We are thrilled to recognize Armineh Johannes, a seasoned documentary and humanitarian photojournalist. Armineh has dedicated her life’s work to amplifying the voices of the unheard, bringing to light the untold stories of resilience, suffering, and the human spirit. Her photography is more than art; it is a vital form of journalism that engages deeply with the human experience, documenting the everyday lives of those who are often frequently overlooked by the world’s gaze.
Born in Tehran, Iran, to Armenian parents and later settling in France, Johannes began her photography journey in 1986. Her early work in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco introduced her to the indigenous Berber people, where she captured the raw beauty and quiet strength of their daily existence. However, it was her first visit to Armenia in 1989—her ancestors’ homeland—that sparked a deeper, more personal commitment to documenting the stories of people affected by conflict and displacement.
Armineh has traveled to Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) on numerous occasions over the last 30 years to capture Armenians’ lives and persistence in areas historically ravaged by political and military conflict. She was in Asrtakh during the first Artsakh war in the trenches with Monte and other fedayins, photographing and documenting their daily activities.
She arrived in Armenia during the Azerbaijani government’s ethnic cleansing/genocide of Artsakh Armenians, which was supported by the Turkish government, and she traveled through Armenian villages, photographing the life of displaced Artsakh Armenians.
Through her lens, she adds a much-needed human element to war and conflict stories, providing an intimate, nuanced perspective that standard media coverage often overlooks. She has now expanded her goal to include the Middle East and other former Soviet states, where she is relentlessly documenting the impact of political instability on the lives of ordinary people.
Armineh’s powerful photography exhibition, which included tragic photographs from Artsakh, was featured at the prestigious 6th Chelsea International Photography Competition. The exhibition took place at the Agora Gallery in New York, United States, from February 18th to 25th, 2025.
Her work has been featured in major international publications, including Le Monde, The Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, and The Washington Post, alongside a host of photography magazines dedicated to global visual journalism. Johannes’ photo essays—particularly her coverage of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) conflict—have garnered international acclaim and multiple prestigious accolades, including the Magnum Photography Awards, the VIEPA, the Vienna International Photo Award, the Monochrome Awards, and the Neutral Density Photography Awards.
In her photography, Armineh adopts a participatory approach, deeply engaging with her subjects and weaving their narratives into the fabric of her images. This collaboration not only lends authenticity to her work but also highlights the broader significance of journalism in fostering understanding and empathy across cultural and political divides. Her photographs do not simply capture moments in time; they serve as a crucial vehicle for storytelling, humanizing the complexities of conflict and creating a bridge between viewers and the lives behind the headlines.
Armineh’s work demonstrates the power of journalism, not just as a medium of information but as an instrument of change. Through her lens, she has chronicled the resilience of communities in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Now, as she prepares to publish a photography book depicting Armenia and Artsakh over nearly three decades, she needs funding to get this project off the ground, as it is expensive. Contributors who support the project can play an important part in elevating voices that need to be heard and acknowledged, ultimately bringing together a richer picture of Armenian legacy for future generations. If you are interested in investing, contact her at https://www.instagram.com/p/DFOzADbP6nZ/?igsh=cG41NXBxaHVsaXBv
Armineh continues her mission to give voice to those who are too often silenced—reminding us of the importance of storytelling in the ongoing fight for justice, recognition, and peace.