When Tim was 16, he worked as a commercial fisherman in Alaska. After a few brushes with death, he switched to what he figured would be a safer career option: photography. Thing is, Tim’s chosen subjects are people living in conflict areas like Liberia and Congo. He’s such an expert in these areas that VICE founder Suroosh Alvi took him along to film what became The VICE Guide to Congo.

Here’s an intimate look at how Tim produces beautiful photographs in these troubled countries while balancing his more “normal” life back home in New York City.