Portraits in Ashes

project type: natgeo short doc | motion
#narrative #featured work #personal
In the aftermath of Los Angeles wildfires, renowned National Geographic photographer and climate activist Gideon Mendel photographs people standing amid the ruins of their homes in Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Altadena. The film is a personal heartfelt project that bears quiet witness to loss, resilience, and a shared vulnerability that extends far beyond the photographer’s lens.
Through an intimate glimpse into Gideon's ongoing 'Portraits in Ashes' series, we encounter individuals from all walks of life who look directly back at us — transforming devastation into an act of presence, remembrance, and human connection in a time shaped by disaster.