Andrew Johnson

Andrew (b. 1987) is a documentary photographer, videographer and multimedia journalist based between his native Canada and adopted Brazil.

After a four-year stint in the Canadian army followed by a contract as a bartender on a Disney cruise ship, Andrew discovered visual storytelling as a tool for understanding and engaging with the world during two years backpacking Southeast Asia, which ended in a near-death experience on the Mekong River. University studies in political science shifted to print and visual journalism in Canadian technical schools while working as a stringer for Canadian newspapers. In 2016, Andrew based himself in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where he began work on long-term documentary projects while teaching English and freelancing for local and international press and NGOs.

Andrew is interested in stories that explore the legacies of capitalism and neoliberalism, focusing on people and communities resisting atomization, commodification, exploitation and those offering alternatives. Through his work, Andrew seeks to explore urgent issues that are relevant beyond borders and the immediate news cycle. He has contributed his work to the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Folha de São Paulo and O Estadão, while NGO clients include Mongabay, Amazon Watch and the Articulação dos Povos Indígenas do Brasil (APIB). In addition to being exhibited publicly both in Canada and Brazil, his work has been recognized by the International Photography Awards and the News Photographer's Association of Canada.

Andrew is a native English speaker as well as being fluent in Brazilian Portuguese.

He is currently based in Toronto, Canada, and is available for assignments.