There is that one instant in everyone’s life when they figure out what really motivates them  a vocation that doesn’t merely whisper,  but speaks through every aspect of life. For me, that vocation is photography. I didn’t pick it spontaneously or just because it was fashionable. I chose to do photography because it speaks for me   for those who are voiceless, and for those who can bear witness, document, and at times, heal. To me, photography is not just a trade. It’s a dedication to human rights, truth, and expression.

I recall the first time I ever touched a camera. It wasn’t elaborate. It didn’t have all the buttons or settings I didn’t know how to use. But when I peered through that lens, the world shifted. It moved in slow motion. Every detail was crucial   the wrinkles on a person’s hands, the shadows cast behind buildings, the raw emotion on a stranger’s face. I didn’t merely see the world. I felt it. And from that point, I knew this was something bigger than a hobby   it was a calling.

There is a special power in photography to stop time. Within one frame, you might be able to capture the happiness of a wedding, the devastation of a war, or the perseverance of a single protester. Photographs don’t require translation, like words do. They speak to everyone, everywhere, regardless of language or culture. That’s why I think photography is such an effective tool for justice. It doesn’t simply tell the story; it commands attention. It invites the viewer to pause, observe, and sense.