Highlighting Success Stories By Freelancers Coming Into 2023 - PART II
Curated by Cameron Peters For The Visura Blog
based in Brooklyn
Editor's Note: Curated by Cameron Peters, this 6-part feature, released over the next month, aims to encourage publishers and brands to hire more freelance visual storytellers worldwide to grow your audiences through impactful imagery rooted in diverse voices, narratives, and modes of storytelling.
As we welcome 2023, Visura is delighted to highlight success stories by 50 freelance visual storytellers, artists, and journalists worldwide, who worked to inform audiences with unique, compelling visuals.
"These images ignite resilience, connection, and mystery, causing us to pause and open up to collective transformation." - Cameron Peters, Platform Curator
At a time when the industry continues to inundate audiences with superfluous stock images or AI-regenerative visual content, Visura remains committed to empowering professional creators and buyers with easy access to unique and in-depth visuals. This 6-part feature is a glimpse of the incredible work that is being produced by freelancers today.
Part II Featuring: Parisa Azadi (Tehran, Iran), Laurel Chor (Hong Kong), Malin Westermann (Oslo, Norway), Katherine Cheng (Toronto, Canada), Marcio Pimenta (Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul), María Magdalena Arréllaga (Rio de Janeiro), Jaír F. Coll (Cali, Colombia), Rashod Taylor (Springfield, Missouri)
As we welcome 2023, Visura is delighted to highlight success stories by 50 freelance visual storytellers, artists, and journalists worldwide, who worked to inform audiences with unique, compelling visuals.
"These images ignite resilience, connection, and mystery, causing us to pause and open up to collective transformation." - Cameron Peters, Platform Curator
Part II Featuring: Parisa Azadi (Tehran, Iran), Laurel Chor (Hong Kong), Malin Westermann (Oslo, Norway), Katherine Cheng (Toronto, Canada), Marcio Pimenta (Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul), María Magdalena Arréllaga (Rio de Janeiro), Jaír F. Coll (Cali, Colombia), Rashod Taylor (Springfield, Missouri)
PARISA AZADI (Tehran, Iran & Dubai, UAE)
Parisa Azadi’s project Ordinary Grief exhibited in a solo show at the Melike Bilir Gallery, curated by Bettina Freimann and Melike Bilir.
Caption: Reza poses for a portrait during his wedding celebration on the Island of Hormuz, located in the Persian Gulf on April 19, 2019. Persian wedding traditions vary from region to region in Iran. On Hormuz Island, the groom wears a green veil over his face during the ceremony until the bride arrives. Green symbolizes luck and renewal.
Photo by Parisa Azadi.
Based in Tehran, Iran, and Dubai, UAE.
Website: https://www.parisaphotography.com/#1
Caption: Reza poses for a portrait during his wedding celebration on the Island of Hormuz, located in the Persian Gulf on April 19, 2019. Persian wedding traditions vary from region to region in Iran. On Hormuz Island, the groom wears a green veil over his face during the ceremony until the bride arrives. Green symbolizes luck and renewal.
Photo by Parisa Azadi.
Based in Tehran, Iran, and Dubai, UAE.
Website: https://www.parisaphotography.com/#1
LAUREL CHOR (Hong Kong)
Laurel Chor photographed and reported on the exploitation of cobalt mine workers in The Democratic Republic of Congo for Vice News.
Caption: Workers dig out copper and cobalt ore from an open-pit mine operated by artisanal mining cooperative COMAKAT in Shabaka in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on May 6, 2022. The south of the DRC produces more than 70% of the world’s cobalt and is believed to hold at least half of the planet’s cobalt reserves. Demand for cobalt, which is used in lithium-ion batteries, has surged in recent years due to the rise in demand for electric vehicles.
Photo by Laurel Chor.
Based in Hong Kong.
Website: http://www.laurelchor.com/
Caption: Workers dig out copper and cobalt ore from an open-pit mine operated by artisanal mining cooperative COMAKAT in Shabaka in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on May 6, 2022. The south of the DRC produces more than 70% of the world’s cobalt and is believed to hold at least half of the planet’s cobalt reserves. Demand for cobalt, which is used in lithium-ion batteries, has surged in recent years due to the rise in demand for electric vehicles.
Photo by Laurel Chor.
Based in Hong Kong.
Website: http://www.laurelchor.com/
MALIN WESTERMANN (Oslo, Norway)
Malin Westermann was featured in CNN’s story, “Photographers capture their own experiences as mothers.”
Caption: “Waiting for the ordinary extraordinary.” I was 33 weeks pregnant with my firstborn son. My body felt heavy all the time. Not only physically, but mentally. The transition into motherhood was an emotional ride of intoxicated highs and lows, where my partner was the place that I felt most safe. Whenever he held me in his arms, I calmed down, and he said that we would do this - together.
Photo by Malin Westermann.
