Wild Hope

Feb. 1, 2023

Nikon Ambassador and National Geographic magazine photographer and filmmaker Ami Vitale has lived in mud huts and war zones, contracted malaria, and donned a panda suit—all in keeping with her philosophy of “living the story.” She has traveled 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. Vitale’s work is exhibited worldwide in museums, galleries, and private collections. She has garnered prestigious awards including six 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.

She is the founder and Executive Director of Vital Impacts whose mission is to support grassroots organizations who are protecting people, wildlife and habitats. She is also a founding member of Ripple Effect Images, a collective of scientists, writers, photographers and filmmakers who document challenges facing women and girls in developing countries. She is a member of the Photographers Advisory Board for National Geographic magazine and also a member of the Executive Advisory Committee of the Alexia Foundations Photojournalism Advisory Board. Based in Montana, Vitale is a contract photographer with National Geographic em>magazine and frequently gives talks and workshops throughout the world. She is also the author of Panda Love: The Secret Lives of Pandas.