Pain Everywhere photographically addresses the profound suffering experienced by both Palestinians and Israelis in the midst of the conflict. On one side, communities face occupation, loss of land, and systematic violence; on the other, citizens live in constant fear of unpredictable attacks. The project does not seek to stigmatize either side, but rather to show the need to understand the deep-rooted fears and hatreds that prevent just and lasting solutions. The loss of land and symbolic elements such as olive groves—vital to Palestinian subsistence and cultural identity—reflects the threat to the life, memory, and continuity of communities. Through these images, I want to reflect on the urgency of recognizing human suffering in all its complexity, beyond flags and borders, and to understand how conflict leaves deep scars on the daily lives of all those who experience i
A woman picks olives in the village of Deir Al Hatab, West Bank. Since October 7, 2023, Palestinian farmers have faced increasing restrictions on accessing their lands, which they already can only visit once a year. The situation with settlers has escalated further with attacks on villagers, leaving many in fear. These restrictions have had a devastating impact on the olive harvest, a vital source of income for Palestinian families. Amidst this uncertainty, the women of Deir Al Hatab are facing unique challenges. Despite their education and knowledge of land cultivation, they feel vulnerable while working in the fields alone with their children. Deir Al Hatab, West Bank. noviembre 06, 2023.
A family of Israeli settlers walking towards the Old City of Jerusalem on Saturday afternoon. The man is armed with a high-caliber weapon, the wife and children are wearing prayer clothes. The family prepares to enter the old city of Jerusalem to pray at the Western Wall and thus end Shabbat. Starting on October 7, more armed citizens are seen on the streets of their cities and towns. Jerusalem, Israel.
Two young people throw stones at an Israeli army barricade very close to the city of Ramallah, the capital of the Palestinian government. The young people protest in the midst of fire and smoke and under the fire of snipers from the Israeli army. Ramallah, West Bank. November 03, 2023
View at sunset of rockets falling on the Gaza Strip. With the Israeli government denying journalists access to Gaza, Sderot has become the closest point to the Gaza border from which to document the Israeli army’s attacks. November 4, 2023. Sderot, Israel
Dozen of people attended the funeral of Ibrahim Zayed, a 29-year-old Palestinian who was shot dead by the Israeli army on Friday morning, November 3 The funeral was held at the Qualandya mosque, then men took the body to the city cemetery in the occupied West Bank for burial. The crowd was made up of men and boys, all dressed in black. The man’s body was carried through the streets of Qualandya and was covered with a Palestinian flag and surrounded by flowers. The mourners cried and screamed. The man’s family said he was leaving for work before dawn when he was surprised by an incursion by the Israeli army controlling the area. The man was shot five times in the chest. Since the conflict in the Gaza Strip intensified, deaths in the West Bank area have also increased.
Jihad Shihada’s mother is pictured during the funeral of her son and three other young men. She is wearing a medical bandage on her face because she was wounded there during the attack on her home. The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the deceased as Jihad Shihada, 24; Ezzeddine Awad, 22; and Qasim Rajab, 20, while Momen Bal’awi, 20, died later from his injuries. Since October 7, when clashes between Palestinian groups and Israel broke out in Gaza, at least 159 Palestinians have been killed and 2,250 wounded by Israeli forces throughout the West Bank. Tulkarem, Palestine. November 6, 2023.
A group of men pray during the religious celebration at the mosque on Friday in the town of Qualandya. In addition, this group accompanies the funeral of Ibrahim Zayed, murdered the night before during an Israeli army raid in the area. Qualandya, West Bank. November 3, 2023
“The Great Journey” documents the migratory route of hundreds of families as they travel through the Darien jungle in Colombia. The project seeks to show, from an intimate perspective, the physical vulnerability and emotional fragility they face during the journey—approximately 130 kilometers—exposed to multiple dangers and challenges in one of the densest and most dangerous jungles in the world. This area, known as the Darién Gap, divides the American continent between north and south. Its risk lies in the fact that it is controlled by criminal groups that traffic weapons, drugs, and now people, making it one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world. For the past two months, I have accompanied migrant families, mostly of Venezuelan origin, who, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), represent the second largest transnational migrant population in the world in the last decade. My job has been to travel with them for much of their journey, documenting their experiences. My work seeks to highlight the importance of people and their relationships in moving forward despite adversity, and to reflect on why migrants from different parts of the world risk their lives in search of the “American Dream.” In 2023, around 500,000 people made this journey, a figure that not only quintuples that of the previous year but, according to the IOM, constitutes the highest number ever recorded.
