Chernobyl – 40 Years Later: Exclusive Media Package
Since 1993, I have been documenting the long-term consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Over the course of this work, I have spent more than five months photographing inside the 30-kilometer exclusion zone or in its immediate vicinity—and I have ventured deeper into the destroyed reactor than any other documentary photographer. My early reports were commissioned by National Geographic, and I later continued the project independently, partly financed through crowdfunding campaigns and grants.
My most recent visit to Chernobyl was in late 2023. The images I created during that time remain unpublished.
In anticipation of the 40th anniversary of the disaster, on April 26, 2026, I plan to return to Chernobyl in December 2025. The goal is to document:
• the current state of the 30-kilometer zone,
• the living conditions of the few remaining returnees,
• the situation of the approximately 2,000 shift workers in the town of Chernobyl,
• the damage to the New Safe Confinement—the protective structure built over Reactor #4—following a Russian drone strike,
• the militarization of the Exclusion Zone by Ukrainian forces, as far as permitted by the Ukrainian government.
To fund this three-week trip, which is budgeted at approximately $25,000, I am offering an international media package: In several countries, I am seeking one major publication per country to contribute between $2,000 and $7,000, depending on each country’s population.
In return, each participating outlet will receive:
• the exclusive right to publish an unlimited number of photographs from the new material produced in 2023 and 2025 as part of a one-time publication marking the 40th anniversary of the reactor accident
• images from my extensive Chernobyl coverage (1993–2014), provided they are used in the same editorial context,
• usage rights for print and online editions, as well as on official social media channels and in self-promotional editorial formats,
• exclusivity limited to the territory of the participating country,
• with exclusivity ending on April 27, 2026.Participating publications will receive the new photographic material no later than March 15, 2026, to allow ample time for editorial planning and publication.
Once the participating media partners are confirmed, I will inform all parties of territorial agreements to avoid any overlap.
I remain open to questions, special editorial requests, and individual arrangements. I would be happy to discuss further details by phone or in person.
Sincerely,
Gerd Ludwig
studio@gerdludwig.com
+1 (323) 481-8383
Instagram: @gerdludwig