There is extensive scholarship on war photography, but little is known about relationship between photography and peace. Imaging Peace conducted a review of visual peacebuilding projects, practices, ethics and impact across 30 countries and undertook six indepth case studies and action research projects. They were chosen for the diversity of their contexts, from post-genocide healing to frozen conflict and ongoing violence, and of their approaches, from photo collectives and photovoice to community archives and therapeutic photography. Working closely with local partners, the research combined archival work, interviews, participant observation, photo-elicitation and participatory analysis.

The research shows that how peace is imaged shapes how it can be imagined. Images do not simply depict peace. Visual peace practices are generative, shaping the conditions in which peace becomes enacted and politically possible.. When peace is mostly pictured through the lens of war or thorough generic, abstract symbols this constrains our peace imaginaries. The project identifies six ways in which images and image-making can contribute to peace, from fostering healing and dialogue to making peace actors visible and navigating difference. It also shows that these effects are never automatic: they depend on intentional, context-sensitive practice. Imaging Peace was awarded the SSPP Impact Prize, featured in a major steet exhibition on one of London’s busiest throughfares and its practitioner guide has been accessed by NGOs, educators, visual producers and peacebuilders in more than 80 countries.