Photographer Ami Vitale on Following Your Heart and Documenting Stories of Hope
Photographer Ami Vitale documents endangered animals and the special bonds they share with their caretakers. This week on the , we interview Ami Vitale and get a behind-the-scenes look at how she captured some of her most stunning work. You may have...
Photographer Ami Vitale documents endangered animals and the special bonds they share with their caretakers. This week on the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast, we interview Ami Vitale and get a behind-the-scenes look at how she captured some of her most stunning work.
You may have seen one of her more famous images featured on the front cover of National Geographic Magazine following the death of Sudan, the world's last male Northern White Rhino, or her coverage of the rescue operation to save a stranded community of endangered Rothschild Giraffes with a raft. In our chat, Ami Vitale answers your listener questions and delves into how she went from documenting violence in conflict zones to shedding light on stories of hope in wildlife conservation.
This episode is sponsored by Canvy, a service that allows you to visualize your artwork in realistic spaces. With multiple plans offered, sign up now and see if Canvy is right for you.
This episode is also sponsored by stamps.com, a service that lets you compare rates, print labels, and access exclusive discounts on UPS and USPS services all year long. Head on over to stamps.com and sign up with promo code "POD" which includes a four-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale.
Follow Ami Vitale's work on her website, Instagram, and Facebook.
Did you know that we're on YouTube? Watch your favorite episode now!
Follow us on Instagram to see some of the visuals we talked about in today's episode.
We want to hear from you! Leave us a listener voicemail and subscribe to our newsletter so you can submit questions for upcoming interviews. You'll find everything on podcast.mymodernmet.com.
Want to support the artists we feature and the podcast? Check out books by our guests on the Top Artist Bookstore.
My Modern Met Store is offering a special discount for Top Artist listeners. Get a 10% discount on our entire curated selection of creative products when you enter the code TOPARTIST10 at checkout.
Read more about Ami Vitale's work and the projects we discuss:
100 of the World's Top Photographers Use Their Art to Help The Environment [Interview]
Giraffes Left Stranded by Flooding in Kenya Are Dramatically Rescued by a Special Barge
Photographer Wears Panda Suit Disguise to Snap Candid Pictures of Them in Nature
Ami Vitale
Filmmaker and Photographer
Nikon Ambassador and National Geographic magazine photographer 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. Recently, 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 attempts 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 multiple 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 Photographer's Association. She is 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 and donate that media to the organizations to assist in fundraising. She is chair of the Photographers Advisory Board for National Geographic magazine photographers and also a member of the Executive Advisory Committee of the Alexia Foundation's Photojournalism Advisory Board. Based in Montana, Vitale is a contract photographer with National Geographic magazine and frequen… Read More
Listen On
Featured Episodes
Artist Swoon on Filling the Creative Well and Giving Back
Artist Caledonia Curry, aka Swoon, is best known for her signature wheatpaste and cut-paper installations. This week on the , we interview Swoon about her career as an anonymous street artist and her community building projects.
Architect Craig Dykers of Snøhetta on Transdisciplinary Design and Cl…
Architect Craig Dykers is the co-founder of Snøhetta, an international design collective whose transdisciplinary approach and emphasis on diversity have contributed to a deep portfolio of visually remarkable and environmentally thoughtful work.
Conservation Photographer Cristina Mittermeier on Her Life-Saving Wor…
Conservation photographer Cristina Mittermeier has dedicated her career to capturing the incredible life in our ocean. In addition to capturing beautiful images, she uses her work to make a real impact. In this episode, we chat with Cristina about her …