Photography

National Geographic Adventure Magazine Names 2009's Adventurers of the Year

2009-11-12

WASHINGTON (Nov. 12, 2009)--National Geographic Adventure magazine has selected 16 individuals as 2009's Adventurers of the Year, recognizing extraordinary achievements in exploration, conservation, action sports and humanitarian work. The honorees are featured in the December 2009/January 2010 "Best of Adventure" issue of the magazine (on newsstands Nov. 24). A robust and interactive Best of Adventure Web portal with more than 100 pages of content also highlights the 2009 Adventurer of the Year honorees with in-depth feature profiles, exhilarating videos and photo galleries. This year, for the first time, readers can cast a vote online for the honoree they believe best embodies the spirit of adventure. The winner will receive the first-ever "Adventurer of the Year: Readers' Choice Award." Voting, at www.ngadventure.com, begins today and ends Jan. 15, 2010. The Readers' Choice winner will be announced online on Jan. 19, 2010.

A group of 30 explorers, scientists, journalists and luminaries in the world of adventure served on an advisory board for the nomination of this year's top adventurers. The class of 2009 includes a BASE jumper, military veterans, an explorer, road trippers, a surfer, an astronaut, an ultra runner, an educator, a filmmaker and a scientist. They are:

-Khadija Bahram, supported by the aid organization International Rescue Committee, guided an educational program that stretches across five provinces in war-torn Afghanistan reaching more than 10,000 pupils, mostly girls, as well as disabled children.
-Stephen Bouey and Steven Shoppman crossed 69 countries and racked up more than 77,000 miles during a two-and-a-half-year road trip that circumnavigated the globe by road.
-Maya Gabeira, the only sponsored female big-wave surfer in the world, surfed the largest wave by a woman ever, landing a 45-footer at South Africa's Dungeons break.
-John Grunsfeld, known as NASA's "Hubble Repairman," braved hurtling space debris to pull off the repair to end all repairs: Working at zero gravity some 350 miles above the surface of the Earth, the astronaut restored sight to a half-blind Hubble.
-Marc Hoffmeister, an injured Iraq veteran, organized a team of climbers, including his wife, Gayle Hoffmeister, his friend, Bob Haines, and injured vets Jon Kuniholm, Matt Nyman and David Shebib, to attempt the dangerous West Buttress route of Denali in Alaska.
-Albert Yu-Min Lin organized a high-risk, high-stakes project into Mongolia's "Forbidden Zone" to search for the lost tomb of Genghis Kahn, using state-of-the art, cutting-edge mapping technologies.
-Dean Potter recorded the longest BASE jump ever -- 2 minutes and 50 seconds -- while wearing a wingsuit that allowed him to cover some 9,000 vertical feet and nearly four horizontal miles in distance.
-Louie Psihoyos assembled an "Ocean's 11"-esque crew to expose and end the annual slaughter of hundreds of dolphins for meat in Taiji, Japan, a story told in the award-winning film "The Cove."
-Diane Van Deren, survivor of a successful lobectomy, became the first and only woman to complete the Yukon Arctic Ultra, a 430-mile run across frozen tundra in the dead of winter.
-Katey Walter Anthony mounted an expedition to Siberia to seek out and measure beds of thawing permafrost -- a major source of methane gas, a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than CO2, yet is not factored into most climate change models.

The National Geographic Adventure Adventurers of the Year feature is presented and sponsored by South African Tourism, South African Airways and Budweiser American Ale.

About National Geographic Adventure
National Geographic Adventure, winner of four National Magazine Awards, is the fastest-growing magazine in the outdoor category and the ultimate guide to the adventure lifestyle. Published eight times a year, with a rate base of 625,000, National Geographic Adventure has
2.8 million readers. It is available by subscription (800-NGS-LINE) and on newsstands in the United States ($4.99) and Canada ($6.99). Its editorial mission supports National Geographic's mission to inspire people to care about the planet. The magazine's Web site is www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure.

Young talent recognized in global photography competition

2009-11-12

Airbus rewards young talent with the announcement of the winners of its international biodiversity photography competition, "See the Bigger Picture." Eight youngsters were chosen from 2,597 entries from 99 countries and took inspiration from surrounding nature for their unique shots.

The international competition, launched in July through a partnership between Airbus, National Geographic and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), part of the United Nations Environment Program, encouraged young people to engage in nature and consider the global loss of biodiversity. The competition was developed as part of Airbus' support for The Green Wave, a youth engagement program of the CBD to encourage young people to learn about the complexity of life on earth and its role in their future.

The winning images were captured by budding photographers from countries as widespread as Canada, Pakistan, Kenya and Estonia, and though divided by geography, all entrants showed a common love of photography, a passion for their natural environment and concern for their futures. Children of Airbus employees were also encouraged to enter and three internal prize winners were selected alongside the five global winners. A further 20 young people were awarded honorable mentions for their entries.

The eight talented winners will receive a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Washington, D.C., headquarters of National Geographic in December. The winners are Anthony Avellano, 12, from La Crescenta, California., USA; Chad Nelson, 12, from Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic; Alex Marttunen, 11, from Vantaa, Finland; Clemence Bonnefous, 8, from Tournefeuille, France; Vinzent Raintung, 8, from Halstenbek, Germany; Julia Kresse, 15, from Jork, Germany; Patryk Majchrzak, 16, from Ostrow Wielkopolski, Poland; Prerona Kundu, 11, from Lawrence, Kansas, USA.

Commenting on the competition, Tom Enders, CEO and president, Airbus, said: "The standard of entries from every corner of the world has been extremely impressive and a great reminder of the variety of living species we have around us. At Airbus, we are working with the CBD and using our global outreach to raise awareness of the need to preserve the variety of life on earth. Acknowledging our responsibility for the world of tomorrow, we are relentlessly pursuing eco-efficiency through innovative technologies, processes and products."

Executive Secretary of the CBD, Ahmed Djoghlaf, said: "We are delighted Airbus and National Geographic are working with us to inspire the next generation about the importance of protecting the rich biodiversity of the world we live in. This competition is helping to deliver that commitment, engaging and educating today's children in the task of safeguarding the planet."

The world is losing biodiversity at an ever-increasing rate as a result of human activity. "This is a global problem that needs to be addressed today if we want to retain the diversity of the natural world for the generations of tomorrow. It is about the food that we eat and the air that we breathe," said See The Bigger Picture ambassador and world-renowned National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore.
Sartore was a member of a global panel of judges who were impressed by the range of subjects that engaged the entrants. Photographs featuring insects, animals, plants and landscapes were submitted by photographers as young as 6 years old.

To view the winning entries and learn more about how to get involved in The Green Wave, visit www.seethebiggerpicture.org. A gallery of the winning photographs can also be viewed at the ftp site http://ftp.nationalgeographic.com/pressroom/see_bigger_picture.

username: press | password: press

-- ends -

Notes to editors

"See The Bigger Picture" honorable mentions:
Afton Carpenter, 14, Gilbert, Arizona, USA
Julian Kiesel, 12, Nyack, New York, USA
Samantha Shapiro, 14, Chappaqua, New York, USA
Alex Sorensen, 14, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
Joshua Hartmann, 12, S. Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Chaitra Godbole, 14, Pune, India
Arjun Shankar, 16, Chennai, India
Sachin Vijayan, 13, Thodupuzha, India
Vince Ellison B. Leyeza, 11, Laguna, Philippines
Eleanor Bennett, 13, Stockport, United Kingdom
Malik Babi, 6, Beauzelle, France
Lénaїg Allain-Le Drogo, 12, Saint Luce Sur Loire, France
Richard Guerre, 9, Blagnac, France
Zoe Hamelin, 16, Paris, France
Diego Adrados, 13, Tarifa, Spain
Sara Cuenca Uñac, 13, Alicante, Spain
Mariló Moreno Ruz, 15, Cádiz, Spain
Jonas Harms, 16, Norderstedt, Germany
Marvin Pulter, 14, Germany
Tobias Abrahamsen, 16, Sarpsborg, Norway

Competition statistics:
Total of 2,597 entries from 99 countries. This includes 247 entries from children of Airbus employees in 6 countries.
Over half of the photographs taken were of land-dwelling animals, and the greatest proportion of these were insects.
Some children experimented with underwater shots requiring a high level of skill.
Just over 40% of entrants took photographs at home, showing awareness that biodiversity can be found in our own back yard.

