Category: Vital Impacts

Make It Better’s 2026 Eco Warriors

Posted on by Sophie

I’m incredibly honored to be featured in Better Magazine’s “2026 Eco Warriors,” recognizing individuals using storytelling, advocacy, science, and creativity to help protect our planet.

This recognition is especially meaningful because it’s shared alongside so many inspiring conservationists, photographers, educators, and environmental leaders whose work I deeply admire.

I’ve always believed storytelling has the power to build empathy, create connection, and inspire action. I’m grateful to continue using film and photography to share stories about conservation, community, and our relationship with the natural world.

Thank you to Better Magazine and to everyone who continues to support environmental storytelling and creative work rooted in hope and impact.

Ami Vitale named ‘Women photographers working in wildlife and conservation you should follow.’

Posted on by Sophie

I’m honored to be featured in a recent article by Amateur Photographer highlighting women photographers working in wildlife and conservation. The feature celebrates photographers whose work is helping shape conversations around nature, conservation, and our relationship with the planet.

What makes this recognition especially meaningful is being included alongside so many extraordinary women photographers I know, admire, and deeply respect. Many of these photographers have also generously contributed their imagery to Vital Impacts print sale initiatives, helping raise critical support for conservation, storytelling, and emerging photographers around the world.

I have always believed that photography has the power to build empathy, create connection, and inspire action. It is incredibly moving to see so many women using visual storytelling to challenge perspectives, celebrate the beauty of our world, and advocate for wildlife, communities, and the future of our planet.

The article highlights a diverse group of photographers working across wildlife, environmental storytelling, conservation photojournalism, and advocacy. Each of them brings a unique perspective and voice to this work, and I encourage you to explore the full article and spend time with their incredible imagery.

I’m deeply grateful to be part of this community and thankful to everyone who continues to support storytelling as a force for hope, connection, and meaningful change.

Help Vital Impacts Meet the Match

Posted on by Ami Vitale

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. Stories can be transformative and galvanize the meaningful actions necessary for enduring change.

What started as a vision to unite artists and storytellers in support of grassroots conservation and impactful environmental visual storytelling has grown into a global movement. Vital Impacts, recognizes the crucial role of storytelling in conservation.  Our ethos is simple yet profound: to unite artists and storytellers in a shared mission of safeguarding our planet. Through three core programs, we build connections between indigenous peoples, communities, and local organizations, facilitating the sharing of compelling narratives on climate change resilience and the preservation of wildlife and critical habitats.

Right now, you can support this vital work. Make It Better Foundation has generously offered to match all donations to Vital Impacts, up to $5,000, effectively doubling our impact in order to protect endangered habitats and empower the storytellers who amplify their essential stories. Through these stories, we ignite passion, spark change, and drive the collective action needed to make a real and lasting impact.  

I encourage you to read Mark’s wonderful story and follow along to gain more insight on how a single image can change the world and the significant impact photography can have in supporting conservation efforts. Visit Vital Impacts to donate.

Ami Named Royal Photographic Society Honorary Fellow

Posted on by Eileen Mignoni

I am honored to share that I have been named an honorary fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, alongside such photographic luminaries as James Balog, James Friend, Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen, Michelle Sank, Marilyn Nance, Yasmine Crawford, and William Kentridge. 

This prestigious recognition is part of an initiative that celebrates the unique power of photography to challenge societal perceptions and bring complex, urgent issues into sharper focus. I grateful for this platform that will provide me more opportunities to further use photography spark change, both individually and through my non-profit Vital Impacts. 

My Earth Essence Presets with Luminar Neo

Posted on by Eileen Mignoni

I’m excited to announce my partnership with Luminar Neo. We have launched an exclusive Earth Essence Presets Collection that captures the essence of classic darkroom techniques. These presets are crafted to help you make subtle, yet powerful enhancements to your portrait, landscape, and wildlife photography.

Guided by a strong commitment to ethical standards, my image processing ensures that changes in color, density, contrast, and saturation never alter or obscure the original content of the photograph.

With each purchase of these presets, you’ll enhance your own photography and support Vital Impacts, our non-profit dedicated to empowering the next generation of environmental photographers.

These before-and-after images are an example of the presets in action. They show the orphaned elephants at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. This incredible organization, run by the Samburu community, rescues, rehabilitates, and reintroduces orphaned elephant calves to the wild. Discover more and get involved by following Reteti and Sarara Foundation.

I’m also sharing some favorite photos from India as well as my long-term work with scientists successfully bringing China’s pandas back from extinction.

Join me in Antarctica!

Posted on by Ami Vitale

Embark on an unforgettable journey to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia to learn the art of visual storytelling!