Different groups prepare at dawn at the Las Tecas camp to begin their trek through the Darien jungle. In the first months of 2023, just over 80,000 migrants crossed the Darién jungle, a figure 5 times higher than that registered in the same period just a year ago. According to the Ministry of Public Security of Panama, if the trend continues, by 2023 the number of migrants seeking to reach the north of the American continent could reach the historic figure of 400,000 people who will expose their lives to the dangers of crossing this inhospitable jungle. . that divides Colombia and Panama. May 18, 2023, Antioquia, Colombia.
A father carries his little son on his lap, they move among the tide of migrants who that day begin their journey through the Darien tapin from the Las Tecas camp. collided, colombia. May 18, 2023
Panoramic view of the Darien Jungle. The journey that migrants must take is approximately 130 km before finding the first towns in Panama. In the first months of 2023, just over 80,000 migrants crossed the Darién jungle, a figure 5 times higher than that registered in the same period just a year ago. According to the Ministry of Public Security of Panama, if the trend continues, by 2023 the number of migrants seeking to reach the north of the American continent could reach the historic figure of 400,000 people who will expose their lives to the dangers of crossing this inhospitable jungle. . that divides Colombia and Panama. May 18, 2023, Antioquia, Colombia.the dangers of crossing this inhospitable jungle. . that divides Colombia and Panama. May 18, 2023, Chocó, Colombia.
Manuel poses for a portrait on the bed of the Pinlolo river. Under heavy rain and walking with the help of his crutches, Manuel is on his first day of the journey. What awaits him later is a tough test of physical and mental endurance. In the first months of 2023, just over 80,000 migrants crossed the Darién jungle, a figure 5 times higher than that registered in the same period just a year ago. According to the Ministry of Public Security of Panama, if the trend continues, by 2023 the number of migrants seeking to reach the north of the American continent could reach the historic figure of 400,000 people who will expose their lives to the dangers of crossing this inhospitable jungle. . that divides Colombia and Panama. May 18, 2023, Darien, Colombia.
A line of migrants of different nationalities and porters ascend one of the hills of the Darien Gap, among them Genesis and Fran from the Peña family. Darien, Colombia, May 18, 2023. In the first months of 2023, just over 80,000 migrants crossed the Darién jungle, a figure 5 times higher than that registered in the same period just one year ago. According to the Panamanian Ministry of Public Security, if the trend continues, by 2023 the number of migrants seeking to reach the north of the American continent could reach the historic figure of 400,000 people who will expose their lives to the dangers of crossing this inhospitable jungle that divides Colombia and Panama. Despite this, every day hundreds of people enter the so-called “Darién Gap”, a thick inhospitable jungle strip that simultaneously divides a continent, two oceans, a couple of nations and the dreams and aspirations of hundreds of thousands of people. from different parts of the planet in their quest to achieve the American dream.
Horacio carries his little son Zamir in his arms while they cross the Darien Gap. In the first months of 2023, just over 80,000 migrants crossed the Darién jungle, a figure 5 times higher than that registered in the same period just a year ago. According to the Ministry of Public Security of Panama, if the trend continues, by 2023 the number of migrants seeking to reach the north of the American continent could reach the historic figure of 400,000 people who will expose their lives to the dangers of crossing this inhospitable jungle. . that divides Colombia and Panama. May 18, 2023, Darien, Colombia.
A family of Venezuelan migrants rests on top of a hill in the Darien jungle. On a dump created by the thousands of migrants who pass through this point every day, some families decide to gather strength to continue their journey the next day. In the first months of 2023, just over 80,000 migrants crossed the Darién jungle, a figure 5 times higher than that registered in the same period just a year ago. According to the Ministry of Public Security of Panama, if the trend continues, by 2023 the number of migrants seeking to reach the north of the American continent could reach the historic figure of 400,000 people who will expose their lives to the dangers of crossing this inhospitable jungle. . that divides Colombia and Panama. May 18, 2023, Darien, Colombia.
