Join National Geographic photographer, filmmaker, writer and explorer
Ami Vitale, May 20th at 7 PM at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, MT as she takes us on an odyssey, sharing powerful stories that drive change and inspire us all to push boundaries and have impact in our daily lives. Tickets for this FREE event are available here.

Ami 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. She has lived in mud huts and war zones, contracted malaria, and donned a panda suit— keeping true to her belief in the importance of “living the story.”

Ami will share her work to illustrate personal stories about individuals who, against all odds, are changing the destiny of the wildlife they coexist with. They remind us that we are a part of a complex world created over millions of years, and the survival of all species is intertwined with our own.

Ami is an Ambassador for Nikon, a photographer and filmmaker with National Geographic and executive officer of Vital Impacts, a non profit she started that supports artists, storytellers and grassroots organizations working to protect the environment. She has documented wildlife and poaching in Africa, covered human-wildlife conflict, and concentrated on efforts to save the northern white rhino and reintroduce pandas to the wild. She is a six-time recipient of World Press Photos and published a best-selling book, Panda Love, on the secret lives of pandas. She lectures for the National Geographic LIVE series, and she frequently gives workshops around the world.

After more than a decade covering conflict, she couldn’t help but notice that the less sensational—but equally true— stories were often not getting told: the wedding happening around the corner from the revolution, triumphs amidst seemingly endless devastation. As a result, she re-committed herself to seeking out the stories within and around “the story,” and remaining independent, so that she would have the freedom to shoot what she believed deserved to be shared. Her belief that “you can’t talk about humanity without talking about nature” led her to chronicle her journey from documenting warzones to telling some of the most compelling wildlife and environmental stories of our time, where individuals are making a profound difference in the future of their communities and this planet.

What we’ll cover:
Ami’s transition from conflict photographer to her passion for photographing wildlife and environmental causes. How she uses storytelling to raise awareness for the animals and communities she photographs. How you use your own photography to create change.