Typical outfit: while hitchhiking in the Sahara desert, Western Sahara
My name is Joël Gugler, and I’m a Dutch photojournalist who has traveled to 103 countries — 11 years in and I’m not stopping anytime soon. My work focuses on hard-to-reach places and human-centered narratives that often go unnoticed. From the snowy peaks of Everest to the heart of the Sahara, I aim to capture life in its rawest form, always traveling light with just a silent Sony camera, two prime lenses, and one small backpack.
My journey started with a one-way flight to Iran and a crossing through Iraq during the civil war, setting out to experience humanity at its most unfiltered. I hitchhiked home penniless, walking the same roads as those fleeing conflict, listening to their stories, and understanding the world from their perspective.
I’ve worked in conflict zones, restricted areas, and culturally complex regions. Some of my most notable projects include living alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan, documenting cannibal sects in India, covering mass graves in Ukraine for NGOs, and sneaking into North Korea and Xinjiang to witness firsthand the realities of life under oppressive regimes. Every assignment requires navigating cultural nuances, political risks, and extreme conditions, but that’s where the real stories are.
For publications looking for compelling visual storytelling from the world’s most demanding environments, I bring extensive experience, cultural adaptability, and a proven track record in high-risk areas.
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