The Green Wave:
The Green Wave is a global biodiversity campaign to educate children and youth about biodiversity.
The CBD is a United Nations treaty promoting the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity
2010 is the United Nations' International Year of Biodiversity. On May 22, 2010 (The International Day of Biodiversity), as part of The Green Wave initiative, young people are invited to plant a tree at 10 a.m. to celebrate biodiversity. This will create a wave of tree planting as the activity passes through each time zone across the world.
Photos and stories from the moment can then be uploaded to The Green Wave website to create a virtual wave on the Internet
Visit http://greenwave.cbd.int.

Airbus specific notes:
Airbus believes that growth in air travel is a global need and that the essential social and economic benefits derived from a more connected world can still be unlocked and deliver a greener world, if everybody plays their part
Airbus acknowledges the 2% that aviation contributes to global man-made CO2 emissions, but believes that it also has a responsibility to support others in tackling the remaining 98% of CO2 emissions. Deforestation alone, for example, generates nearly 20% of man-made CO2, so Airbus is working with the CBD, and using its global outreach to raise awareness of the importance of the need to preserve the variety of life on earth
This is why it has committed to support the CBD's The Green Wave initiative

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SIGNS ON AS SPONSOR OF 9TH WORLD WILDERNESS CONGRESS AND WiLD SPEAK

2009-11-05

WASHINGTON (Nov. 5, 2009)--National Geographic announced today its sponsorship of WILD9, the 9th World Wilderness Congress, and the accompanying four-day conservation communications symposium, WiLD SPEAK. WiLD SPEAK, organized by the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP), provides a forum for media professionals to discuss environmental issues and themes, share strategies and technologies, and explore how their work can raise awareness and realize conservation objectives. WiLD SPEAK will take place Nov. 9-12, 2009, during WILD9, which will run from Nov. 6-13 in Mérida, Mexico.

Throughout its 121-year history, National Geographic has encouraged conservation of natural resources and raised public awareness of the importance of natural places, the plants and wildlife that inhabit them and the environmental problems that threaten them. In the past four years, 54 articles in National Geographic magazine have been photographed by iLCP members. Photographers whose work has appeared in the magazine and who are scheduled to present at WiLD SPEAK include Michael Nichols, Brian Skerry, Paul Nicklen, Steve Winters, Tim Laman, Christian Ziegler, Frans Lanting, Jack Dykinga, Tom Peschak, Klaus Nigge and James Balog.

Tim Kelly, president of National Geographic Global Media and president/CEO of National Geographic Ventures, and Frank Biasi, director, conservation and special projects, National Geographic Maps, will speak at WILD9.

"We are excited to be part of WILD9 -- a vital forum that is closely aligned to our own mission to inspire people to care about the planet," said Kelly. "It speaks to our ongoing commitment to environmental storytelling across all of our media platforms. We constantly challenge ourselves to take these kinds of stories and find fresh ways to share them with our many audiences. It's an honor to have supported some of the conservation photography showcased at WILD9 and WiLD SPEAK, and we look forward to future collaborations with iLCP."

"This year's congress greatly expands our focus on the visual and written media professions as catalysts and influencers to raise awareness of environmental issues and on their role in achieving conservation outcomes," said WILD Foundation President Vance Martin. "National Geographic is an ideal sponsor of WILD9 by virtue of its commitment to conserving nature and traditional communities, and success in bringing issues, emotion and information to audiences regarding the beauty and fragility of our planet."

WILD9's principal theme is the key role that wilderness conservation plays in mitigating climate change and conserving biodiversity and other ecosystem services critical to human well-being.

Please send requests for images to media contacts below.

WILD9 is a partnership between The WILD Foundation and Unidos para la Conservación and relies on the support and participation of many partner organizations.

The National Geographic Society (www.nationalgeographic.com) The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. National Geographic reflects the world through its magazines, television programs, films, music and radio, books, DVDs, maps, exhibitions, live events, school publishing programs, interactive media and merchandise. National Geographic magazine, the Society's official journal, published in English and 32 local-language editions, is read by more than 35 million people each month. The National Geographic Channel reaches 310 million households in 34 languages in 165 countries. National Geographic Digital Media receives more than 13 million visitors a month. National Geographic has funded more than 9,200 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geography literacy.

iLCP (www.ilcp.com) Its mission is to further environmental and cultural conservation through ethical photography. iLCP is a project-driven organization, with a vision to translate conservation science into compelling visual messages targeted to specific audiences. iLCP works with leading scientists, policy makers, government leaders and conservation groups to produce the highest-quality documentary images of both the beauty and wonder of the natural world and the challenges facing it. From poaching to global warming, from habitat loss to cultural erosion, from sustainability to biological corridors, the work of conservation photographers covers the range of threats to biodiversity and is a critical component in the conservation toolbox.

The WILD Foundation (www.wild.org) Founded in 1974, WILD is the only international organization dedicated entirely and explicitly to wilderness protection around the world. WILD works to protect the planet's last wild places and the wildlife and people who depend upon them, because wilderness areas provide essential social, spiritual, biological and economic benefits. We believe that intact wilderness areas are an essential core element of a healthy modern society.

Unidos para la Conservación (www.unidosparalaconservacion.org) Founded in 1992, Unidos is a nonprofit Mexican conservation organization that has actively promoted the concept of wilderness conservation in Mexico. Its working strategy combines the establishment of alliances with government, nonprofit and corporate partners with the promotion of a conservation culture through publications and films in a search of conservation solutions through specific action.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION

2009-10-02

WASHINGTON (Oct. 2, 2009)—In a landmark publishing event, National Geographic presents its most expansive and sumptuous photography book ever, showcasing 120 years of world history, natural history and culture chronicled and preserved in the Society's unique archive of more than 11.5 million images. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION (National Geographic Focal Point; ISBN: 978-1-4262-0503-3; Oct. 6, 2009; $50; hardcover) is the largest single volume of world-renowned National Geographic photographs published by the organization that has set the gold standard for photographic coverage of the world.

Photography excellence is one of the foundations on which National Geographic is built, and its image collection, fittingly housed beneath the Society's headquarters building in Washington, D.C., is one of the finest, most extensive graphic resources on Earth.

The 500-page NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION allows readers for the first time to plumb the fascinating depths of this immense and ever-growing archive, from the earliest photographs collected in the 19th century to the cutting-edge work of today. Both iconic and never-before-seen images from virtually every corner of the globe, an array of wildlife and people, and amazing achievements in exploration, adventure, science and more are placed in historic, artistic, technical and journalistic context.

Spanning 12 decades of world events and photographic evolution, the book covers a cornucopia of subjects. From mountaineering in the Alps in the 1890s to Hiram Bingham's 1913 images of Machu Picchu to images of Alexander Graham Bell and Albert Einstein to the first aerial, flash, night, underwater and space photographs, this volume is a must for everyone who loves history or photography or has been captivated by National Geographic magazine.

"We are one of the few repositories that document the entire 20th century and the beginnings of the 21st century," says Maura Mulvihill, vice president, National Geographic Image Collection. "Our photographers focus not only on newsworthy events, but also on social documentation of the whole world and all its inhabitants. We have always made images of the things that people do in day-to-day life, the life that goes on outside of giant events. These images have a unique social and cultural value."

The work of 204 of the finest and most celebrated photographers in the world is included — from Maynard Owen Williams, Volkmar Wentzel and Luis Marden to James Stanfield, Sam Abell, Steve McCurry and Annie Griffiths Belt. Some 400 of their finest color and black-and-white images are presented, divided into four themes: Exploration, Wildlife, People & Culture, and Science & Climate Change.

Following the lavish visual journey through more than a century of photographic highlights is a behind-the-scenes profile of the entire Image Collection, including the delicate Autochromes, of which there are nearly 15,000 — one of the finest assemblages of these glass color transparencies in the world; the nearly 500,000 black-and-white prints, only a fraction of which have ever been published; the color transparencies, which played a central role in the evolution of National Geographic photography; and digital, which has opened new vistas for the photographers and which is growing rapidly every day.

