"I experienced the profound moment when I kissed my mother’s hand as she lay beneath the rubble. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming need for that touch, as my heart was heavy with anguish, sorrow, anger, chaos, and fear. It was as if that brief contact was a lifeline amid the despair, a connection to the love and warmth that felt so far away. This simple gesture became a beacon of hope for me, symbolizing resilience and the unbreakable bond between us. I know that for countless others in Gaza, this shared longing for connection and solace resonates deeply, making this moment not just personal, but a universal testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable loss."
Ali Jadallah is a Palestinian photojournalist. During his young career, he has fearlessly covered three Israeli wars in Gaza with a commitment to truth-telling, providing poignant documentation of the region's ongoing struggles. His masterclass project, Till We Meet Again, is his personal account of the war in Gaza since October 2023.
For the 28th edition of the Joop Swart Masterclass, we brought together 12 emerging photographers from around the world to develop a project, and develop the tools to make a viable career in photography.
The participants' developing projects cover a wide array of topics, from explorations of love amid war to the profound impact of conflict on people’s lives. Collectively, their work highlights the concerning state of the world and the resilience of communities and journalists worldwide.
Launched in 1994, the Joop Swart Masterclass is World Press Photo’s best-known educational program for emerging photographers, encouraging new and diverse approaches to photojournalism, documentary photography and visual storytelling. After a three-year hiatus, the Joop Swart Masterclass returns this year, with a focus on the MENA region, thanks to funding from the Porticus Foundation.
See more work by the 2024 Joop Swart Masterclass participants here
