Joël Gugler

Joël Gugler

Typical outfit: while hitchhiking in the Sahara desert, Western Sahara

Joël Gugler is a photojournalist having been to 103 countries and striving to discover the rest, specializing in hard-to-reach places and human-focussed narratives often overlooked. His work spans environments from the snowy peaks of Everest to the heart of the Sahara, capturing life's raw essence with a minimalist setup—a silent Sony camera and two prime lenses - and one small backpack.

Starting with a one-way flight to Iran and crossing Iraq during the civil war he set out to discover humanity in its rawest form: hitchhiking home penniless like the millions of people fleeing from the war and getting to know the true stories of people.

Gugler's portfolio encompasses conflict zones, restricted areas, and culturally complex territories. Notable projects include living alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan, cannibals in India, covering mass graves in Ukraine for NGOs,  as well as sneaking into North Korea and Xinjiang province. All while navigating challenging cultural nuances and seeking knowledge wherever he goes.

For publications seeking compelling visual stories from the world's most demanding environments, Gugler offers extensive experience and a proven track record in high-risk areas.

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