There is also a listing of the artists, including N.C. Wyeth and Andrew Wyeth, whose fine maps, drawings, paintings, engravings and illustrations have graced the pages of National Geographic publications over the past 120 years. Finally, profiles of the 204 photographers represented in the book are a fitting tribute to those without whose tireless and brilliant efforts National Geographic's Image Collection would not exist.

In her introductory essay, Michelle Delaney, curator of the photographic history collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, provides a historical perspective of the National Geographic Image Collection, an archive she calls "a hidden treasure — millions of photographs that are rarely if ever seen, but are preserved with meticulous care for future research and publication."

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m., in a lecture presented by National Geographic Live and Kodak at National Geographic headquarters, National Geographic magazine editor in chief and wildlife photographer Chris Johns, "National Geographic Image Collection" editor Leah Bendavid-Val and Image Collection vice president Maura Mulvihill will be joined by photographers David Doubilet, Maria Stenzel, Michael Yamashita and Kodak digital photography pioneer Steve Sasson for an inside look at National Geographic's remarkable photography trove.

Also sponsored by Kodak, a major exhibition of nearly 90 images featured in the book will be held at National Geographic from Oct. 1, 2009, to April 12, 2010. For more than a century, National Geographic and Kodak have shared in breakthroughs in every sphere of traditional and digital photography. Kodak technology has made many of the pictures in the book possible, and the book itself was produced using Kodak digital prepress technology, including software, computer-to-plate machines and digital printing plates.

POLAR OBSESSION

2009-10-02

WASHINGTON (Oct. 2, 2009)—See the polar regions as never before in a new book by renowned National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen, who dives underwater and travels across the ice to deliver unique, close-up documentation of wildlife in the Arctic and Antarctic.

POLAR OBSESSION (National Geographic Focal Point; ISBN: 978-1-4262-0511-8;
Nov. 10, 2009; $50; hardcover) breaks new ground as Nicklen presents important insights into animal behavior, the fragile polar environment and climate change that threatens the ice and its inhabitants.

"The polar regions are disappearing quickly, and I want my photo essays to stand as a reminder of what is at stake. It is my mission to bring the rare, remote and threatened to caring people who can enjoy and help protect these lands and creatures," he writes in his introduction.

Nicklen, who regards himself as an ambassador for polar life, grew up in a small Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic. From an early age he learned how to survive in the frozen terrain and developed a passion for the wildlife around him. Today his expeditions take him to the ends of the Earth in pursuit of rare, close-up photographs of polar species and their intriguing ways. Constantly honing his understanding of wildlife behavior in order to approach the animals in their most intimate natural settings, he uses photography to dispel myths, reveal rarely seen behaviors and intensify the world's interest in polar wildlife.

POLAR OBSESSION includes 150 of Nicklen's most spectacular images from the polar reaches. From huge elephant seals, leopard seals, whales, walruses, narwhals and polar bears to penguins, albatrosses, petrels, arctic cod and tiny krill, Nicklen, an underwater photography specialist, captures the beauty of a wide variety of polar animals, large and small, and the icy paradise in which they live. Each scene is bathed in polar light, surreal and breathtakingly beautiful.

In essays introducing each chapter, Nicklen details life amid the ice fields, floes and frozen seas — at times braving temperatures as low as minus 55 F (minus 45 C) — as well as his passion for the Arctic and Antarctic and the stories behind his images.

Nicklen has risked his life many times in the 20 years he has been documenting the polar regions: He has crashed his ultralight airplane, fallen through the sea ice, been lost in blizzards, bitten by fur seals, attacked by a walrus and an 8,000-pound elephant seal, charged by a grizzly bear and sniffed through the thin fabric wall of a tent by a polar bear. One of the most nerve-wracking — and perhaps most mesmerizing — experiences was a days-long interaction with a massive, 1,000-pound female leopard seal, one of the most feared predators of the sea, with whom he swam in the Antarctic waters. After charging at him with a huge open mouth that almost engulfed his head and camera, she repeatedly tried to feed him penguins that she caught — all the while being photographed by Nicklen.

"If I really want people to care about polar species, my images have to be wild and raw," he writes. "I want people to feel what it's like to be in the water, swimming three feet from a polar bear. I want them to experience what it's like to be offered a penguin as food by a leopard seal. Only then will they really care about that habitat and that species."

In the "On Assignment" chapter, Nicklen describes the challenges of being a polar photographer, his considerations when photographing an animal for the first time, how long he has to wait for his shots and his funniest and most embarrassing experiences.

Also included in the book is a gear list detailing the enormous amount of equipment that accompanies Nicklen on his assignments, "likely more equipment than any other natural history photographer on the planet," because Nicklen shoots above and below water. He usually travels with 14 to 20 cases and hockey duffel bags weighing between 60 pounds and 70 pounds each. "Getting to and from location with all the gear is often the worst and hardest part of the assignment," he writes.

Both a remarkable photographic achievement and a powerful personal journey, POLAR OBSESSION provides a vivid, timely portrait of two extraordinary, threatened ecosystems and draws attention to some of today's most significant issues regarding climate and the environment.

About the Author

Since 1994 award-winning photographer Paul Nicklen's work has been published in magazines around the world, including 10 stories for National Geographic. He began his career as a wildlife biologist and took up photography 15 years ago with the desire to bridge the gap between scientific research and public knowledge on wildlife subjects and climate change. His unique background growing up in an Inuit community on Baffin Island along with his unique talent give him the confidence to photograph in the most inhospitable, remote and challenging places on Earth. POLAR OBSESSION is Nicklen's second book. "Seasons of the Arctic" was published in 2000.

Nicklen lives in Whitehorse, Yukon.

AN AMERICAN FAMILY: Three Decades with the McGarveys

2009-10-01

WASHINGTON (Oct. 1, 2009)--In 1977 photojournalist Pam Spaulding set out to record the unscripted, everyday life of the McGarvey family of Louisville, Ky. They had just had their first baby, and the project -- to document the lives of new parents -- was supposed to last one year. Thirty years, two more children and one wedding later, the project finally came to an end. The result is the richest photographic record of a single family ever made. This unique, revealing and engaging group portrait is showcased in a new book from National Geographic, AN AMERICAN FAMILY: Three Decades with the McGarveys (National Geographic Focal Point; Oct. 20, 2009; ISBN: 978-1-4262-0504-0; $35; hardcover).

Whether you think of it as the ultimate in time-lapse photography or a reality show begun decades before its time, this intimate, 30-year look at one middle-class family is Americana at its most evocative. The remarkable collection of images peers into every aspect of the McGarvey family's life to produce an album that is instantly recognizable to anyone who has ever shared the American experience.

From listening to a bedtime story to decorating the Christmas tree, from playing a card game around the kitchen table to marching in a Fourth of July parade, and from fishing with a grandparent to buying a prom gown to mourning the death of a family pet, Spaulding captures scenes of everyday life that are deeply personal, yet familiar to us all. Her thoughtful, sensitive black-and-white photographs, taken from a unique "fly-on-the wall" perspective, eloquently embody the experiences of our era and preserve a tableau of American 20th-century life for posterity.

Many of Spaulding's images of John and Judy McGarvey and their children, David, Morgan and Sara, have never before been published and most were unseen by the family members until they were interviewed for this book. Indeed, in her three decades of documenting the family, Spaulding was so unobtrusive and she blended into the background so well that when the McGarveys saw the photographs for the first time, they all said in almost identical words, "I had no idea Pam was there and took that photograph."

Pam captured every facet of the McGarveys' lives. From proud young parents to their kids squabbling in the back seat of the car to the next generation of newlyweds, it's all here -- love, humor, intimacy, sadness, joy, loyalty.

Complementing the 175 images is text by author Claude Cookman, who profiles each of the family members. "The McGarveys have made an extraordinary gift," he writes. "Through Pam's photographs, they have opened their lives without reservation to the readers of this book. Viewers will find their own experiences confirmed in photograph after photograph.

"However special the McGarvey family is, Pam Spaulding's project is equally unique. It seems unlikely a document of this scope, duration, and subtlety will ever be duplicated. ... Her photographs rise to the level of art, because her wisdom, her sensitivity, and her photographic vision shaped the reality in front of her camera to match her conception of a family living the American dream."

