In the Quiet Heart

PHOTOGRAPHY

May 12

In the Quiet Heart is photographer Amaan Ali’s personal take on summer camp — not just the fun and games, but the quieter moments that often go unnoticed. His images are tender and observant, capturing kids on the edges: lost in thought, drifting away from the crowd. There’s a stillness to them that lingers — a quiet honesty that feels rare and real.

Photography Amaan Ali

Growing up, I imagined summer camps as spaces filled with joy and belonging — shaped by the films I watched and stories I heard. But being there in person, especially as the only Indian among 130 predominantly French teens and staff, I encountered a more layered atmosphere. Between the organised fun and group activities, I noticed moments of quiet detachment — kids lingering by themselves, gazing out of windows, or caught in their own thoughts during games.

What struck me most was the contrast between the camp’s promise of connection and activities like rifle shooting and laser tag — where words like “kill” echoed casually, a holdover from the origins of camps as spaces meant to ‘toughen up’ boys. It made me reflect on how, even today, these rituals of play and power subtly shape young people’s experiences.

**“In the Quiet Heart explores these overlooked emotional landscapes — where solitude and introspection quietly exist alongside collective joy.”**

Amaan Ali

About Amaan

Amaan Ali is a documentary photographer and filmmaker based in London. His projects delve into environmental crises, socio-political issues, and the intricacies of life across borders.

His work has been featured in prominent international publications, including The Guardian, BBC, CNN, Earth Photo, and CIWEM. His exhibitions have spanned globally, with showcases at the Royal Geographical Society (London), Officine Fotografiche (Italy), The Reference (Seoul), and MMX Gallery (London), among others.

Ali’s work has earned several accolades, including the Young Environmental Photographer of the Year (EPOTY 2021) award by Nikon Europe. He has also been a finalist for the Earth Photo Award and received recognition from the Life Framer competition.

A recent MA in Photography program graduate at Kingston School of Art, Ali’s final project, Ruins of a Body, explored the life and struggles of Iranian activist Azamat Azhdari, combining documentary film techniques to illuminate themes of resistance and identity.

To see more of his work, visit his website or follow him on Instagram

Enjoyed this article?
Like ZERO.NINE on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram

In the Quiet Heart is photographer Amaan Ali’s personal take on summer camp — not just the fun and games, but the quieter moments that often go unnoticed. His images are tender and observant, capturing kids on the edges: lost in thought, drifting away from the crowd. There’s a stillness to them that lingers — a quiet honesty that feels rare and real.

Paradise

Paradise by Gian Marco Sanna is a haunting visual reflection on humanity's estrangement from nature. Through stark imagery and silence, the project explores our descent from harmony to destruction, questioning freedom, consumerism, and the illusion of progress as we drift further from the origins that once defined our existence.

Why Am I Sad

Why Am I Sad, published by Kehrer Verlag, is Dana Stirling’s moving photographic meditation on depression, memory, and healing. Through quiet still lifes and deeply personal reflections, Stirling invites readers into an honest exploration of mental health, where photography becomes both a question and a lifeline.

Daydream

In this intimate exploration, Maria Harris-Sutton explores the delicate intersection of the material and spiritual worlds. Her photographic series, Daydream, captures the ethereal space between these realms, offering a personal reflection on memory, spirituality, and the elusive moments that shape our understanding of self and connection.

...but so many good things happened to you!

Through cutting, folding, and weaving old family photos, the artist explores how joy and trauma intertwine. This tactile reworking of images reveals how even our happiest memories are shaped—and sometimes undone—by what followed them.

Fencing Without Limits

In a quiet corner of North London, where tradition meets dedication, Salle Paul Fencing Club has been shaping champions and nurturing a love for the sport since the early 1930s. Stepping inside the club on a buzzing weeknight, the energy is palpable—fencers of all ages sparring across metallic pistes, blades clashing rhythmically in a blur of movement. At the centre of this hub is Pete Eames, the Club Secretary, who offered an insightful look into Salle Paul's unique philosophy, its deep history, and its inclusive approach to fencing.

