Testament ’22 is Byron Smith’s powerful debut monograph documenting his 10,000-mile photographic odyssey through Ukraine’s first year under Russia’s unprovoked invasion. Inspired by Taras Shevchenko’s literary legacy, Smith captures an intimate yet varied portrait of a nation at war.

His unflinching images, which have won several awards, bear witness to the staggering human cost—grieving mothers, shattered communities amid ruin—while also celebrating Ukraine’s tenacious spirit resilient against unspeakable tragedy. From Kyiv’s devastated suburbs to newly liberated villages, Smith’s hauntingly beautiful black and white and color photographs ensure these sacrifices won’t be forgotten.

Contributing to the overwhelming evidence of Russian crimes, these profoundly moving portraits feature texts by Kyiv Independent reporter Igor Kossov, with whom Smith collaborated on frontline dispatches. An essential reminder that the costs extend far beyond the battlefield, Testament ’22 gives voice to the Ukrainians’ resilience and to their fight for their beloved homeland.

Byron Smith is an American freelance photographer currently based in Athens, Greece. He is a part of the 2023-2024 cohort of VII Photo Agency's prestigious Mentor Program. He spent the past decade working as a photojournalist in NYC. His work has been published in numerous reputable publications such as The New York Times, Getty Images, CNN, Le Monde, Libération, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, and The Wall Street Journal. Smith's work has been recognized through numerous awards and fellowships.

In 2023, he was selected for the VII Mentorship Program's 2023-24 cohort. A selection of his work in Ukraine from 2022 was exhibited at the U.S. Capitol and Oxford University in 2023, garnering significant recognition for its depiction of the ongoing conflict. Smith was recently named a 2023 Royal Photographic Society Documentary Photography Award Winner. He has exhibited work in New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Oxford, Glasgow, Athens, Greece, Budapest, Hamburg, and Helsinki.

Overall, Smith's body of work reflects his passion and commitment to traditional methods of documentary photojournalism and his dedication to illuminating the human experience through his lens as closely as possible.