Photographer Sam Abell, who encouraged and mentored Pam during the project, echoes those sentiments in his "Appreciation" of Spaulding at the end of the book. "The project required a unique, trusting relationship between a family and a photographer. The result is one they can both be proud of. For as surely as this book is a vivid portrait of the McGarveys, it is also, more subtly, a portrait of Pam. Quietly and thoughtfully, only she was present when each of these photographs was made," Abell writes.

Spaulding, who lives in Louisville, Ky., has been a photojournalist at the Louisville Courier-Journal for 37 years and has won numerous awards for her work. In 1972 she was the first woman to win the Hearst Award for Photojournalism. She contributed to the photography that won the Courier-Journal and Louisville Times the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for coverage of court-ordered busing in Jefferson County, Ky. In 1984-85 she was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University.

Note: To arrange an interview with Pam Spaulding or members of the McGarvey family, contact Penelope Dackis at (202) 857-7335 or pdackis@ngs.org.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND KODAK PARTNER TO PRESENT 'NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION'

2009-09-30

WASHINGTON (Sept. 30, 2009)—The National Geographic Society, in partnership with Kodak, presents NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION — a 500-page book and companion exhibition showcasing photographs, many never before published, from the Society's singular archive of more than 11.5 million images.

The book and exhibition represent the first time that people will be able to plumb the depths of National Geographic's immense and ever-growing archive, from the earliest photographs collected in the 19th century to the cutting-edge work of today. This landmark publishing event and exhibition feature 120 years of world history, natural history and culture chronicled and preserved in the archive housed beneath the Society's headquarters building in Washington, D.C., and one of the world's finest and most extensive graphic resources.

The NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION exhibition opens at the Society on Thursday, Oct. 1, and will feature more than 90 photographs from the book, displayed in lightboxes around the exterior of the headquarters building and in the National Geographic Museum's Grosvenor Gallery. The NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION book (National Geographic Focal Point; ISBN: 978-1-4262-0503-3; $50; hardcover) publishes on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

National Geographic and Kodak also will make available for sale in October a limited number of the images reproduced on high-quality KODAK PROFESSIONAL papers. For details and purchasing information, go to www.imagecollection@mpix.com.

For more than a century, National Geographic and Kodak have shared in breakthroughs in every sphere of traditional and digital photography. Kodak technology has made many of the pictures in the book possible, and the book itself was produced using Kodak digital prepress technology, including software, computer-to-plate machines and digital printing plates.

"We are delighted to partner with National Geographic in bringing these remarkable images to the world," said John Blake, general manager, digital capture & imaging devices, and vice president, Eastman Kodak Company. "Kodak technology has played a central role not only in capturing the images, but in displaying them for exhibition and printing the book itself. This year is the 100th anniversary of Kodak's association with National Geographic, and we feel there's no better way to mark this milestone than by working together to celebrate the wonder and beauty of the world through pictures."

"National Geographic is one of the few imaging repositories that document the entire 20th century and the beginnings of the 21st century," said Maura Mulvihill, vice president, National Geographic Image Collection. "Our photographers focus not only on newsworthy events, but also on social documentation of the world and all its inhabitants. We have always made images of the things that people do in day-to-day life, the life that goes on outside of giant events. These images have a unique social and cultural value, and we are thrilled to present them in this book."

Spanning 12 decades of world events and photographic evolution, the book covers a wide range of subjects. It includes iconic images from virtually every corner of the globe, an array of wildlife and people, and amazing achievements in exploration, adventure, science and more that are placed in historic, artistic, technical and journalistic context.

From pictures of mountaineering in the Alps in the 1890s to Hiram Bingham's 1913 images of Machu Picchu to images of Alexander Graham Bell and Albert Einstein to the first aerial, flash, night, digital, underwater and space photographs, the book is a must for everyone who loves history or photography or has been captivated by National Geographic magazine. The work of 204 of the best and most celebrated photographers in the world is included — from Maynard Owen Williams, Volkmar Wentzel and Luis Marden to Nick Nichols, James Stanfield, Sam Abell, Steve McCurry, Annie Griffiths Belt, Michael Yamashita and Maria Stenzel. Four hundred and fifty of their finest black-and-white and color images are presented, divided into four themes: Exploration, Wildlife, People & Culture, and Science & Climate Change.

The book also includes a behind-the-scenes look at the entire National Geographic Image Collection: the delicate Autochromes, of which there are nearly 15,000 — one of the finest assemblages of these glass color transparencies in the world; the nearly 500,000 black-and-white prints, only a fraction of which have ever been published; the color transparencies, which played a central role in the evolution of National Geographic photography; and the rapidly growing digital collection.

The book also lists the artists, including N.C. Wyeth and Andrew Wyeth, whose fine maps, drawings, paintings, engravings and illustrations have graced the pages of National Geographic publications over the past 120 years, as well as profiles of the photographers represented in the book, whose efforts made National Geographic's Image Collection possible.

In her introductory essay to the book, Michelle Delaney, curator of the photographic history collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, provides a historical perspective of the National Geographic Image Collection, an archive she calls "a hidden treasure — millions of photographs that are rarely if ever seen, but are preserved with meticulous care for future research and publication."

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m., in a lecture presented by National Geographic Live and Kodak at National Geographic headquarters, National Geographic magazine Editor in Chief and wildlife photographer Chris Johns and Image Collection's Maura Mulvihill will be joined by photographers Michael Yamashita, Maria Stenzel and David Doubilet as well as Kodak digital camera inventor Steve Sasson for an inside look at National Geographic's remarkable photography trove.

About National Geographic
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 375 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,200 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

About Kodak
As the world's foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers, businesses and creative professionals unleash the power of pictures and printing to enrich their lives. To learn more, visit http://www.kodak.com and follow Kodak's blogs and more at http://www.kodak.com/go/followus.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MUSEUM TO PRESENT ONE PHOTOGRAPHER'S "POLAR OBSESSION"

2009-09-16

WASHINGTON (Sept. 16, 2009)—"Polar Obsession," a new photography exhibit featuring nearly 60 striking images of the world's polar regions from photographer Paul Nicklen, will go on display at the National Geographic Museum Sept. 24, 2009, to Feb. 15, 2010. The images will take visitors underwater and across the ice, delivering a unique close-up of wildlife in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Nicklen, who regards himself as an ambassador for polar life, grew up in a small Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic. From an early age he learned how to survive in the frozen terrain and developed a passion for the wildlife around him. Today his expeditions take him to the ends of the Earth in pursuit of rare, close-up photographs of polar species, their intriguing ways and their environs. Constantly honing his understanding of wildlife behavior in order to approach the animals in their most intimate natural settings, he uses photography to dispel myths, reveal rarely seen behaviors and intensify the world's interest in the entire polar ecosystem.

The exhibit is drawn from Nicklen's new book "Polar Obsession" (ISBN: 978-1-4262-0511-8; $50; hardcover), which will be released by National Geographic Books' Focal Point imprint on Nov. 10. Nicklen will present a National Geographic Live lecture on Nov. 11 (visit www.nglive.org for more information).

"Polar Obsession" will include 57 of the 150 images included in the book, which features Nicklen's most spectacular images from the polar reaches. From huge elephant seals, leopard seals, whales, walruses, narwhals and polar bears to penguins, albatrosses, petrels, arctic cod and tiny krill, Nicklen, an underwater photography specialist, captures the beauty of a wide variety of polar animals, large and small, and the icy paradise in which they live. Each scene is bathed in polar light, surreal and breathtakingly beautiful.

"The polar regions are disappearing quickly, and I want my photo essays to stand as a reminder of what is at stake. It is my mission to bring the rare, remote and threatened to caring people who can enjoy and help protect these lands and creatures," he writes in his book introduction.

The National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., is open Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Dec. 25. For information on the "Polar Obsession" exhibit, the public should call (202) 857-7588 or visit www.ngmuseum.org.

LAKOTA YOUTH TO DOCUMENT CULTURAL IDENTITY DURING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO CAMP

2009-09-03

WASHINGTON (Sept. 3, 2009)—Twenty Lakota high school students from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota will document their community during National Geographic's second Pine Ridge Photo Camp. From Sunday, Sept. 6, to Thursday, Sept. 10, the teenagers, all members of the prophesied "Seventh Generation" of Lakota people, will photograph, edit and design a portrait of the Oglala Lakota Native American tribe. The Photo Camp is presented in partnership with the SuAnne Big Crow Boys and Girls Club and CREATE (Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment) Lab at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute.

