@natgeo Celebrates 100 Million Followers
02 / 19 / 2019
Return to BlogWhen the National Geographic Instagram account, @natgeo, recently reached the milestone of 100 million followers, they celebrated by sharing albums of their most popular images from the account. Three of Ami Vitale’s photographs were included in these selections, which show the imagery that resonated most deeply with audiences worldwide.
Out of 20,000 photos that have been posted on their Instagram account, the photo of Sudan being comforted by his long time keeper Joseph elicited more reactions than all but one photo ever posted on their feed. The moment resonated across the globe and served as a powerful wake up call to tens of millions of people.
You can see all the galleries here.
You May Also Enjoy
Help Vital Impacts Meet the Match
I had the pleasure of speaking with the incredibly talented and thoughtful Mark Edward Harris from Make It Better Foundation about the power of a single image to impact our understanding of the world. At this critical moment for humanity, we cannot afford to feel overwhelmed or hope that someone else will address our challenges. [ … ]
İstanbul Photo Awards 2026 jury begins selection process
I’m honored to share that I’ve been included in the jury for the 2026 İstanbul Photo Awards, an international photography competition that brings together powerful visual storytelling from around the world. This year’s selection process highlights the incredible scale and diversity of the submissions, with thousands of images submitted across categories spanning news, nature, sports, [ … ]
Revitalizing Japan’s coastal ecosystems through satoumi, science & school
I’m honored to have my photographs featured in this National Geographic story exploring efforts to revitalize Japan’s coastal ecosystems through community-led conservation and restoration. The article highlights the growing movement to restore marine environments that have long supported both biodiversity and coastal communities. From restoring seaweed forests and marine habitats to reconnecting people with traditional [ … ]
Nurturing Japan’s next generation of coastal protectors
I’m honored to have my photographs featured in this National Geographic story highlighting the next generation of coastal stewards working to protect Japan’s marine ecosystems and cultural connections to the sea. The piece explores how young people across coastal communities in Japan are learning through hands-on conservation, environmental education, and traditional knowledge to better understand [ … ]

