The FotoEvidence Association, in partnership with the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP), is developing a three-year FotoEvidence Ukraine program aimed at supporting the community of Ukrainian photographers and helping to preserve and revive Ukrainian history and culture through the publication of photobooks that document Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since 2014. FotoEvidence Ukraine is supported by the Open Society Foundations and the Renaissance Foundation.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 1,582 cultural sites have been destroyed or damaged, including 598 libraries. It is no secret that Putin’s goal is not only territorial but also cultural—to eliminate Ukraine as an independent nation and subordinate its culture to Russian dominance.
Why books?
A book is a familiar and widely accepted object at every level of society around the world. Stories told in books go beyond the front pages of news outlets and speak to the roots of conflicts and human rights abuses. A book remains as evidence on shelves at home and in libraries, preserving the stories that shaped the world. Books are often seen as a threat, and they are burned. FotoEvidence was created to preserve memory and inspire social change through the projects we publish and promote.
“The Russo-Ukrainian war is more than a war between two armies—it is a war between societies. Russia’s intention is not only to defeat the Ukrainian military, but also to turn Ukraine into a gray zone by destroying it as a nation. Among the key sites that have suffered from the war and remain in the crosshairs of Russian terrorists are cultural institutions—especially those where ideas are stored or exchanged, namely libraries.” — Yuliia Hosart, Professor at the School of Information, San José State University.
Mission
Photojournalists from Ukraine and around the world have documented the visual narrative of this turbulent chapter in Ukraine’s history. Their dedication sheds light on the harsh realities of life during Russia’s ongoing invasion, terror against civilians, and efforts aimed at eradicating culture. FotoEvidence Ukraine will collect and publish visual stories documenting this period in order to supply libraries and schools with books that preserve the history of this time for future generations.
By collecting and distributing a large body of documentary materials, FotoEvidence Ukraine aims to sustain global awareness of Russia’s invasion, while also supporting Ukrainian culture by offering valuable resources for media, public discourse, and education for future generations.
By providing a platform for Ukrainian photographers to share with international audiences their work documenting Russia’s invasion, the project will foster cultural entrepreneurship, support the growth of Ukraine’s creative industries, and provide essential historical documentation.
Photo by Viktor Kovalchuk / UNIAN
The book
FotoEvidence is the publisher of the acclaimed historical book “Ukraine: War Crime.” It is a collection of more than 360 photographs and 35 eyewitness testimonies by over ninety photojournalists from 29 countries, who came together to present first-hand evidence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the perspective of those tasked with documenting it. The book was named “Photobook of the Year” by the International Photography Awards in New York, was shortlisted for the 2023 Arles Historical Book Award, and received a Silver Medal in the “Human Rights and Media” category of the Anthem Awards.
Events
To bring the reality of the war to the public, FotoEvidence Ukraine will organize traveling exhibitions based on the books we publish. The book “Ukraine: War Crime” has already been presented at 19 different venues across Europe, including in Ukraine and the United States. With support from the Open Society Foundations, an exhibition based on this book toured the Western Balkans, starting in Tirana, then traveling to Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Serbia.
We plan to establish cooperation with the National Library of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education of Ukraine to distribute books to schools, libraries, and cultural institutions.
Team
Working with a Ukrainian team, FotoEvidence will support Ukrainian visual storytellers, drawing on more than a decade of experience developing and publishing powerful human rights-focused photobooks. The FotoEvidence Ukraine team includes 16 prominent Ukrainian and international photojournalists and photo editors with experience in storytelling and photobook creation. FotoEvidence has worked with most of them on previous publications about the war in Ukraine. Their task will be to tell stories worthy of preservation in books and to guide authors through the creative process.
Ultimately, each new author will become part of the team—a growing community of photojournalists working to document the present for the benefit of future generations.
The FotoEvidence Ukraine team will be led by Director Svitlana Bachevanova. In Ukraine, the Project Lead is Olha Kovalova / UAPP, and the Editor-in-Chief is Irynka Hromotska.
The Editorial Board includes: Paula Bronstein (USA), Maksym Dondiuk (Ukraine), Brendan Hoffman (USA), Oleksandr Hliadelov (Ukraine), Natalie Keyssar (USA), Serhii Korovainyi (Ukraine), Olha Kovalova (Ukraine), Sarah Leen (USA), Yevhen Maloletka (Ukraine), Sasha Maslov (Ukraine), Mykhailo Palinchak (Ukraine), Oksana Parafeniuk (Ukraine), Danylo Pavlov (Ukraine), Kateryna Radchenko (Ukraine).
Applications for the 2024 photo project
To mark FotoEvidence’s partnership with the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, we are launching work on our first publication, “Photo Chronicles of the War.” The photobook was developed by UAPP members in response to the challenges of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since 2014. The project systematically documents and preserves a chronicle of key events related to Russia’s invasion, as well as events that have had a profound impact on society. Its goal is to preserve the history of Ukraine’s resistance for future generations.
Starting August 5, 2024, FotoEvidence Ukraine will accept book proposals from Ukrainian photographers who have been documenting Russia’s invasion since 2014. Proposals must be submitted as a low-resolution PDF that includes a description of the work in English and Ukrainian, images, and a brief explanation of your vision for the book. Email: fotoevidence.ukraine@gmail.com
Deadline: November 30, 2024. Proposals will be reviewed in December 2024, and selected authors will be invited to discuss possible publication.
Process
Creating a book is a learning process, and one of FotoEvidence’s core areas of work is nurturing photographers who aspire to create long-form, humanist stories.
During the bookmaking process, FotoEvidence gives the photographer the opportunity to work with a creative team that includes the publisher, a photo editor, and a book designer. The goal of this creative collaboration is both to support the photographer in creating a book that embodies their vision and to produce a powerful book with emotional impact.
Made in Ukraine
Prepress preparation and the book printing stage of FotoEvidence Ukraine will take place in Ukraine.
