Ismail Ferdous is a Bangladeshi photographer living in New York City and a member of Agence VU’ in Paris. He is a National Geographic Explorer and teaches at the International Center of Photography (ICP). Known for his powerful visual narratives, he is considered a leading voice in contemporary photography.
Over the past decade, some of his most influential works include a multidisciplinary project that addresses the devastating effects of the “fast fashion” industry on Bangladeshi workers through his documentary photos and films. His extensive work on migrations and refugees, spanning four continents, weaves narratives from Syria, Ukraine, Mexico, France, and Bangladesh. His notable work also includes stories on race and diversity, focusing on South Asians in the United States and stories on immigrant workers in the U.S. essential industry. He recently published Sea Beach, a photo book that explores culture, identity, memory, heritage, and belonging through the landscape of Cox’s Bazar.
Ferdous has received several awards, including the Leica Oskar Barnack Award, World Press Photo Award, National Geographic Grant, Getty Images Instagram Grant, and the Alexia Foundation Grant. He has exhibited his work in over 50 shows around the world, including at Les Rencontres d’Arles, World Press Photo, The San Diego Museum of Art, and Leica Galleries across Europe, Asia, and North America. His photos have been published in The New York Times Magazine, Washington Post, Geo Magazine, and M Le magazine du Monde.
