About

About me

I’m a Peace Ambassador with the Institute for Economics & Peace, dedicated to telling the story of Positive Peace through documentary photography and visual storytelling. My work focuses on bringing the abstract principles of peacebuilding to life through the lens—showing what peace looks like in real communities, through real people.

Before this journey, I served as a U.S. Government contractor for nearly 20 years. After leaving government service, I poured my life savings into starting my business centered around nonprofit work, city cultural events and  later founded my nonprofit ARAC International, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization committed to peacebuilding and conflict prevention. Today, I continue that mission in the nonprofit world as a data and documentary journalist focused on Positive Peace and Human Rights.

My approach to photography is built around the Institute’s 8 Pillars of Positive Peace: Well-functioning Government, Sound Business Environment, Equitable Distribution of Resources, Free Flow of Information, Good Relations with Neighbors, High Levels of Human Capital, Acceptance of the Rights of Others, and Low Levels of Corruption. While all eight guide my work, I place special emphasis on four: Good Relations with Neighbors, Acceptance of the Rights of Others, Free Flow of Information, and High Levels of Human Capital. These pillars are not only themes in my photography, they’re the structure around which I frame visual stories.

I aim to highlight how these pillars show up in daily life, often in subtle, quiet ways that are easy to overlook. A moment of kindness between neighbors. A protest for human rights. A classroom filled with eager minds. A street mural telling hard truths. Or a parade promoting unity and social cohesion. These scenes don’t just tell stories, they show us the building blocks of sustainable peace.

Through my nonprofit, I serve as a global security analyst and independent researcher, working with other civil society organizations on conflict prevention strategies and resiliency frameworks to support sustainable peace and human rights. 

I’m a proud member of the National Press Photographer’s Association, and my work has been published in outlets such as Train Magazine, Pix11, NY1, USA Today, DragonDoor Publications, Fitness Trainer Magazine, ABC News, and Maxim.

I started out photographing sports and fitness, later expanding into fashion, portraiture, political photography, and lifestyle video content for media outlets and local news. Today, I balance that experience with nonprofit storytelling, client work, and photojournalism—each informing the other.

One of my most personal projects is The Haus of New York Urban Art—also known as Urban Art by Nuri (UABN). Through it, I explore the intersection of art, culture, and daily life in the city I love through the lens of Positive Peace. Bringing together other creatives and young talent from all walks of life, UABN is a way to celebrate creativity, resilience, and the raw beauty of urban experience. It’s a reminder that there is meaning and power in the world around us—if we’re willing to look closely. 

Edited by Alla Bevzenko, Sr.  Editor New York City Art, Sports, & Entertainment

Contact , Social Media, & Sites

Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Flickr / Tumblr

National Press Photographers Association  NPPA.ORG