Nikon Ambassador and National Geographic magazine photographer Ami Vitale has traveled to more than 100 countries, bearing witness not only to violence and conflict but also to surreal beauty and the enduring power of the human spirit. Over the years, Ami has lived in mud huts and war zones, contracted malaria, and even donned a panda suit—staying true to her belief in the importance of “living the story.”
In 2009, after documenting the transport and release of one of the world’s last northern white rhinos, Ami shifted her focus to today’s most compelling wildlife and environmental stories. InStyle magazine named her one of 50 Badass Women, a series celebrating women who show up, speak up, and get things done. She appeared alongside incredible figures such as Jane Goodall, Christiane Amanpour, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
She has been named Magazine Photographer of the Year in the International Photographer of the Year prize, received the Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding Reporting, and was honored by the National Press Photographers Association. She is also a six-time recipient of World Press Photo awards, including 1st Prize for her 2018 National Geographic story about a Kenyan community protecting elephants.
Ami recently published a best-selling book, Panda Love, exploring the secret lives of pandas. She was featured in Mission Cover Shot on the National Geographic Channel and another documentary series set in Madagascar (Over the Islands of Africa). She lectures globally for the National Geographic LIVE series and conducts workshops across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Her work has been commissioned by nearly every major international publication and exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide. She is a founding member of Ripple Effect Images, an organization of renowned female scientists, writers, photographers, and filmmakers dedicated to telling stories that highlight the challenges faced by women in developing countries and the programs that offer solutions. She also serves on the Photojournalism Advisory Council for the Alexia Foundation.
Currently based in Montana, Ami Vitale continues to work as a contract photographer for National Geographic magazine and teaches workshops around the world.
In 2009, after documenting the transport and release of one of the world’s last northern white rhinos, Ami shifted her focus to today’s most compelling wildlife and environmental stories. InStyle magazine named her one of 50 Badass Women, a series celebrating women who show up, speak up, and get things done. She appeared alongside incredible figures such as Jane Goodall, Christiane Amanpour, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
She has been named Magazine Photographer of the Year in the International Photographer of the Year prize, received the Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding Reporting, and was honored by the National Press Photographers Association. She is also a six-time recipient of World Press Photo awards, including 1st Prize for her 2018 National Geographic story about a Kenyan community protecting elephants.
Ami recently published a best-selling book, Panda Love, exploring the secret lives of pandas. She was featured in Mission Cover Shot on the National Geographic Channel and another documentary series set in Madagascar (Over the Islands of Africa). She lectures globally for the National Geographic LIVE series and conducts workshops across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Her work has been commissioned by nearly every major international publication and exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide. She is a founding member of Ripple Effect Images, an organization of renowned female scientists, writers, photographers, and filmmakers dedicated to telling stories that highlight the challenges faced by women in developing countries and the programs that offer solutions. She also serves on the Photojournalism Advisory Council for the Alexia Foundation.
Currently based in Montana, Ami Vitale continues to work as a contract photographer for National Geographic magazine and teaches workshops around the world.