Searching for Hope in a Time of Despair; Introducing Imagine Visions of Hope

© Jeffrey A. Salter

We’re proud to announce that we’ve teamed up with the Iris Photo Collective to launch “Imagine: Visions of Hope,” a search for images from around the world that remind us what hope looks like. While hope means different things to different people, we think it is embodied in images of resilience, perseverance and determination.

The project is the brainchild of Miami Herald photojournalist Carl Juste who said in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic there’s an overwhelming need to help people remember hope. Several well-known documentary photographers, including David Alan Harvey and Maggie Steber have said they will join the campaign.

“This project intends to influence our imagination, reinforcing the infectiousness of hope with each additional image.,” Juste said. “Its purpose is to embrace the concept of using balanced, inspirational photography to supplant the constant barrage of stark photographic reporting.”

Juste and his curatorial team of documentary photographer Maria Daniel Balcazar, Focus on the Story Executive Director Joe Newman, San Antonio News-Express Photo Editor Luis Rios and Newseum Director of Photography Indira Williams Babic are in search of images and the stories behind them that remind people what hope looks like. The images will be featured on the Imagine: Visions of Hope website, with a selection eventually curated into a traveling exhibition and, possibly, a book.

Photographers are encouraged to submit up to five images that best portray hope. All submissions must adhere to the principles of photojournalism; images should be truthful in depiction and context. If the image is selected, then it will be part of this online photo gallery and will later be considered for a global exhibition. There is no fee to submit.

To learn how to submit, go here.

Talking About Hope

© Carl Juste

Acclaimed documentary photographers David Alan Harvey and Maggie Steber will join Miami Herald photojournalist Carl Juste and members of his curatorial team to talk about their search for images that remind people what hope looks like.