancestral Viviente
"Somos" is a call to listen, to witness, and to act. Created in deep collaboration with Maya communities across Guatemala, this project amplifies ancestral voices that have long been silenced, distorted, or ignored. At its heart lies the Popol Wuj, the...
El Rosario 001 01
Biblioteca Comunitaria El Rosario
El Rosario is a photo book and a tribute to a grassroots library in Oaxaca, Mexico. Created with the community of Santa Catarina Minas, it celebrates literacy, biodiversity, and collective imagination. All proceeds support the library and its partner...
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Je Suis la Rue
Discover the vibrant streets of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, through the eyes of talented youth who transform urban spaces into creative playgrounds. Ayzoh! established the Centre Photographique de Ouagadougou (CPO), an inclusive photography center empowering...
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Visit Awra Amba
Awra Amba, a visionary community in Ethiopia, challenges conventional norms by promoting equality, peace, and sustainability. As global ambassadors, Ayzoh! shares their inspiring story through an illuminating photographic book and dedicated website, highlighting...
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Isegran
An intimate homage to the maritime community of Isegran, Norway, this book celebrates the profound connection between humans and the sea. Explore themes of love, tradition, craftsmanship, and passion, reflecting on the sea’s timeless ability to unite...
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Dialogo Silenzioso: the Book
Dance meets Ethiopia’s ancestral rhythms in "Dialogo Silenzioso," a compelling visual narrative commissioned by the Ethiopian Embassy in Italy. Ayzoh! created this book and traveling multimedia exhibition, celebrating dance as a universal language and...

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