La Bestia Mexicana documents the migratory journey of families like the Peñas as they travel through Mexico to reach the US border. The aim is to show the physical vulnerability and emotional fragility they face throughout much of their journey, which covers approximately 2,000 kilometers. During the journey, migrants must face a series of dangers and challenges in deserts, jungles, and cities, as well as dealing with a long chain of corruption in one of the most unsafe countries in the world. In recent months, I have accompanied migrants of Latin American origin at different times and places, mostly Venezuelans, who, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), represent the second largest cross-border displaced population in the world in the last decade. My work has consisted of traveling with them for much of their journey, usually following alternative routes and secondary roads that they use to evade the various immigration checkpoints before reaching the United States. The report emphasizes the people and the importance of their relationships in order to keep moving forward despite adversity. It also documents one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world: “La Bestia,” a network of freight trains that crosses Mexico.
A family of Honduran migrants crosses the waters of the Rio Grande at dawn in an attempt to reach the United States of America. The family tries to cross as quickly as possible to avoid being stopped by Mexican immigration authorities. According to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, 2.2 million illegal migrants were apprehended crossing from Mexico into the United States in 2023. This is the highest number recorded in a single year since 2000. The increase in illegal crossings in 2023 is due to a number of factors, including poverty, violence and climate change in migrants’ countries of origin. Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. 21 June 2023.
The Peña family rests under the shade of a tree while watching a train pass by. They are very close to Huehuetoca, the place where they hope to board “The Beast” to continue their route to the United States of America. In the first half of 2023, around 250,000 people made this trip through Latin America, a figure that represents, according to the IOM, the largest record of people in transit in the Western Hemisphere in all history. Queretaro, Mexico. June 18, 2023.
A group of people desperately seeks to get on one of the wagons of “The Beast”. while the train makes a stop. This migratory route by train is recognized as one of the most dangerous in the American continent. In the first half of 2023, around 250,000 people made this journey through Latin America, a figure that represents, according to the IOM, the largest record of people in transit in the Western Hemisphere in all of history. Huehuetoca, State of Mexico, Mexico, June 17, 2023.
Janeika looks through the window of a hotel in the town of Huehuetoca, thinking about how her life has changed in just a few weeks. Before emigrating from Venezuela, she had never left her country. In the first half of 2023, around 250,000 people made this journey through Latin America, a figure that represents, according to the IOM, the largest record of people in transit in the Western Hemisphere in all of history. Huehuetoca, State of Mexico, Mexico, June 17, 2023.
Maria and her daughters Jimena, Alana, Elier and Andri travel aboard the roof of “La Bestia”. With temperatures that exceed 40 degrees centimeters during the summer, these families must endure a journey of more than 2 thousand kilometers through Mexico. In the first half of 2023, around 250,000 people made this trip through Latin America, a figure that represents, according to the IOM, the largest record of people in transit in the Western Hemisphere in all of history. Guanajuato, Mexico. June 1, 2023.
Alejandra and Leonardo travel on the train known as “The Beast”. They are very tired because they started their trip two months ago from Chile and have traveled more than 5 thousand kilometers to reach this point somewhere in the northern desert of Mexico. In the first half of 2023, around 250,000 people made this trip through Latin America, a figure that represents, according to the IOM, the largest record of people in transit in the Western Hemisphere in all history. Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. June 20, 2023.
A family of Venezuelan migrants cross the Rio Grande border into Mexico at dawn. They are guided by a “coyote” who is paid to find a safe crossing. On the other side of the river, the immigration authorities of the United States are waiting for them. Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. June 23, 2023.
