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Micah Albert is a documentary and travel photographer, educator, and writer whose work has long focused on underreported stories in some of the world's most difficult-to-access regions. Represented by Redux Pictures in New York City, his career spans more than two decades of visual storytelling across Africa, the Middle East, and North America.
His early work began in Sudan, where he traveled with rebel movements in the country's south during the years leading up to the creation of South Sudan. Bearing witness to a nation's birth established the foundation for a career documenting places shaped by conflict, political transition, and profound social change.
Micah has photographed some of the world's most complex geopolitical fault lines, from operating in Al Qaeda-controlled areas of Yemen to embedding with North African counterterrorism forces in the Sahara and documenting rebel movements in Southern Algeria. His Pulitzer Center-supported project on Dandora, Africa's largest dumpsite, earned 1st Prize in World Press Photo's Contemporary Issues category, along with top honors from National Geographic Magazine.
Today, his work has evolved toward slower, more intentional storytelling rooted in culture, place, and human connection. Through travel, editorial, and long-form documentary assignments, he explores the intersections of food, landscape, history, and everyday life, always seeking to create images that reveal a deeper sense of place.
Alongside his editorial work, Micah serves as a Career Technical Education High School photography teacher in Northern California and as an adjunct instructor of Documentary Photography at Sierra College. Drawing on decades of field experience, he mentors emerging photographers through professional practice, visual ethics, and narrative storytelling, helping students see photography as both a creative craft and a tool for understanding the world.
For image licensing and publication inquiries, please contact:
Published in
The New York Times
National Geographic Magazine
Foreign Policy Magazine
Smithsonian Magazine
Los Angeles Times
The Washington Post
The Guardian (UK)
BBC
TIME Magazine
Lonely Planet
6Mois (France)
Travel + Leisure
National Geographic Traveler
The Globe and Mail
San Francisco Chronicle
The Wall Street Journal
Der Spiegel
Fathom
Huckberry Journal
American Songwriter
Awards Include
2017 - Fathom, Top 25 Travel Photographers of the Year.
2015 - Fathom, Top 25 Travel Photographers of the Year
2013 - World Press Photo, 1st Place Contemporary Issues
2013 - National Geographic, 1st Place
2012 - Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting Grantee
2012 - Photo+ Magazine South Korea | Photojournalism
2011 - Smithsonian Magazine, 1st Prize - Americana
2010 - National Geographic Traveler
2010 - Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies Photojournalism Contest, 1st Place
2008 - PDN World in Focus Winner | Photojournalism
2008 - Applied Arts Photo Annual Winner, (Photojournalism Feature)
2001 - Sacramento Bee Travel Contest Overall Winner
Lectures & Speaking
2015 - Keynote - World Affairs Council, Seattle
2014 - NPR, Insight - Algeria
2009 - 2019 - History & International Studies Program - McClatchy High School
2013 - World Press Photo, Amsterdam
2013 - Keynote - World Affairs Council, Sacramento
2012 - NPR, Insight - Kenya
2011 - NPR, Morning Edition (from Yemen)
2010 - United Nations Association Film Festival
2009 - Johns Hopkins University panel moderator
2008 - NPR TOTN from Africa
2008 - NPR, Insight - Kenya
2008 - BBC World TV
2006 - NPR, Insight - South Sudan
Dozens of high schools and universities
Exhibitions
2025 - Johannesburg, South Africa
2025 - Dhaka, Bangladesh
2013 - Queen Maxima of the Netherlands - Private collection
2013 / 2014 - World Press Photo, International traveling exhibit
2013 - Houston Museum of Fine Art, permanent installation
2012 - Apolis Common Gallery, Los Angeles
2010 - Keller Gallery, San Diego
Non-Profit Consulting:
Questscope
World Food Programme
UNICEF
Global Strategies
Trash Mountain Project
Get in touch.
Got a story worth telling? A place worth exploring? A secret beach, a remote village, or a plate of something unforgettable? Let’s talk.
Whether you’re an editor with a deadline, a traveler with a tip, or just someone who appreciates a good photo—I’d love to hear from you.