Take a look at where we’ve been…and where we’re going

By Albin, Paul and Sean, at Life on Earth Pictures

We’ve been busy. Come see how we’re continuing to document the life and work of people across the world.

Over the past six months, we’ve welcomed several new subscribers to Life on Earth Pictures, as well as seen long-term clients renew their subscriptions. With all of you helping to sustain our work, we’re excited to add new visual work in the future.

Where we’ve been…

We’ve just completed months of work preparing for and documenting the World Council of Churches’ 11th Assembly in Germany. Through our different lenses, we joined a team of other communication professionals to make sure there’s now an abundance of searchable photos related to all facets of the vibrant assembly.

The WCC also commissioned our very first Life on Earth Pictures photo exhibition – exploring the theme of the WCC assembly and showing churches working for justice and peace across the world. It was incredibly rewarding to be able to show the fruits of our work together. As the assembly concluded and Sean began to take the exhibition down, visitors asked him to wait so they could have a last look—the magic of photo storytelling in evidence!

7 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby meets with members of the Anglican Communion at the 11th assembly of the World Council of Churches, in front of a Life on Earth Pictures photo exhibition exploring the assembly theme ‘Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity’. Photo: Sean Hawkey/Life on Earth Pictures, taken on assignment for the World Council of Churches
2 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: H.G Bishop Thomas, Coptic Orthodox Church, speaks with a group during a business session of the assembly of the World Council of Churches. Photo: Sean Hawkey/Life on Earth Pictures, taken on assignment for the World Council of Churches
5 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: Opening dramatic performance by participants in the Ecumenical Youth Gathering (youth pre-assembly), from a diversity of countries and church traditions, during a thematic plenary focused on ’Affirming the Wholeness of Life’ at the WCC 11th Assembly. Photo: Albin Hillert/Life on Earth Pictures, taken on assignment for the World Council of Churches
4 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: Dundu, a giant light puppet, greets people on the streets of Karlsruhe, Germany, where participants in the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches gathered from August 31 to September 8, 2022. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth Pictures, taken on assignment for the World Council of Churches
Images from the WCC 11th Assembly available through the Life on Earth Pictures archive.

Where we are now…

Paul just left the Philippines and is now on the Thai-Myanmar border, documenting several humanitarian crises. Early samples of his work there can be glimpsed on the Life on Earth Pictures Facebook page. There’s much more to come in the next weeks and months at our archive.

Sampler of images from the Philippines and the Thai/Myanmar border. Photos by Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth Pictures

Where we’re going…

We’re now exploring possibilities for work in Eastern Europe as humanitarian needs in that region continue to increase after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. New photos will continue the stories we’ve helped to tell from just after the invasion, when Albin travelled in the Ukraine border in March.

Plans are also in place for coverage of COP27 in Egypt in November.

A woman holds a sign reading ‘Another world is possible’, as people rally outside the perimeter of the COP26 venue on the last day of COP26, held in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021. The rally was held in protest against inaction by governments and negotiators to mitigate the climate crisis. Photo: Albin Hillert/Life on Earth Pictures, taken on assignment for the Lutheran World Federation

What do you need to tell your story?

Keep checking your email, our website, and our social media channels for the latest photos added to our archive.

We also want to hear from you about the projects and contexts you’d like us to cover.

Drop us an email, and we’ll connect back about working together.

Sean, Paul and Albin
Life on Earth Pictures