“Quiero casa” (I want a home) is a documentary photography project that addresses the different faces of migration in Mexico City and shows how the lack of access to decent housing is transforming the urban and social landscape. Between 2023 and 2024, around 800,000 cases of irregular migration were recorded in Mexico, the highest number in its history. People of various nationalities, mainly from the global south, fled violence and economic crises in search of refuge, only to find a city riddled with gentrification and inequality, where even lifelong residents struggle to remain in their own neighborhoods. This photo essay, composed of intimate portraits and everyday scenes, documents how housing has become one of the main battlegrounds for human rights in the region. The series reflects both the vulnerability and dignity of those who resist in makeshift camps, face eviction, or wait for an opportunity for stability. “I Want a Home” offers a critical yet humane perspective: recognizing that without a safe place to live, fundamental rights are limited and democracy becomes meaningless.
Daniel and his young daughter Sofia utilise the cable car to deliver food to his wife, who is currently at work. The Mexico City government introduced this public transport system to reduce the time that millions of people spend commuting from the outskirts of the city to their jobs. Daniel and his family live in a favela in the north of the city and are unable to pay rent in a more central neighbourhood, which limits their ability to live and move around. 6 November 2024. Mexico City.
The image shows Cuautepec, a densely populated neighbourhood of Mexico City located in the northern periphery. Official data indicates that approximately 21 million individuals reside in the Mexico City conurbation. A significant proportion of the population occupies neighbourhoods such as this one, situated at a considerable distance from workplaces and in overcrowded areas with limited access to essential public services, including drinking water and reliable public transportation. Over the past five years, approximately half a million individuals have been displaced from the city centre to these peripheral neighbourhoods. 6 November 2024, Mexico City
Edwin, a migrant from the Colombian Pacific, has hung a Christian cross from his chest. He left the country with his wife and daughter due to the prevailing violence, particularly in his region, which has become a point of territorial dispute between various armed actors seeking to control the area for drug trafficking. Mr. Edwin and his family have been residing in a modest accommodation in a migrant camp in Plaza de Soledad for a period of three months. They are awaiting a CBO One appointment with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process their asylum claim. 15 November 2024. Mexico City.
The boy in the photograph watches as Irma Cortés, a religious volunteer, hands out clothes and toys to migrants living in one of the makeshift camps on the streets of Mexico City. Around them, chaos has formed as people snatch the donations. Many of the migrants in the city survive largely on donations from various groups independent of the government. December 04, 2023. Mexico City.
Kennedy is taking a sick leave. The Venezuelan man has worked much of the night and day trying to rebuild a new home in Guadalupe Victoria Park in Mexico City. He was evicted the day before along with hundreds of other migrants who were living in the Plaza de la Soldad. While he tries to find a way to return to his country, Kennedy is safely sheltering in the streets of the capital. Israel Fuguemann. Mexico City. April 4, 2025.
A child is pictured in a camp where migrants have improvised homes and places to rest. While the little boy sits on a sofa passing the time, his parents work cleaning cars at a traffic light very close to the camp. These camps are full of minors who, because of their irregular status, do not receive any services such as education or health care and are exposed to different types of violence and abuse. It is estimated that in the last three years more than seven hundred thousand minors have made the migratory journey through Latin America. November 11, 2024. Mexico City.
Andreina 27 years old, Jairo and his son John, cook over a fire as night falls on Mexico City. This family, originally from Colombia and Venezuela, has been living in a makeshift migrant camp for three months. They consider that they are just passing through and do not mind having to live in this situation if the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) finally grants them a CBO One appointment to process their asylum in the country. November 11, 2024. Mexico City.
On July 29, 2023, Caracas became the scene of a fervent popular demonstration reflecting the deep discontent of millions of Venezuelans. Following the results released by the government, in which more than ten million Venezuelans turned out to vote, the candidate and current president Nicolás Maduro was declared the irreversible winner. Once the results were known, the desperation, hope, and determination of a people tired of the humanitarian and political crisis focused on demonstrations demanding justice. That day, a large sector of Venezuelan society took to the streets to demand transparency and radical change, but their dream of insurrection was brutally silenced and extinguished by the Venezuelan government’s security forces. According to non-governmental organizations, the repression left more than 20 people dead and more than 700 detained, many of them minors, accused of terrorism and other crimes. My photographs document the events that took place during the election period in Venezuela. They show the faces of the protesters, marked by anguish but also by resilience, which are an eloquent testimony to the suffering caused by years of mismanagement and corruption.
