Joshua Mikhaiel

A self-taught photographer who began shooting full time at the ripe age of 23, Joshua Mikhaiel has grown most as a photographer when he stopped comparing himself to others, he says. Since then, he’s been able to tap into his photojournalistic style. “I definitely gravitate toward telling stories in a less obvious way where possible,” says Mikhaiel, who shoots only digitally. “Using shadows instead of light, focusing on hands instead of faces—whatever I can do to find a unique way to tell the same story, I’m there.”