Ronaldo Schemidt

Ronaldo Schemidt (b. 1971) began his career in photojournalism in Mexico in 2000, after studying anthropology in Venezuela. 

Since 2006, he has been a staff member of Agence France Presse (AFP) and is currently photo chief for Israel, Gaza and Palestinian territories.

In addition to covering international stories, Schemidt has covered some of the main issues and important events in Latin America. In Mexico, he pictured the journey of thousands of migrants on their way to the United States, as well as natural disasters, social conflicts, and the drug war. In Venezuela, he portrayed the death of President Hugo Chavez, the election of President Nicolas Maduro, and the political and social crisis, including violent riots. In Cuba, he documented the death of Fidel Castro; in Argentina, the death of soccer player Diego Maradona; and in Bolivia, the coup d'état against President Evo Morales.

In 2022, he was sent to Ukraine at the beginning of the Russian invasion. In Bucha, he documented the first evidence of war crimes against the Ukrainian civilian population and was also deployed near the frontline, in Donbas.

He has taught photojournalism at the Universidad de Oriente in Mexico, spoken at photojournalism conferences at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, and participated in the Tenth Encuentro Fotográfico de México 2017 as a speaker.

Schemidt has participated in several collective and individual photography exhibitions at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.


World Press Photo Involvement:
2018 World Press Photo Contest winner

Ronaldo Schemidt on Social Media: 
Instagram: @rschemidt
Twitter: @rschemidt