In an era where some say social media is tearing people apart, a Montclair man argues that photography is bringing everyone together.

Ed Kashi is a photographer with National Geographic Explorer. His life's work has taken him around the world and close to home.

"In my work, I'm looking to have an impact on the world not just produce images that are beautiful,” Kashi says.

Some of his proudest work is teaching photo camps in places like Jordan, Uganda, India and even in New Jersey. Over the past 20 years, 3,000 students, mostly teenagers, have been taught to take photographs – more than 2.5 million around the world.

"You know, where you have a 14-, 15-, 16-year-old kid. Maybe they've never picked up a camera before. And they make these magical images,” Kashi says.

In the fall, National Geographic will release a compilation of some of those images in a book called “Photo Camp Stories.” It will include self-portraits by Newark natives Nijhae Wynn and America Navarrette.

Jacob Amaro was part of the Newark Photo Camp in 2018. Now 22, Amaro is studying to be a journalist at Rutgers Newark.

"When I think back to that class, it was a really transformative experience. It cemented my love for photography. My love for journalism." Amaro says.

“Photo Camp Stories” will be available in November. The book is filled with 250 images from 35 countries around the world.