Iron Curtain

In Iron Curtain, Polish photographer Natalia Kepesz travels from Estonia to Ukraine, tracing the emotional and psychological impact of war and proximity to Russia. Through powerful portraits and quiet observations, she captures a continent on edge—where young people adjust their dreams, elders recall past horrors, and borders quietly reshape everyday lives.

Faith in Transition

In a remote valley of Northwest Pakistan, Danish photographer Laura Riis documents a quiet transformation. Her project captures the personal and cultural complexities of religious conversion among the Kalash—a small indigenous community navigating the tension between ancestral traditions and Islam. Through tender, intimate portraits, Riis explores faith, identity, and the difficult choices faced by a new generation.

Elegos

Elias Yannas Tsigounis is the winner of the inaugural ZERO.NINE Award, selected at the Cluster Photography & Print Fair 2025. His series Elegos focuses on Elias’ understanding of death as a transformative experience, following his attempt to understand his father’s passing. Elias’ work is dreamlike and abstract, but there is a physicality to the construction of these images that set his work apart. We spoke to Elias about what his work means to him.

The Mark of a Terrible Sun

Photographer Ioanna Sakellaraki presents a poetic exploration of disaster and resilience in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Through haunting imagery of Melanesia, the project blurs the line between history and myth, destruction and survival. The Mark of a Terrible Sun will be on view at Hillvale Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, from April 10 to May 11.

Ghost Notes: Portrait of Punk in Derby

Ghost Notes: Portrait of Punk in Derby explores Derby’s enduring punk spirit through portraits and sound, capturing how this subculture shapes identity and community. Commissioned by FORMAT Festival, photographer Francis Augusto documents punk’s evolution—from radical roots to modern expressions—revealing a vibrant, intergenerational movement that continues to challenge norms and foster creativity in unexpected spaces.

In The Shadow We Bloom

‘In The Shadow We Bloom’ explores themes of isolation and anonymity within South Korea's urban landscapes. Capturing people, animals, and objects, the series juxtaposes curated social media personas with the impersonal nature of city life. Through this lens, photographer Aram Tanis examines the tension between self-representation and the reality of contemporary urban existence.

Augmented Unreality

Augmented Unreality is a photographic project exploring beauty in the age of artificial intelligence. It questions how technology shapes our aesthetic ideals, often distorting beauty into a superficial and homogenous concept. By blending AI-generated images with real models, photographer Norberto Pezzotta challenges the perception of beauty, advocating for inclusivity, authenticity, and the preservation of human diversity in a digital era.

People Things

Guided by childhood memories, family stories and literature, Henry Schulz embarks on a journey to reconnect with the past. With his camera, he searches for places that mirror his recollections of Germany—forgotten spaces between city and countryside where history lingers. His photographs capture the cycle of memory and change, revealing a world where the past is never truly lost, only waiting to be rediscovered.

Amtszeichen

Benjamin Sauer’s project Amtszeichen (Official Signs) explores the world of German bureaucracy—its rigid structures, endless corridors and paper-filled offices. Through his images, he captures both the necessity and absurdity of administration, revealing the people behind the system and the clichés that define it: flickering lights, official stamps and labyrinthine rules.

Shetland Pony Grand National

Joe Hart’s photography series immerses us in the world of the Shetland Pony Grand National, where young riders chase dreams with determination and grit. More than a competition, it’s a tradition built on passion, community, and ambition—showcasing the dedication of these athletes and the charitable spirit that drives the event forward.

Anemia

Photographer Valentina Luraghi explores the overlooked struggles of women battling this condition, often dismissed by medical professionals. Through intimate portraits, the series captures the exhaustion, anxiety, and resilience of those affected. Different women, united by their fragility and strength, reveal the silent weight of anemia and the fight to be heard.

In Between

What does it mean to be close to someone? In Between by Nora Obergeschwandner is a poignant exploration of intimacy, attachment and the invisible forces that shape our relationships. Through evocative analog portraits and raw personal narratives, this project unravels the delicate balance between longing and fear, inviting viewers to reflect on their own emotional landscapes and the spaces where connection truly unfolds.

River Where The Oak Trees Grow

Flowing through ancient woodlands and temperate rainforests, the River Dart is both a place of beauty and a fragile ecosystem under threat. Photographer Emma Stoner began documenting the river in 2022 as part of a commission. Since then, the project has evolved into a personal exploration of the Dart’s landscapes and communities, highlighting its natural beauty while raising awareness of the environmental challenges it faces.