During the four-day workshop, National Geographic contributing photographer Lynn Johnson will brief students on photographic vision, equipment and technique, while guiding them through the process of creating a story through photography and writing. The young photographers will explore Pine Ridge and the surrounding areas, documenting their interpretation of the current status of the "Seventh Generation," a group of Lakota destined since the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee to heal the wounds of persecution, dispossession and assimilation suffered by their ancestors. Illah Nourbakhsh and Dror Yaron from CREATE Lab will instruct the students on the use of GigaPan robotic cameras, which generate panoramic images that can be explored via computer.

"We hope that Photo Camp 2009 will provide students with a unique lens on the world and help spotlight their role in improving the lives of the Lakota people and helping rebuild the Lakota Nation," said Terry Garcia, National Geographic's executive vice president, Mission Programs. "We are honored to participate in this endeavor."

Participants, their families and community members are invited to a final presentation of the students' work on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6:30 p.m., at the SuAnne Big Crow Boys and Girls Club, #1 Positive Place, East Hwy 18, Pine Ridge, S.D.

Cameras for the Photo Camp have been provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Memory cards have been donated to the Photo Camp program by PNY Technologies. GigaPan photographic technology has been provided by CREATE Lab.

National Geographic Photo Camp has provided programs for more than 850 young people in over 40 locations since 2003. This year Photo Camps have been held in Botswana; Jordan; Olympic National Park, Wash.; and at National Marine Sanctuaries near Florida and California. Visit nationalgeographic.com/photocamp for more information.

In addition to 11 stories that Johnson has contributed to National Geographic magazine, she has covered editorial assignments for various national and international publications and private corporations. Her photographic skills allow her to take pictures that are intimate and enlightening. Johnson has won numerous awards, including Picture of the Year Award from the National Press Photographers Association and four World Press Photography Awards.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 375 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

The SuAnne Big Crow Boys and Girls Club provides critically needed services and support for the youth of the Pine Ridge Reservation, including indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, scholarships and programs promoting health and wellness. Founded in 1992 and modeled after the vision and ideals of educational and spiritual growth supported by the late SuAnne Big Crow, the corporation is the first charter of the Boys and Girls Club of America to be established on an Indian reservation. The club serves some 600 young people, ages 7 to 17, and offers a place where they can gain a higher cultural awareness and be safe from drugs, alcohol, violence and gangs.

The Global Connection Project at the CREATE Lab, a partnership among Carnegie Mellon University, National Geographic, NASA's Ames Research Center and Google Inc., aims to enhance cross-cultural understanding and environmental awareness through the use of new imaging technologies. The GigaPan panoramic image system has been developed and deployed to leading scientists and schools internationally, in collaboration with UNESCO's International Bureau of Education. Over 25,000 panoramas shared by individuals around the world may be viewed at www.gigapan.org.

SEATTLE YOUTH TO DOCUMENT ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY DURING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO CAMP

2009-08-12

WASHINGTON (Aug. 12, 2009)—Twenty students from Washington state's West Seattle High School will have the unique opportunity to document and learn about the local environment with National Geographic contributing photographer Melissa Farlow during National Geographic Photo Camp Olympic Peninsula. From Sunday, Aug. 16, to Thursday, Aug. 20, the 14- to 18-year-olds will explore Olympic National Park and photograph, edit and design a portrait of the region's ecological landscape. The Photo Camp is presented in partnership with the Olympic Park Institute.

During the workshop, Farlow and Bert Fox, the Charlotte Observer's director of photography and former National Geographic magazine picture editor, will brief students on photographic vision, equipment and technique, while guiding them through the process of creating a story through photography and writing. The budding photographers will go on assignment in Olympic National Park to experience a variety of natural ecosystems that are influenced by the area's myriad wildlife and vast range of physical environments. The camp will give the students the opportunity to interact and to reflect on environmental issues that affect the region's diverse ecology.

"We hope that Photo Camp 2009 will provide students with a unique lens on the world and help expand their awareness of the environment and their impact on it," said Terry Garcia, National Geographic's executive vice president, Mission Programs. "We are honored to participate in this endeavor."

"Olympic Park Institute is proud to be partnering with National Geographic to host Photo Camp," said Institute Director Tom Sanford. "Partnerships like these help us introduce new groups of youth to Olympic National Park and find new ways to use technology like digital video and photography to help them make meaningful connections with nature."

A presentation of the students' work will be held on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m., at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW, Seattle. It will be open to the public.

Cameras for the Photo Camp have been provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Memory cards have been donated to the Photo Camp program by PNY Technologies. Lodging accommodations for the Photo Camp staff is provided by Ace Hotel Seattle.

National Geographic Photo Camp has provided programs for more than 850 young people in over 40 locations since 2003. Other Photo Camp venues this year are Botswana; Jordan; Pine Ridge Native American Reservation, S.D.; and National Marine Sanctuaries near Florida and California. Visit nationalgeographic.com/photocamp for more information.

Farlow is a freelance photographer who has contributed 14 stories to National Geographic magazine. As a staff photographer for the Louisville Times, she was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of desegregation in Louisville public schools. Farlow's images have won multiple awards in the National Press Photographers Association's Pictures of the Year competition and other prestigious contests.

During his years as a National Geographic picture editor, Fox edited more than 90 stories for the magazine. His 34-year career in journalism and photographic editing earned him the title "Picture Editor of the Year" five times by the University of Missouri.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 370 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

Olympic Park Institute is a campus of NatureBridge, the largest nonprofit residential education partner of the National Park Service. Its mission is to inspire personal connections to the natural world and responsible actions to sustain it. In partnership with Olympic National Park, the Olympic Park Institute provides residential environmental education programs to more than 6,000 diverse youth annually. Over 25 percent of the programs' participants and half of the participating schools receive scholarship assistance. For more information, visit olympicparkinstitute.org.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE SALES TO OFFER RARE, VINTAGE PRINTS, ILLUSTRATIONS FROM EXTENSIVE ARCHIVE IN LIMITED RELEASE

2009-08-12

WASHINGTON (Aug. 12, 2009)—For the first time National Geographic is opening its 11.5 million-image archive to offer a limited series of original photographs and illustrations for purchase by public and private collections through Steven Kasher Gallery, New York. Steven Kasher has signed on as National Geographic's representative in the fine art market and as exclusive partner for four exhibitions of selected prints from the Society's Image Collection, beginning with "The World in Black and White: Vintage Prints from the National Geographic Archive," Sept. 17, 2009, through Oct. 17, 2009.

All works offered for purchase will be unique vintage photographic prints, original illustrations and photographic prints taken directly from the negative; National Geographic will retain digital and publication rights for future use.

The National Geographic Image Collection houses original photographs and illustrations from some of the world's most renowned photographers and artists, among them Maynard Owen Williams, Volkmar Wentzel, Luis Marden, Sam Abell, Steve McCurry, N.C. Wyeth, Alexandre Iacovleff, Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Roy H. Andersen, Tom Lovell and Thornton Oakley.
Based at National Geographic's Washington, D.C., headquarters, the extensive archive dates from the Society's founding in 1888 to the present. The collection is one of the few repositories that documents the late 19th century through the beginnings of the 21st century, specializing in social documentation of the world and its inhabitants, with a special emphasis on people, cultures, natural history, the environment, science and the natural world.

Housing images seen in National Geographic magazine as well as outtakes never before published, the collection features images in a variety of formats, from vintage glass-plate negatives, Kodachrome transparencies, 35mm negatives, panoramic and small-format prints to digital files. The Image Collection holds one of the foremost collections of Autochromes, dating from their invention to the end of their production in the 1930s. Among this collection are 40 identified Autochromes from Paul G. Guillumette, a pioneer in the use of early color photography, and the first underwater Autochromes by National Geographic chief photographer Charles Martin, one-time head of National Geographic's first photography lab.

The collection also features groundbreaking works from such landmark photographers as Marden, whose revolutionary underwater photography techniques, first employed while documenting Jacques Cousteau's expedition on board the Calypso, are still being used in the field today; and Wentzel, who helped illuminate the world's knowledge of India and Nepal at a time when those countries remained a mystery to most of the rest of the world.

