Ami Vitale is an award-winning American photo journalist and documentary film maker whose photos have been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide. Ami’s work has taken her to over 94 countries where she’s experienced civil unrest and violence but also captured in her photographs the beauty and unbroken spirit of the human race. Her wildlife stories from around the world are compelling as they beautifully capture the connection between humans and animals.

She’s been featured in almost all top international publications in the world and has received numerous awards for her cultural documentation. Currently based in Montana, Ami has been a featured speaker in over 20 countries.

You can see more of Ami’s work on her website and Instagram page. 

Ami Vitale
A herd of elephants cross a river at Loisaba Conservancy in Laikipia, northern Kenya. More than 800 elephants spend significant time her and the conservancy works to protect this important elephant migratory pathway. Elephants are excellent swimmers and if faced with a strong current, they will use their trunk as a snorkel and then march right across rivers 12 feet deep. Long ago people thought that ancestral elephants may have come out of the seas. A popular myth was that their trunk evolved as a sort of snorkel in more aquatic settings.
A herd of elephants cross a river at Loisaba Conservancy in Laikipia, northern Kenya. More than 800 elephants spend significant time her and the conservancy works to protect this important elephant migratory pathway. Elephants are excellent swimmers and if faced with a strong current, they will use their trunk as a snorkel and then march right across rivers 12 feet deep. Long ago people thought that ancestral elephants may have come out of the seas. A popular myth was that their trunk evolved as a sort of snorkel in more aquatic settings.
Ami Vitale
Lekupania receives a kiss from orphaned giraffe at Sarara Camp (@sararacamp). These giraffe were orphaned but soon will be rehabilitated and returned to the wild. The sanctuary sits on the 850,000-acre Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy and is owned by the Samburu community.
Lekupania receives a kiss from orphaned giraffe at Sarara Camp (@sararacamp). These giraffe were orphaned but soon will be rehabilitated and returned to the wild. The sanctuary sits on the 850,000-acre Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy and is owned by the Samburu community.
Ami Vitale
Ye Ye, a 16-year-old giant panda, lounges in a wild enclosure at a conservation center in Wolong Nature Reserve. Her name, whose characters represent Japan and China, celebrates the friendship between the two nations. Ye Ye’s cub Hua Yan (Pretty Girl) is being trained for release into the wild.
Ye Ye, a 16-year-old giant panda, lounges in a wild enclosure at a conservation center in Wolong Nature Reserve. Her name, whose characters represent Japan and China, celebrates the friendship between the two nations. Ye Ye’s cub Hua Yan (Pretty Girl) is being trained for release into the wild.
Ami Vitale
Ami Vitale at work! She’s dressed as a panda to be able to take photographs of the magnificent creatures from close quarters at the Wolong Nature Reserve managed by the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Sichuan Province.
Ami Vitale at work! She’s dressed as a panda to be able to take photographs of the magnificent creatures from close quarters at the Wolong Nature Reserve managed by the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Sichuan Province.
Ami Vitale
A panda keeper does a health check up on the cub of giant panda Xi Mei at the Wolong Nature Reserve managed by the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Sichuan Province.
A panda keeper does a health check up on the cub of giant panda Xi Mei at the Wolong Nature Reserve managed by the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda in Sichuan Province.
Ami Vitale
Yusuf, a keeper at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy sleeps among orphaned baby rhinos at Lewa wildlife conservancy in Kenya.
Yusuf, a keeper at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy sleeps among orphaned baby rhinos at Lewa wildlife conservancy in Kenya.
Ami Vitale
A group of Samburu warriors see a rhino for the first time at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Much needed attention has been focused on the plight of wildlife and the conflict between heavily armed poachers and increasingly militarised wildlife rangers, but very little has been said about the indigenous communities on the frontlines of the poaching wars and the incredible work they do to protect these animals. These communities hold the key to saving Africa's great animals.
A group of Samburu warriors see a rhino for the first time at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Much needed attention has been focused on the plight of wildlife and the conflict between heavily armed poachers and increasingly militarised wildlife rangers, but very little has been said about the indigenous communities on the frontlines of the poaching wars and the incredible work they do to protect these animals. These communities hold the key to saving Africa's great animals.
Ami Vitale
Kamara is nuzzled by 18-month-old black rhino Kilifi at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. Kamara spends 12 hours every day caring for this and two other baby rhinos.
Kamara is nuzzled by 18-month-old black rhino Kilifi at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. Kamara spends 12 hours every day caring for this and two other baby rhinos.
Photo journalist Ami Vitale