Capturing Truth Through the Lens: Photography Masterclass by world-renowned photographer Muhammed Muheisen for Iron Squad Youth in Ukraine.
Kyiv, January 17, 2025. World-renowned photographer Muhammed Muheisen, a two-time Pulitzer-prize winner and the founder and chairman of the Dutch non-profit Everyday Refugees Foundation, conducts a photography masterclass in the Ukrainian capital to inspire and empower youth from Ukraine’s Iron Squad in a corporation with the Ukrainian Railways, Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ).
On January 17th, 2025, a group of 26 young aspiring photographers from the Iron Squad, aged 13 to 17, participated in a unique photography masterclass supported by Everyday Refugees Foundation in Kyiv.
A photo competition was launched in early January, those who entered the competition could attend the masterclass and learn from one of the world’s most accomplished photographers. Muhammed Muheisen, renowned for his compelling imagery and ability to capture the human spirit in challenging times, provided insights into the art and ethics of photography. With his guidance, the young participants learned to see the world through a different lens, exploring the power of photography as a storytelling tool. The 26 Iron Squad traveled from all corners of Ukraine to attend the masterclass, from Bucha, Sumy, Girnyk in Donetsk Oblast, Lviv, Kharkiv and Kyiv Oblast to name a few. The Iron Squad, which was created few months after the full scale invasion in 2022, aims to train, develop and retain talented youth in Ukraine who survived occupation, fled their homes or have family members fighting in the army.
Photography as a Force for Good
In a world where images can inform, inspire, and drive change, photography acts as a powerful tool for truth-telling and transformation. The Iron Squad youth, many of whom have been personally affected by the ongoing conflict, are now equipped with the skills to tell their own narratives.
As Muhammed Muheisen emphasized during the masterclass, “Every photo you take has the power to make an impact and create change. It’s not just about taking a picture; it’s about telling a story that matters.”
A Contest That Inspires Change
One of the highlights of the day was the photo contest. The young photographers were encouraged in early January to use their cameras to capture images, convey emotions, and tell their own stories. Muhammed Muheisen personally reviewed all the entries, providing constructive feedback and encouraging the young, aspiring photographers. The overall winner of the photo competition received a professional camera, the two runners-up got a selfie printer, and everybody got a certificate of participation.
The contest was more than just a competition; it was an empowering experience that highlighted the importance of documenting the world around them in their own voice.
Inna Pantyukhova, 15, from Girnyk in Donetsk Oblast, was the overall winner of the photo competition.
“I’m so happy and surprised that I won! I started taking photographs at the beginning of the full-scale invasion to capture the moments around me. I want to go back to those places I can’t visit now and show the world how beautiful Ukraine is.”
The masterclass with Muhammed Muheisen was not just a lesson in photography; it was a lesson in hope, humanity, and the power of photography to change the world, a photo at the time.