In addition to vintage prints, the collection also includes the photojournalistic works of such contemporary photographers as Brian Skerry, Annie Griffiths Belt, Jodi Cobb, David Alan Harvey and Michael Nichols, whose coverage runs the gamut from African wildlife and the oceans to women's issues and countries in transition.

"National Geographic's Image Collection is a rich, invaluable resource of social documentation of the globe from the Society's founding in 1888 to our world today," said Maura Mulvihill, vice president and director of the Image Collection for National Geographic Society. "Our decision to release a select number of these photographs is motivated by our underlying hope to share this incredible resource with the public and create a new avenue toward reaching fresh audiences."

The first exhibition at Steven Kasher Gallery will display 150 unique black-and-white prints from more than a dozen photographers, spanning the earliest days of the Society through the 1940s. Included will be works from the Alexander Graham Bell collection (tetrahedral flight experiments, ca. 1900), Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden (Sicily, ca. 1905), Herbert Ponting (Antarctica, 1906), George Tairraz (Alpine panoramas, 1890s), Maynard Owen Willams and B. Anthony Stewart (West Virginia, 1938) and others. Each photographer will be represented by a "story" comprising 10 to 15 pictures.

The four exhibitions will be curated by Steven Kasher, with input from National Geographic. For more information on Steven Kasher Gallery, visit stevenkasher.com.

Images of photographs and prints that will be available for purchase and on exhibit are on the ftp site: http://ftp.nationalgeographic.com/pressroom/image_collection_kasher
username: press | password: press

About the National Geographic Image Collection
The National Geographic Image Collection based at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., houses more than 11.5 million images from National Geographic staff and freelance photographers, including rare and never-before-seen photographs and illustrations. Specializing in the subjects of people, cultures, natural history, science, the environment and the natural world, the Image Collection is one of the foremost repositories of social documentation of the late 19th century through the 21st century. For information on image sales, call (800) 434-2244, email images@ngs.org or visit ngsimages.com.

About National Geographic
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 370 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

National Geographic Announces Fourth Annual International Photography Contest

2009-08-06

WASHINGTON (Aug. 6, 2009)--National Geographic readers around the world are invited to take part in the 2009 National Geographic International Photography Contest. Readers of National Geographic's English-language editions in eight countries as well as readers of 20 of the magazine's international local-language editions are eligible to participate. The international grand-prize winners will receive a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., and their winning entries will be published in all participating editions of National Geographic magazine. Winning entries from each territory will be featured in their local editions of National Geographic magazine.

English-language-edition readers in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom are eligible to enter up to a total of six photographs across three categories: People, Places and Nature. Entries should be submitted electronically to www.ngphotocontest.com. The contest began Wednesday, Aug. 5, and ends Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time (ET). Photos can be black-and-white or color, shot with a digital camera or with conventional film, and must be submitted digitally. Each entry consists of an entry form, a single image and an entry fee. The entry fee is U.S. $12 per photo for entries received before 11:59 p.m. ET Oct. 15, 2009, and $22 per photo for entries received between Oct. 16 and Oct. 31. For details and official contest rules, visit www.ngphotocontest.com. Void where prohibited.

English-language-edition entries will be judged at National Geographic headquarters by a panel of three judges: National Geographic staff photographer Mark Thiessen; design editor of the international editions of National Geographic magazine Darren Smith; and White House photo editor Jenn Poggi. First-place category winners of the English-language-edition competition will win a digital camera kit.

The participating international local-language editions will submit their winning entries in each category to National Geographic headquarters to be judged alongside the winning English-language entries by Thiessen, Smith and Poggi. The judges will announce three international grand-prize winners in December 2009.

"We are thrilled to continue our annual photography contest," said David Griffin, National Geographic's director of photography. "The work we have been seeing in recent years is truly astounding and speaks to the truth that photography is a worldwide, universal language — one that everyone can appreciate and enjoy."

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 370 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

National Geographic Adventure Survival Guide '09 -- August/September 2009

2009-08-03

On Newsstands August 4, 2009

Eight Black Swans -- When the unexpected happens, it pays to be prepared. For an adventure-style "Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook," National Geographic Adventure came up with eight colossal disasters -- a tsunami hitting the Northwest; the West running dry; an avalanche striking inbounds; megafires burning hotter and longer in the backcountry; being trapped overseas by a pandemic; America's power grid crashing; getting caught in bandit cross fire; the GPS system winking out -- and asked the experts what to do to get out of harm's way. See how any one of these "black swans," low-probability, high-impact events, could happen, and how to survive. Plus: Adventure interviews John Hillcoat, director of "The Road," the end-of-days thriller due in theaters this fall, based on Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Page 56.

One Rogue Wave -- What started as a weekend fishing trip in ideal conditions quickly turned from bad to worse. Already clinging to an overturned boat, seven fishermen watched as the ocean rose up in a way no one could have predicted. For the next 18 hours, adrift in the Atlantic, the men waged a desperate battle against time, hypothermia and the ocean itself. National Geographic Adventure pieces together the story of this survival epic. Page 48.

Going Back In -- Twelve years ago, two strangers formed an unlikely bond during a wilderness course in Wyoming. Then their friendship was cut short by a fatal accident. Actor Andrew McCarthy returns to the scene of the tragedy that changed his life forever. Page 66.

The Wild Bunch -- The National Wild and Scenic Rivers network protects the United States' most pristine waterways -- and its greatest river trips. It's an entire park system that can be explored by boat -- 166 national parks flying under the radar. Paddle in hand, National Geographic Adventure rafts one of the best, Oregon's Rogue River. Plus: Five more not-to-be-missed whitewater rides on the Salmon River (Idaho), Rio Chama (New Mexico), the Kern (California), the Chattooga (Georgia and South Carolina) and the Wolf (Wisconsin). Page 72.

Special Report: Everest Overshadowed -- "Everest season" is the time when all eyes zero in on the world's highest mountain to see what records, hijinks, tragedies and personal bests will ensue. Yet the most striking feature of this Everest season is that the most notable climbing did not happen there. Instead, many of the world's top climbers quietly eschewed Qomolangma's well-trodden routes for desperately hard first ascents on peaks far from the fray. Page 14.

The Big Trip: British Columbia -- The 2010 Winter Olympics will make British Columbia a superstar, but savvy adventurers know the Canadian province has already taken the gold as an outdoors outpost. National Geographic Adventure details an action plan north of the border. Page 40.

*Contact Ethan Fried if you have questions, need additional information or would like to schedule an interview with a National Geographic Adventure expert.

National Geographic Adventure, winner of four National Magazine Awards, is the fastest-growing magazine in the outdoor category and the ultimate guide to the adventure lifestyle. Published eight times a year, with a rate base of 625,000, National Geographic Adventure has 2.5 million readers. It is available by subscription (800-NGS-LINE) and on newsstands in the United States ($4.99) and Canada ($6.99). Its editorial mission supports National Geographic's mission to inspire people to care about the planet. The magazine's Web site is www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ANNOUNCES THIRD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST FOR KIDS

2009-07-28

WASHINGTON (July 28, 2009)—Readers of National Geographic Kids magazines around the world are invited to take part in the 2009 National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids this summer and fall. The contest is being conducted in partnership with the U.S. edition and 12 international editions of National Geographic Kids in Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt, Hungary, Israel, The Netherlands, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The grand-prize winner will receive a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Contestants ages 6-14 may enter the contest by submitting photos from now through Nov. 2, 2009, in any or all of four categories: People, Animals, Scenery and Humor. Each participating edition of the magazine will select one winning photograph from each category to be sent to National Geographic headquarters. The grand-prize winner will be selected in December by a team of three judges: Melina Bellows, National Geographic Kids magazine editor in chief; Steve St. John, National Geographic Image Collection senior editor; and Jay Sumner, National Geographic Kids photo director.

Winning entries from each country will be featured in that country's edition of National Geographic Kids magazine. Details and official contest rules can be found at kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Photos.

National Geographic Kids, geared toward children ages 6-14, is an interactive, multitopic magazine covering animals, entertainment, science, technology, current events and cultures from around the world. The magazine has 16 international editions, including the U.S. edition that is also available in Canada.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 370 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

YOUTH FROM 14 COUNTRIES TO EXPLORE MARINE AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY DURING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO CAMPS

2009-07-15

WASHINGTON (July 15, 2009)—Thirty high school students from around the globe will have a unique opportunity to document and learn about national marine sanctuaries in Florida and California during two upcoming National Geographic Photo Camps. From July 15 to 25, students from Armenia, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Lebanon, Morocco, Norway, Pakistan and the United States will explore the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; and from July 30 to Aug. 9, students from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Canada and the United States will travel to the Gulf of the Farallones, Cordell Bank and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries in California. Both Photo Camps are collaborations with the Ocean for Life program, an initiative to increase cultural understanding through ocean science.

