GREEN ROOM: LIVE WEBINAR
Summary of the Discussion
The Moderator kicked off the discussion with the introduction of our guest Ami Vitale, an Award-winning Photojournalist with the National Geographic Magazine. Ami Vitale talked about her early career as a Journalist and the need to be determined in the face of despair. She shared amazing stories of her project on Northern White Rhinos, a project that was first rejected but today has attracted attention from different parts of the world and the Save Giraffe Now project, both from Kenya. Ami also advised upcoming creatives on the need to gain different skills that will help them achieve their unique vision. She also expatiates on the importance to be ethical and unbiased in journalism.
LISTEN TO PODCAST
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
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.
ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Dr. Jason J. McSparren is an educator, researcher, and administrator with a PhD. in Global Governance and Human Security from Massachusetts Boston. He is also a Pre-Doctoral Fellow (2017-18) for the West African Research Association (WARA).
QUESTIONS AND ANSWER
Jason McSparren: Yes, please ask questions. We know that we've got a really interesting audience on this fantastic topic. Okay. So, let's see. We have a question here. Okay. This is actually a statement right here. We have a question from Paulina Ondarza. And she asks, this is she says this is so powerful and inspiring. Loved that you pointed out that often, the solutions or a second half of the story is left out. How do you interact? How do you turn a tragic story into one of hope doing it justice on both sides? So how would you approach that as a Storyteller as a Photojournalist?
Ami Vitale: Thank you. That's such a great question. I mean, I think that the immediate thing is to like feel the sense of despair when you, there are days I mean to be totally honest, there are days it's hard to get out of bed. Truly, you just look at the world like, oh my God, I don't even know, it's like one thing and the next thing and you just think it can't get any worse and then it does right? I literally sometimes just have to channel that despair into and I remember I mean, I have the privilege of meeting the people on the ground and I realized when you actually think about it, there is no other answer than having hope and then looking at the people the real heroes on the ground and I think you know there are answers and we have all the capacity to turn this around. If you think about the amount of money and things that we spend our money on and the things that we put our importance on. I mean if you channelled just a percentage of what we value in today's world and channelled it back into these causes and people in organizations and institutions, we got this and I think people are incredibly smart.
It's really about what we choose to prioritize and I think as storytellers, it's up to us to not just get overwhelmed by the despair and give up. We have to actively seek out the solution and I see this happening all the time, where journalists and writers will write these beautiful stories, but then we don't give people, we don't point them in the right direction, and I know that there was always this question when I was growing up and studying journalism. It was like don't cross that ethical line like you're not an activist and I'm I agree, you know, my role is not to be the activist. I'm the Storyteller, but I also think that it's not enough to just point out the challenges and leave it there. What next, like you got to point people to the institutions, give the viewpoint from all sides, a multitude of viewpoints is very important, but then you know, definitely it's okay to point out who's doing this work and give you know, give the credit where the credit's due.
I think often journalists kind of insert themselves inside the story and that's okay. But remember to make it about the people that, you're writing about does that kind of answer it
Jason McSparren: I would think so and actually just want to say that the way that you approach that answer kind of touched on a question that I was going to ask earlier and I just want to ask the question at respectively and make a comment because on your website, which is a really interesting website to take a look at amivitale.com. In one of the stories toward the end, Ami mentions that she uses her photography to amplify the voices of others and I think you just explain that whole sentiment in that motivation in your previous comment, but I just think that it's really important that because I saw in the comment, somebody's asking what is your motivation? And I think that is an element of your motivation. It's really you as you said early like to be behind the camera out of the spotlight and really amplifying and elevate the actions and the motivations in the voices of other people doing really interesting and important work.
Ami Vitale: Yeah, I think you get to a certain point the motivations is I've been really blessed to see all these different things in life and you get to a certain point where you just start to see the connections between all of humanity, all of the natural world and that it isn't just about you know, there's a sense of humility that I think comes after a certain time where you just filled with gratitude and wanting to make the connections, realizing that we're a blip on this planet, we are a blip in time. What we do right now matters not just for us but truly like you just get the sense of the internal nests of this planet, and I know that sounds lofty, but it's really true and I think nature reminds us of that. I mean you get out in nature and it's humbling. It's deeply humbling
Favourite Quote
“All stories of humanity are always related to the stories of the natural world, our environment.”
“The People, the indigenous people living with the wildlife...Honestly, they hold the key to saving what is left, they are the greatest protector of what is left.”
“Almost every story has been told in a variety of different ways, but only you can bring back your unique vision and your unique way and bring frankly, your unique access.”
Top Comment
Thank you Ami for sharing your vision, passion and inspiration- Michelle
Hello from Atlanta and a former Seattleite for 30 years. As another female photographer for 32 years, I have seen you speak at a Nat Geo lectures as well as watched your career grow. I wanted to tell you how much I have admired your perseverance. I really appreciate the conservation angle you have taken along with your statements against social media. Thank you!- Dani Weiss
Happy to be here and listen to Ami. Thanks Green Institute for this opportunity. Greetings from Ukraine! ❤- MissKKate
Hi, Ami from Munich! I admire your work so much.- Kristina Assenova
Nice content learnt some good things-Thomas James