PORTRAITS IN ASHES - National Geographic Documentary Short
TRT: 5:30
Portrait in Ashes is a short documentary set in the aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires. Renowned National Geographic photographer and climate activist Gideon Mendel photographs individuals standing amid the ruins of their homes in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Altadena, creating portraits that quietly confront loss, resilience, and shared vulnerability.
TRT: 5:30
Portrait in Ashes is a short documentary set in the aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires. Renowned National Geographic photographer and climate activist Gideon Mendel photographs individuals standing amid the ruins of their homes in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Altadena, creating portraits that quietly confront loss, resilience, and shared vulnerability.
The film offers an intimate glimpse into Mendel’s ongoing Portraits in Ashes series, bearing witness to people from all walks of life who look directly back at the camera. In doing so, devastation is transformed into an act of presence, remembrance, and human connection, extending far beyond the photographer’s lens.
A deeply personal and heartfelt project, Portrait in Ashes reflects on how disaster reshapes lives and landscapes, while affirming dignity, solidarity, and humanity in moments of profound upheaval.
Director By Alexander Alexandrov, Produced by Katja Kulenkampff and Edited by Mo Stoebe
Director By Alexander Alexandrov, Produced by Katja Kulenkampff and Edited by Mo Stoebe