National Geographic contributing photographer Matt Moyer, with the support of Photo Camp staff, will guide 15 students, ages 14-18, during each workshop as they explore and document marine environments and design a portrait of their group's cultural diversity through photography and writing. The photographers will coach students on the production of a multimedia show, called the Photo Camp Youth Media Project, which will convey the students' perception of their experience and allow them to share what they have learned about ocean conservation and cultural understanding to classmates, friends and family back home.

In addition to Photo Camp activities, the students will also participate in the Ocean for Life program, whose values are ocean conservation and stewardship, interconnectedness and a sense of place. They will explore the ocean and coastal areas, drawing comparisons with their own local and regional environments; they will participate in field studies in the national marine sanctuaries designed to raise their awareness of vital ocean resources; and they will learn about research, conservation and stewardship efforts to address issues threatening ocean health. Ocean for Life is made possible by a partnership of the U.S. government and private entities.

"Together, Photo Camp and Ocean for Life can provide these young people from diverse backgrounds an opportunity for cross-cultural understanding as they explore vital marine areas," said Terry Garcia, National Geographic's executive vice president, Mission Programs. "We are honored to participate in this endeavor."

EVOLT and Stylus Tough cameras for Photo Camp 2009 are provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. Memory cards for Photo Camp 2009 have been donated by PNY, a National Geographic Mission Partner.

Moyer, a photojournalist and contributor for National Geographic magazine, The New York Times and The Guardian, has been committed to telling stories that put a human face on today's news for the past 15 years. He has worked on three stories for National Geographic, including "The Sinai: A Separate Peace" in the March 2009 issue.

National Geographic Photo Camp has provided programs for more than 850 young people in over 40 locations since 2003. Photo Camps are also being held this year in Botswana; Jordan; Olympic National Park, Seattle; and Pine Ridge Native American Reservation, S.D. Visit nationalgeographic.com/photocamp for more information.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 370 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

National Geographic Adventure Explores Top National Parks

2009-06-16

WASHINGTON (June 16, 2009) -- National Geographic Adventure: June / July 2009 issue on newsstands June 16, 2009.

America's Ultimate National Parks -- The grandest canyon, the hottest desert and the tallest forest -- all storied landscapes protected by America's National Park Service. National Geographic Adventure Editor at Large Robert Earle Howells lays out tips, tricks and detailed action plans for nine of the country's greatest wildlands that are sure to make for an unforgettable summer. Hike the High Sierra Camps of Yosemite; enjoy crowd-free camping on the Grand Canyon's North Rim; wander through groves of virgin deciduous forest and seas of wildflowers in the Great Smoky Mountains; set up a base camp to explore Death Valley, the hottest, driest, lowest and largest national park in the contiguous United States; embrace true Alaskan backcountry -- think glaciers, coastal forests, tundra and mountain ranges -- at Lake Clark; enjoy heart-stopping scenery and alpine inspiration at Glacier National Park; go on an American safari through the 2-million-plus acres of Yellowstone; stand in awe of the planet's tallest trees in Redwood national and state parks; and feel the sobering power of surf, fog and waves, with gray whales, bald eagles, sea otters and sea lions as companions, in Olympia National Park. Plus: Adventure heads out on the trail with Ken Burns, director of the upcoming PBS series "The National Parks: America's Best Idea." Page 48.

Cat Fight -- Squeezed for space and targeted by poachers, India's tigers have reached a tipping point. When 22 tigers were discovered missing from Ranthambhore National Park, the forest service denied there was a problem. But deep in the world's most celebrated tiger sanctuary, an unlikely hero has emerged. Adventure Contributing Editor Paul Kvinta tracks the smart, driven, God-fearing vegetarian with Jack Bauer tendencies. Page 60.

The Longevity Expedition -- Dan Buettner, former world-record cyclist and author of the best-selling book " The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest," is traveling the globe gleaning longevity secrets from the world's healthiest humans. One lesson the adventurer didn't expect to learn: Living long may mean staying put -- and planting a garden. Page 76.

More Adventure, Less Money -- The economic crash changed everything -- including the landscape of adventure travel. Now more than ever, outfitters and lodge owners will work to deliver the trip of a lifetime at an affordable price. Play it smart with 10 ways to capitalize on the new economy of adventure. Page 71.

iPhone Travel Apps -- West Coast Editor Steve Casimiro sorts through the more than 2,000 available apps for the travel inclined to find the eight best handheld-helpers that are changing the way travelers interact with the world. Page 22.

*Contact Ethan Fried if you have questions, need additional information or would like to schedule an interview with a National Geographic Adventure expert.

National Geographic Adventure, winner of four National Magazine Awards, is the fastest-growing magazine in the outdoor category and the ultimate guide to the adventure lifestyle. Published eight times a year, with a rate base of 625,000, National Geographic Adventure has 2.5 million readers. It is available by subscription (800-NGS-LINE) and on newsstands in the United States ($4.99) and Canada ($6.99). Its editorial mission supports National Geographic's global mission to inspire people to care about the planet. The magazine's Web site is www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO CAMP TO GIVE VOICE TO YOUTH IN JORDAN AFFECTED BY DISPLACEMENT

2009-06-15

WASHINGTON (June 15, 2009)--A group of young Iraqi and Palestinian refugees living in Jordan, as well as local Jordanian youth whose lives have been affected by the influx of refugees into their country, will have the opportunity to document their lives and experiences with internationally acclaimed photographers Reza and Ed Kashi this month during National Geographic Photo Camp Jordan. From Monday, June 15, through Wednesday, June 24, 60 students will take part in workshops where they will learn about self-expression through photographic vision and technique. The Photo Camp is presented in partnership with the International Medical Corps, through a grant from Australian Aid.

During the first of three sessions, June 15-17, at the Child and Family Protection Center in Irbid, Jordan, 20 teenagers aged 12-19 will create stories of their experiences of displacement, resettlement and other life disruptions using photographs and written words under the guidance of the Photo Camp staff. Similar sessions will follow on June 19-21 and June 22-24 with 40 other young refugees and Jordanian teens at the Jordan River Foundation in Amman.

Reza and Kashi, along with Jordanian photographers Nasser Majali and Mohammad Hannon, will teach students how to describe their personal world and create self-portraits by exploring the world through the lens of a camera. Individual sessions with International Medical Corps mental health staff will allow the children to unlock painful experiences and help in addressing their emotional needs. By using photography as a catalyst for discussion, the Photo Camp will encourage self-expression and awareness among the young refugees and Jordanians, all of whom have felt the strain of the displacement on their communities.

"Photo Camp can give these young people, who have been uprooted or experienced turmoil, strain and hardship, the voice and the opportunity to explore the current state of their lives," said Terry Garcia, National Geographic's executive vice president, Mission Programs. "We are honored to be part of this endeavor."

"International Medical Corps is delighted to partner with National Geographic once again," said Nancy Aossey, president and CEO of International Medical Corps. "As an organization with years of experience implementing art therapy programs to help in the long-term recovery of conflict-affected populations, we recognize that Photo Camp Jordan is a tremendous opportunity for the children and for the world to see their stories."

The students' work will be presented in an exhibit on June 26 at the Queen Rania Center in East Amman, followed by a graduation ceremony. This final presentation aims to draw attention to youth perspectives of living as a refugee in today's world and the challenges that their generation faces.

This is the second collaboration between National Geographic and International Medical Corps. In November 2006 they implemented Photo Camp Uganda for child refugees from Rwanda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with subsequent exhibits of their photographs in cities around the world, including London, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Cameras for National Geographic Photo Camp 2009 will be provided by Olympus Imaging America Inc. PNY Technologies will provide memory cards.

Reza, one of the best-known photojournalists in the world, has been documenting global strife and conflict since the 1970s as a contributor to Time, Newsweek and National Geographic magazines. His photography has earned him multiple illustrious international awards, including the Hope Award and public service and humanitarian awards in France and Spain.