Dear Father

Dear Father redefines the father-son dynamic through role reversal, exploring acceptance and identity. In this intimate project, Danilo Zocatelli paints his father’s face, shifting their long-established roles. By revisiting childhood spaces and challenging perceptions, the work becomes both a personal reconciliation and a powerful statement on transformation, memory, and understanding.

Je Est Une Autre

Through self-portraiture, photographer Foteini Zaglåra explores identity, memory, and transformation, blurring the line between reality and fiction. Combining performance, symbolism, and narrative storytelling, her work examines beauty standards, grief, and mythology. She offers a deeply introspective reflection on the self in an era shaped by digital personas and societal expectations.

Skate Like a Lass

Over two years, photographer Juliet Klottrup immersed herself in the evolving grassroots skateboarding communities of Northern England, documenting spaces that empower female, marginalised, and LGBTQI+ individuals. Through her lens, she captures how these collectives redefine skateboarding as a force for inclusivity, turning it into a platform for self-expression, freedom, and resilience while reshaping the sport’s cultural landscape.

The Land of Never After

Marco Vernaschi returns to ZERO.NINE with The Land of Never After, a striking exploration of Argentina’s cyclical struggles between past and present. Through Gaucho’s enduring spirit, Vernaschi challenges narratives of division and decline, offering a powerful meditation on identity, resistance, and the possibility of transformation in an era of ideological turmoil.

Kiss Of Death

In Kiss of Death, photographer Berber Theunissen offers an achingly intimate portrayal of her family’s battle with her partner’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Through evocative medium-format imagery, she captures the raw emotions of grief, fear, and resilience, revealing the fragility of life and the enduring strength of love amidst overwhelming uncertainty.

Antigua Walls

Photographer Kip Harris captures the vibrant interplay of architecture and colour in Antigua, Guatemala—a city shaped by its colonial heritage and strict preservation rules. These rules mandate a specific palette for building exteriors, ensuring harmony with the city's historic character. Through this lens, Harris explores how these limitations influence both the carefully composed elegance of upscale structures and the creative, ad hoc expressions often found in poorer neighbourhoods.

The Gift

‘The Gift’ explores the profound meanings hidden within a simple gesture—giving. Brought to life by Lith Li and Miss Patricia, the striking visuals embody themes of liberation, self-expression and societal expectations. It invites us to question: What truly matters in a gift? The photo series was beautifully captured by photographer Massimiliano Emme, adding depth to its powerful narrative.

Unseen City

Wayne Chin’s journey from isolation to creative expression highlights the transformative power of photography. Written by Paul Ryan, CEO of MYWORLD Creative Projects, this article explores the MYLONDON initiative, a remarkable project empowering individuals affected by homelessness to share their stories through the lens and reconnect with their communities.

The very powerful San Simón

In this insightful interview, Juan Brenner delves into his ongoing photographic exploration of San Simón, a complex figure embodying Guatemala's rich syncretic traditions. Brenner reflects on themes of identity, spirituality, and cultural resilience, sharing the challenges and revelations behind his deeply personal and visually arresting body of work.

Shadow Cast

Shadow Cast is the latest handmade, limited edition book by lens-based artist Pacifico Silano. For this series, Silano reworked vintage gay porn into evocative, melancholic typologies, transforming shadows into a visceral exploration of desire, marginality, and longing. Printed entirely on risograph, this XXL photobook is a tactile and experimental masterpiece, published by Loose Joints.

The Human Gaze

The Human Gaze challenges the entrenched patriarchal lens that objectifies the female form, redefining the act of looking as a reciprocal exchange between subjects. Through diverse photographic representations, this series by photographer Julia SH asserts the autonomy and humanity of naked bodies, dismantling the dominance of a gaze steeped in control to present the female form as whole, empowered, and self-defined.

Christian Trippe

In the Quiet Heart

“In the Quiet Heart explores these overlooked emotional landscapes — where solitude and introspection quietly exist alongside collective joy.”

READ NEXT

Paradise

**“In the Quiet Heart explores these overlooked emotional landscapes — where solitude and introspection quietly exist alongside collective joy.”**