Meeting with Ami Vitale
Photographer and filmmaker Ami Vitale will share her personal odyssey—from documenting the heartbreaking realities of war to witnessing the inspiring power of individuals to create change. Her award-winning work illuminates the unsung heroes and communities striving to protect wildlife and live in harmony with the natural world.
Hear her awe-inspiring accounts of some of the most compelling wildlife and environmental stories of our time, where individuals are making a profound impact on the future of their communities and the planet. Her talk will remind us how fragile and interconnected our world is, and she delivers an extraordinary message about the deep, soul-saving importance of staying connected to the wild.
Take advantage of this event to plan a weekend in Siena and fully experience the exhibitions and events of the Siena Awards Festival.
Info
Location: Teatro dei Rinnovati |
Piazza del Campo, 1 – Siena
Date: 26 september 2025
Time: 3:30 pm
Photographer Biography: 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.