Kashi, a freelance photographer since 1979, travels the world capturing images of ordinary life in extraordinary communities. A photojournalist, filmmaker and educator, he has been internationally recognized for his work on the social and political issues that define our times. He has produced 17 stories for National Geographic, most recently "Forgotten Faithful: Arab Christians" in June 2009.

National Geographic Photo Camp has provided programs for more than 850 young people in over 40 locations since 2003. Photo Camps will also be held this year in Botswana; Olympic National Park, Seattle; Pine Ridge Native American Reservation, S.D.; and national marine sanctuaries in Florida and California. Visit
nationalgeographic.com/photocamp for more information.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 360 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

Since its inception 25 years ago, International Medical Corps' mission has been to relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease, by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance. For more information on International Medical Corps, visit imcworldwide.org.

Australian Aid is an agency dedicated to assisting developing countries in reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development since 1974. For more information on Australian Aid, visit ausaid.gov.au.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PUBLISHES SPECIAL COLLECTOR'S EDITION FEATURING READERS' PHOTOGRAPHS

2009-06-12

WASHINGTON (June 11, 2009)--Looking for a unique Father's Day gift? One that fulfills the fantasy of having a favorite photograph featured on the cover of National Geographic magazine? This month, National Geographic is publishing a special collector's edition, National Geographic Your Shot, featuring 101 of the best readers' photographs submitted to National Geographic magazine over the past three years. Starting Monday, June 15, readers can create and order a unique, customized cover of this special issue, using a photograph of their choice, by going to ngm.com/your-shot-special. The customized version makes a perfect gift to memorialize a special family snapshot.

The custom cover option for National Geographic Your Shot will be available to order, online only, for $19.99 plus shipping. The issue goes on newsstands with a standard cover on Tuesday, June 30, for $10.99.

National Geographic Your Shot includes spectacular images from photography enthusiasts around the world as well as profiles of three of the photographers whose work is included. It is organized into categories that encompass the most popular types of submissions: Ode to Joy; Human Moments; Odd Couples; and Natural Wonders. The 144-page issue, with a trim size of 7"x7", is supported with advertising from HP, Fuji and Energizer.

Your Shot was originally developed as a Web-based way for National Geographic magazine to reach out to the legions of talented photography fans who dream of getting a photograph published in the magazine. More than 155,000 images have been submitted to National Geographic by readers since the Your Shot feature debuted in March 2006. Each weekday, a photo editor sorts through submissions and chooses a "daily dozen" of the top photographs, which are posted in an online gallery. Online visitors can vote for their favorites, and the top-voted photograph for each month is published in National Geographic magazine, along with the photo editor's top pick. For more information on how to submit a Your Shot image to National Geographic magazine, go to ngm.com/yourshot.

CHILDREN'S INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST FOCUSES WORLDWIDE LENS ON BIODIVERSITY

2009-06-08

WASHINGTON (June 8, 2009)—Youngsters around the world are invited to enter the "See the Bigger Picture" photography contest by submitting images illustrating plants, animals or anything else that captures biodiversity to www.seethebiggerpicture.org. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., and will meet with renowned photojournalist Joel Sartore, a contest judge. Entries must be received by Sept. 8, 2009.

"See the Bigger Picture" is a joint project of Airbus, National Geographic and the Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity in support of "The Green Wave" — an outreach program that promotes the goals of the United Nations biodiversity treaty and that will contribute to the celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010. As part of "The Green Wave" project, children and youth in schools worldwide plant a local tree species on May 22 each year, uniting to send a "green wave" across time zones from east to west.

The organizers hope the "See the Bigger Picture" contest will encourage children around the globe to snap and submit a photograph illustrating biodiversity in their community or from their travels and help to create the world's largest biodiversity outreach program.

"I am thrilled that Airbus is getting behind the biodiversity photo contest," said Sartore. "If we stand a chance of preserving the delicate balance of life and protecting the future of the fragile planet I've been photographing for 20 years, big business must be involved. It's great to involve kids, too, and to motivate them to take notice of the environment around them. I hope this will be a fun summer project for them."

Sartore, one of National Geographic's best wildlife photographers, suggests a few photo tips to get the perfect shot.
-Shoot early in the morning or late in the day for the best light. This is also when many kinds of animals are at their most active and interesting.
-Work all the angles; walk around your subject 360 degrees to find the best background, then also go from a bird's eye view (up high) to a worm's eye view (low to the ground) to get photos that are fresh and unexpected.
-Study your subjects, and have patience. While nature can be unpredictable, some animals have routines just like people. Spending a little time observing what your subjects do and when they do it can pay off with much better photos.
-You don't have to travel around the world to view and photograph wildlife. The variety of animals in your own back yard — from insects to birds to amphibians — may surprise you.

"See the Bigger Picture" contest rules can be found on www.seethebiggerpicture.org as well as in the July and August issues of National Geographic magazine and in the June/July and August issues of National Geographic Kids magazine. In the United States the contest is open to kids ages 6-14, and internationally to kids ages 6-16.

About Airbus
Airbus is a leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive family of airliners on the market, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Sensitive to its position as an industry leader, Airbus strives to be a truly eco-efficient enterprise. To that end Airbus is the first aeronautics company in the world to have earned the ISO 14001 environmental certification for all production sites and products for the entire life cycle. Airbus seeks to ensure that air transport continues to be an eco-efficient means of transport, delivering value while minimizing its environmental impact. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS company.

About the Convention of Biological Diversity
Opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the benefits from utilization of genetic resources. With 191 Parties, the CBD has near-universal participation among countries committed to preserving life on Earth. The CBD seeks to address all threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services, including threats from climate change, through scientific assessments, the development of tools, incentives and processes, the transfer of technologies and good practices and the full and active involvement of relevant stakeholders including indigenous and local communities, youth, NGOs, women and the business community. The Secretariat of the Convention is located in Montreal. For more information, visit cbd.int.

About National Geographic
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 360 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; live events; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geographic literacy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DIGITAL MEDIA UNVEILS NEW IMMERSIVE WEB 2.0 PHOTOGRAPHY APPLICATION -- 'INFINITE PHOTOGRAPH'

2009-04-16

WASHINGTON (April 16, 2009)--National Geographic Digital Media (NGDM) today launches Infinite Photograph, a cutting-edge Web 2.0 photography mosaic application that will allow users to interact with shared online photographs by clicking on color patterns to create an infinite array of stunning mosaics in a variety of themes.

Gearing up for Earth Day, the first Infinite Photograph theme debuts April 16 at www.ngm.com/infinite, featuring mosaics created from user-submitted photos of the natural world as part of National Geographic's My Shot "As Seen on Earth" hub, found at http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/myshot/infinite-photograph/earth.

An Infinite Photograph digital mosaic is composed of 200 to 500 photographs culled from National Geographic's user-generated My Shot photography database. NGDM will roll out more functionality for Infinite Photograph over the next few months, including features that allow users to select search terms from the entire My Shot database of tagged photos, build Infinite Photographs from their own catalog of digital photography and interact with the program through such social networking sites as Facebook.

"Infinite Photograph taps into avid social media users and photography enthusiasts
in a way no Web technology has done to date," said Rob Covey, NGDM's senior vice president of content development and design for online material. "National Geographic has long been known as a leader in stunning photography and for its commitment to preserving our planet. Infinite Photograph supports that longstanding identity and simultaneously represents a significant leap forward into using advanced technology to increase engagement with the brand."

National Geographic launched My Shot last year, generating an online destination where viewers can build their own photo-based National Geographic Web page as well as create and share albums, puzzles and games with fellow users. To date, My Shot has garnered more than 50,000 members, who have uploaded more than 250,000 photos featuring images of people and places around the world.

About National Geographic Digital Media
National Geographic Digital Media (NGDM) is the multimedia division of National Geographic Ventures, the wholly owned, taxable subsidiary of the National Geographic Society, one of the world's largest educational and scientific nonprofit organizations, which works to inspire people to care about the planet. Holding many top industry's awards, NGDM publishes Nationalgeographic.com; produces short-form video for broadband markets; manages marketing and content partnerships across broadband, mobile, gaming and other consumer digital platforms; and provides video and film footage to commercial, theatrical, educational and other digital footage markets.