A group of neighbors from the La Lucha neighborhood come out to demonstrate with their pots and pans. “The cacerolazos are a way to express their dissatisfaction with the results of the presidential election on July 28. Caracas Venezuela. July 29, 2024. Israel Fuguemann.
A group of protesters who are against the re-election of Nicolas Maduro try to tear down a campaign propaganda with the image of the president during the post-election protests in the country’s capital. Caracas, Venezuela. July 29, 2024. Israel Fuguemann.
A woman cries during protests against the July 28 election results that gave Nicolas Maduro the winner. Caracas, Venezuela. July 29, 2024. Israel Fuguemann. Caracas, Venezuela. July 29, 2024.
A group of young protesters celebrate and call for rebellion after having captured an official vehicle of the Venezuelan government during demonstrations against the re-election of Nicolás Maduro as president of their country. Caracas, Venezuela. July 29, 2024.
An officer from the Bolivarian National Police guards one of the city’s main avenues after days of protests brought the capital to a standstill the day before. These measures by the Venezuelan government left the streets empty and citizens afraid to go out and demonstrate. July 31, 2024. Caracas, Venezuela.
Demonstrators against the re-election of Nicolas Maduro as president protest in the streets of Caracas. With stones and sticks they defend themselves from police attacks. In the image, some young people are traveling on top of a vehicle that has just been confiscated by them. Caracas, Venezuela. July 29, 2024.
A group of protesters supporting presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia demonstrate outside the United Nations offices in Caracas. They demand transparency in the elections and celebrate having the voting records. Caracas, Venezuela. July 30, 2024.
“Pain Everyplace” is my work portfolio over the past two years. I have particularly focused on documenting human rights violations and challenges to democracy in various contexts, with a special emphasis on migrant, displaced, and the most vulnerable populations. My reports combine social chronicle and documentary portrait, aiming to dignify the people portrayed and rescue the human character of each story.
I have covered everything from the massive protests in Venezuela against Nicolás Maduro’s re-election to other human displacement conflicts. My migration work covers various routes and processes: I have accompanied families in the Darién jungle and dozens of people traveling on the train known as “La Bestia,” as well as those stranded in Mexico City waiting to enter the United States, affected by the tightening of immigration policies.
In the international arena, I documented the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, mainly in occupied areas of Palestine, where Israeli military activity intensified, affecting the daily lives of the civilian population and generating a profound social and human impact. My images aim to convey the fears, losses, and resilience of those living amidst violence, without
stigmatizing either side, and revealing how historical conflicts shape the lives of entire generations.
This portfolio aims to raise awareness about the major contemporary conflicts we share as a region, especially those that affect human rights, democracy, and the dignity of people in contexts of extreme vulnerability. Each photographic essay I present aims to bring the viewer closer to complex realities, promoting reflection, empathy, and a deeper understanding of contemporary social challenges.
What the Jury Said About the Finalist, Israel Fugueman · Photographer of the Year 2025
The following text is drawn —from the public transcript of the POY Latam 2025 judging— from the ideas and comments expressed by the jurors as they analyzed the portfolio of Israel Fugueman, finalist for Photographer of the Year. Individual names are not cited, but the spirit of their collective interventions has been preserved.
“This portfolio is ambitious: it takes us from the West Bank to the Darién jungle, from migrants traveling on La Bestia in Mexico to the streets of Caracas during the elections. There is a remarkable effort here to encompass some of the most urgent conflicts of our time. What we valued most was the courage to be in those places and the ethical coherence in portraying people: there is no sensationalism, but rather a will to understand and to show dignity amid crisis.”
At the same time, the judges noted that the breadth of the work was also its greatest challenge. “The portfolio is strong, but at times it feels stretched across too many fronts. We would have liked to see a more focused edit, one that would allow each story to breathe and reveal its depth. Nevertheless, the visual consistency is clear, and there is a strong voice behind all the series.”
The consensus was that this work represented one of the most relevant perspectives in the category: “This portfolio reminds us that Ibero-American photographers are documenting major global conflicts from within, with access that is hard to achieve and with a sensitivity that avoids clichés. It is no coincidence that it reached so far in the deliberation: it is rigorous, committed work of great documentary importance.”