Any number of ships can take you to Antarctica. And the incredible landscape, the wildlife, and Antarctica’s ethereal light – it will all be waiting for you regardless.  But how you experience this wonderous place and how deeply it touches you will depend in large part on who you travel with.

I am thrilled to announce that I will be partnering with Polar Latitudes to journey to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia inNovember 2024. This will be much more than just a travel experience, it’s a chance to immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of this icy wilderness while also becoming an ambassador for its preservation. I will be leading an Immersive Photography Program, curated by Polar Latitudes, and meticulously crafted to empower photographers with a profound love for nature to harness the power of visual storytelling. You’ll not only capture the mesmerizing landscapes and wildlife but also convey the urgency of protecting this remarkable ecosystem. 

Adding to the excitement, I’m thrilled to announce that we are giving away one spot to a female-identifying photographer or artist to join me on this unparalleled expedition. Applications are open until March 28! 

About this Antarctic Photography Adventure 

The trip to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia begins November 1st in Ushuaia and returns on November 21st, 2024. I am thrilled to partner with Polar Latitudes, who are renowned for their expertise in small-ship Antarctic expeditions. This is a wildlife lover’s dream journey!  With beaches covered in fur seals, elephant seals, and hundreds of thousands of penguins, it’s one of the most jaw-dropping nature scenes you will ever experience. It’s an experience that promises to be both humbling and exhilarating. 

Over the course of our 22-day expedition, we will have small groups and I’ll be offering on-the-ground photography guidance and conducting personalized photo reviews. Together, we’ll not only capture remarkable images but also cultivate a deeper understanding of how visual storytelling can serve as a tool for conservation and preservation.

This will be an environment where creativity thrives. I’m eagerly looking forward to providing feedback to both aspiring and seasoned visual artists as they expand their skills and utilize photography as a tool for planetary conservation. 

If you book your space now, you can  secure a spot  and enjoy a 10% off Early Bird pricing special, plus an additional 5% if paid in full here.  

Win a trip to Antartica!

This month in honor of international Women’s Day, Vital Impacts, Polar Latitudes and I are teaming up to  launch a contest for one aspiring or experienced female-identifying photographer to accompany me on this trip. To enter, contestants are asked to tag @polarlatitudes, @amivitale and @vital.impacts on social media, share one photo and either post a video or send an essay about how they’ll use the experience to create a positive impact. The deadline to enter is March 28. 

The trip is valued at $28,000 and this package includes one roundtrip economy class airfare ticket to Ushuaia, Argentina (up to $2,500), airport transfer, shipboard food and accommodation (a shared cabin with one female Vital Impacts team member), and more. In addition to training, workshops, and inspiration, this Antarctica trip offers a chance to become immersed in Vital Impacts, my women-led nonprofit that uses art and storytelling to support grassroots conservation. 

To apply and to find the contest rules and conditions, visit the Vital Impacts website. Or skip the contest and reserve your spot today.

Either way, I can’t wait to see you on the other side of the world! 

The Lucies to Honor Ami Vitale

Posted on by Eileen Mignoni

The Lucie Awards is the premiere annual event honoring the greatest achievements in photography. The photography community from around the globe pays tribute to the most outstanding people in the field. Each year, the Lucie Advisory Board nominates deserving individuals across a variety of categories. The goals of The Lucies are threefold: to honor master photographers, to discover and cultivate emerging photographic talent and to promote the appreciation of photography worldwide. Ami Vitale will be honored with the 2022 Humanitarian Award.

The Lucies will be held at Carnegie Hall on Oct. 25, 2022. Tickets are available at lucies.org.

Hat’s Off to You All!

Posted on by Eileen Mignoni

My heart is exploding with love and gratitude to all of you who made the Vital Impacts fundraiser for humanitarian aid a huge success. Thanks to the outpouring of support, the print initiative sold over $800,000 of iconic, fine art prints by some of the world’s most fascinating photographers. 

I am grateful for the generosity of my colleagues and friends who donated their work and to everyone who purchased and shared the campaign. 100% of profits from these sales will go to Direct Relief who are working to improve the health of the most vulnerable people around the world. 

Visit vitalimpacts.org and follow us on Instagram at @vital.impacts to learn more, including how to get involved.

Thank you to all the media who featured this campaign around the world, including CBS Evening News, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Financial Times, GEO, Stern, Afar, Forbes, My Modern Met, Vogue, Mongabay, Pop Photo, NBC Montana, Treehugger, Upworthyand more.

I also want to thank Canson Infinity for generously donating their paper and Paper & Ink Studio and The Print Space for their meticulous work printing the images.