ABOUT

Ton Koene (1963) holds a degree in Humanitarian practice from Oxford University. After graduation, he worked for sixteen years (1989-2006) for Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), primarily as Head of Mission in twelve conflict areas including Afghanistan, Somalia, Bosnia, Chechnya, Angola and Sudan. He was responsible for all humanitarian operations in these countries.

Koene found himself increasingly drawn to photography and missed the creativity in the humanitarian world. In Februray 2006, he resigned from MSF and began working as a freelance photojournalist. He continued travelling to (post) conflict countries, exchanging the syringe for a camera.

His photo documentaries have covered such topics as prostitution in Nigera, coal mining in Bulgaria, malnutrition in Somalia, Genocide in Darfur and the Inuits of the North Pole. His humanity has always been the main focus of his features.

Koene's photo's have been published in many international magazines and newspapers and his photo archives are represeneted by agencies over the world. Since starting as a professional photographer, Koene has produced five photo books and one textbook (about how to survice in dangerous countries).

Koene is an autodidact photographer. In his opinion, a keen eye, a passion for photography and knowing how to deal with people are the most important ingredients for success - technique is overrated.

Preferring to keep his equipment to a minimum, he works exclusively with a Canon 5D and a 24-70 mm Canon lens.

Since Jan 2010, he is based in Afghanistan as a freelance photographer for the leading Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant. 

In 2011, Koene won the Zilveren Camera (3 th price foreign news from Pakistan)

In Jan 2012, six years after starting as a professional photographerm Koene won the World Press Photo (2nd price portrait) with this series of portraits of Afghan police recruits.

His work is represented by several agencies: