Ami Vitale
National Geographic Magazine Photographer and filmmaker
Ami Vitale has travelled to more than 100 countries, bearing witness not only to violence and conflict, but also to surreal beauty and to the enduring power of the human spirit. She has turned her lens to compelling wildlife stories, such as returning critically endangered captive-born species, like the giant pandas, back to the wild, and efforts to save the last living northern white rhinos from extinction. She has garnered prestigious awards including 6 prizes from World Press Photo, the International Photographer of the Year prize, and the Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding Reporting. She has also been named Magazine Photographer of the Year by the National Press Photographers Association. Executive Director of Vital Impacts, she is also a founding member of Ripple Effect Images, who document challenges facing women and girls in developing countries. Based in Montana, Ami is a contract photographer with National Geographic Magazine (and is also chair of its Photographers Advisory Board), and frequently gives inspiring talks and workshops throughout the world.