Based in Oslo, Norway.
Website: https://www.malinwestermann.com/
Caption: “Waiting for the ordinary extraordinary.” I was 33 weeks pregnant with my firstborn son. My body felt heavy all the time. Not only physically, but mentally. The transition into motherhood was an emotional ride of intoxicated highs and lows, where my partner was the place that I felt most safe. Whenever he held me in his arms, I calmed down, and he said that we would do this - together.
Photo by Malin Westermann.
Based in Oslo, Norway.
Website: https://www.malinwestermann.com/
KATHERINE CHENG (Toronto & Hong Kong)
Katherine Cheng reflects on her parents' immigration journey from Hong Kong to Canada after her own move to the city. The story was featured by CBC First Persons.
Caption: (Left) People walk along Chinatown in Toronto, Canada in 1988. (Right) People walk along Chinatown in Toronto, Canada in 2022.
Photo by Katherine Cheng.
Based in Toronto, Canada.
Website: http://www.katherinekycheng.com/
MARCIO PIMENTA (Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul)
Marcio Pimenta’s portrait series “Black Lancers” was published by National Geographic.
Caption: Valéria Barcellos is a transgender multi-artist based in Porto Alegre. In her career as a singer, actress, performer, she deals with blackness, gender, diversity, inclusion and transgenderism. In addition to her work in culture, she participates in social projects aimed at the inclusion of trans people in society. As a trans and black woman, Valéria has several times denounced situations of transphobia and racism. In addition to her relevance in Rio Grande do Sul, she has traveled throughout Brazil and other countries doing plays and shows. March 30, 2022.
This portrait is part of the "Black Lancers" series, featuring black leaders from the local community (senator, councilman, actors, judges, athletes, etc.) in South of Brazil.
Photo by Marcio Pimenta.
Based in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul.
Website: http://www.marciopimenta.com/
Caption: Valéria Barcellos is a transgender multi-artist based in Porto Alegre. In her career as a singer, actress, performer, she deals with blackness, gender, diversity, inclusion and transgenderism. In addition to her work in culture, she participates in social projects aimed at the inclusion of trans people in society. As a trans and black woman, Valéria has several times denounced situations of transphobia and racism. In addition to her relevance in Rio Grande do Sul, she has traveled throughout Brazil and other countries doing plays and shows. March 30, 2022.
This portrait is part of the "Black Lancers" series, featuring black leaders from the local community (senator, councilman, actors, judges, athletes, etc.) in South of Brazil.
Photo by Marcio Pimenta.
Based in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul.
Website: http://www.marciopimenta.com/
MARÍA MAGDALENA ARRÉLLAGA (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
María Magdalena Arréllaga photographed Cibele Florencio, Brazilian chess champion, for The Wall Street Journal.
Caption: Brazilian chess champion Cibele Florencio da Silva, 24, picks fruits from the seriguela tree at home in rural Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil on February 6, 2022, where she enjoys spending time with her family when she is not working or practicing chess.
Photo by María Magdalena Arréllaga.
Based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Website: https://visura.co/arrell
Caption: Brazilian chess champion Cibele Florencio da Silva, 24, picks fruits from the seriguela tree at home in rural Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil on February 6, 2022, where she enjoys spending time with her family when she is not working or practicing chess.
Photo by María Magdalena Arréllaga.
Based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Website: https://visura.co/arrell
JAÍR F. COLL (Cali, Colombia)
Jaír F. Coll photographed the celebration of Black Jesus in Quinamayó for The Guardian.
Caption: The most important Christmas procession in Quinamayó is known as The Road to Bethlehem, led by two children who dress up as Mary and Joseph, while three young people play the role of godparents of the Black Baby Jesus. February 2, 2020.
Photo by Jaír F. Coll.
Based in Cali, Colombia.
Website: https://jaircoll.com/
Caption: The most important Christmas procession in Quinamayó is known as The Road to Bethlehem, led by two children who dress up as Mary and Joseph, while three young people play the role of godparents of the Black Baby Jesus. February 2, 2020.
Photo by Jaír F. Coll.
Based in Cali, Colombia.
Website: https://jaircoll.com/
RASHOD TAYLOR (Springfield, Missouri)
Rashod Taylor’s ongoing documentary photo series Little Black Boy was featured by CNN.
Caption: Rashod Taylor photographs his son LJ for his ongoing series Little Black Boy. 2020.
Photo by Rashod Taylor.
Based in Springfield, Missouri.
Website: rashodtaylor.com
Caption: Rashod Taylor photographs his son LJ for his ongoing series Little Black Boy. 2020.
Photo by Rashod Taylor.
Based in Springfield, Missouri.
Website: rashodtaylor.com
PART III launches on Thursday, February 16th, 2023.
Highlighting Success Stories By Freelancers Coming Into 2023 - PART II
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