Episode #25: Documenting War Through Photography: The War in Ukraine

On today's episode of Conversations on Genocide, Emily and Finia with our Ukraine task force sit down with two wartime photographers, Justyna Mielnikiewicz and Laurin Strele, to discuss their experiences capturing conflict on camera. Focusing on the war in Ukraine, the discussion delves into their work documenting moments of resilience and humanity, amid intense conflict and strife.Justyna Mielnikiewicz is an award winning photographer from Poland, based in Tbilisi , Georgia since 2003. Her works have been published internationally by The New York Times, Newsweek, Le Monde, Stern, National Geographic and WSJ - among others. She is a winner of World Press Photo, Canon Female Photojournalist Prize, Caucasus Young Photographer Award by Magnum Foundation, Aftermath Project Grant and Eugene Smith Fund in 2016.Most important part of her work is devoted to personal , long term projects published as books. In 2014 her first Book was released : “Woman with a Monkey- Caucasus in Short Notes and Photographs". In 2019 the author's second book : “Ukraine Runs Through it" was shortlisted among 20 best books by Paris Photo and Aperture.She teaches photography workshops and is available for lectures on photography as well as the topic she specializes at which deals with different aspects of transformations in countries of Central Europe and Post Soviet Space , in particular Caucasus and Ukraine.Website: https://www.justmiel.com/indexLaurin Strele is an Austrian-born, award-winning photographer and photojournalist renowned for his compelling storytelling and evocative imagery. As a Leica Ambassador, Laurin’s work is defined by its focus on capturing the human experience in its rawest form, often in challenging and conflict-affected regions.In recent years, Laurin has documented some of the most pressing global crises. His powerful photo essays have shed light on the war in Ukraine, where he spent extensive time in 2024 capturing the resilience of soldiers and civilians amidst devastation. Similarly, during his journey to Lebanon in autumn 2024, Laurin chronicled the impact of the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah, highlighting both the destruction and the perseverance of daily life in Beirut and beyond.With a career that has taken him through Afghanistan, Iraq, India, and countless other countries, Laurin has earned international recognition for his ability to capture the beauty, resilience, and complexities of diverse cultures and environments. Through his lens, Laurin continues to bridge cultural divides and inspire global conversations about resilience and humanity.Website: https://laurinstrele.com/The content featured in this podcast may be emotionally disturbing and intense. Listener discretion is advised. Please consult this document for mental health resources if needed.U.S.-Based Resources:• SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988• Open Path Collective: https://openpathcollective.org/• BIPOC Mental Health Resources: https://www.thementalhealthcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BIPOC-Mental-Health-Resources.pdfGlobal Resources:• Befrienders: https://befrienders.org/• Find a Helpline: https://findahelpline.com/• I Call Helpline: https://icallhelpline.org/• 13 Yarn: https://www.13yarn.org.au/• Help Guide: https://www.helpguide.org/find-help.htm