Photojournalist Profile

AMI VITALE

"Tunnel Vision can kill Creativity"

Career Path

Ami is a founding member of Ripple Effect Images, an organization of renowned female scientists, writers, photographers and filmmakers working together to create powerful and persuasive stories that shed light on the hardships women in developing countries face, and the programs that can help them.

She is also on the Photojournalism Advisory Council for the Alexia Foundation and is the current President of the National Geographic Advisory Board.

But her first step into the world of photography came when she gained an internship at a small newspaper in Raleigh, North Carolina, in the early 1990s.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/contributors/v/photographer-ami-vitale/

Era

    She started doing photographer around 1990s and since then has been very ambitious about her work and what she wants to do. In 2003 she won General News, third prize stories, World Press Photo in Amsterdam. 2005,she won People in the News, second prize stories, World Press Photo in Amsterdam. Eventually in 2009, after her powerful story on one of the world’s last white rhinos, she now focuses on todays wildlife and environmental stories.

    Throughout her journey becoming a photojournalist it has changed her tremendously in ways that made her bloom as a human being. She states “I realized that being behind the camera is really where I got my courage. The camera became my passport to engaging with the world around me. It is an incredible tool for creating awareness and understanding across cultures and countries, a tool to make sense of our commonalities in the world we share.”

Motivation

    Ami Vitale’s motivation is knowing she has that greater responsibility, an obligation, to also illuminate the things that unite us as human beings rather than simply emphasize our difference. In other words, she knows what talent and skill she has, what gift she has that she can use to really expand everyone’s knowledge and expose those other light and dark corners of the world. Because she feels like she’s superwoman, and with that power comes great responsibility.

Technology

    Vitale uses a collection of photo gear when doing her work. These include her camera lenses, Nikon Z7, D4S, Nikon D810, Nikon D750, Nikon COOLPIX P900, and more.

    For small flash and accessories she uses, the Nikon SB-910 Shoe Mount Speedlight Flash, Nikon SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander, Lastolite Ezybox Hot Shoe Softbox and more.

https://www.amivitale.com/gear/cameras-lenses/


Ethics

    Ami Vitale has encountered various ethical dilemmas. She’s been harassed, threatened. One of the most terrifying experiences she’s had was when she was in a village in Palestine in Gaza. It was after a Palestinian had been shot and killed, after his funeral. The sun was setting she was the only journalist there. Her instincts where telling her to go, although she wanted to capture one or two more frames. Until this man started screaming, and within seconds she was surrounded by a crowd of young, very angry men who wanted blood. They wanted vengeance. Thankfully earlier in the day Vitale had spent time with the family of the man who had been killed and they were able to get her to safety. With that said this just shows how much risk you really have to take being a photographer, to devote your life to photography, and know that sacrifices are the name of the game.

Bias

    Throughout Ami Vitale’s work comes with truths. Every image that Ami Vitale captures are what she experiences in the moment of reality. She does not edit any of her images when putting them all out. If anything the only pieces that she uses to edit certain projects are when she has to make documentaries, but then again she wouldn’t really have to change anything within the images she will put in the video.



Photographic Style

Lekupania and the Giraffe

Within this photo includes the principle of Quality of Light. The direction of light really impacts the image in a way where it looks as if it’s shining just on Lekupania and the Giraffe. Because around the edge and corner of the image you can see it being a bit dim. Another principle is the Focus. The image is so crisp and clean no blur, as if they were not moving at all, so still.  Having such a sharp, crisp image really helps give an emotion of it being so sentimental and  pure.


An orphaned baby reticulated giraffe embraces Sarara Camp wildlife keeper Lekupania. This giraffe will be rehabilitated and return to the wild, as a number of others have done before him. 2017
https://www.amivitale.com/





Kenya’s Last Rhino’s

One of the principles being used here are  the subjects expression. The subject that is focused on is the rhino and the man.  Just based on their expressions both look very joyful, having to enjoy each others company no matter what situation is going on right now.


The world's last surviving male northern white rhino has died after months of poor health, his carers say. 2009
https://www.amivitale.com/




Panda Love

With this image you can tell that Vitale used the rule of thirds, specifically in the center. To really manipulate our eyes to focus directly on the panda. Another principle is the background compliment. The background really compliments the main focus of the panda the rustic, ruined nature telling a story between the main focus and the background.


In China, she was given unprecedented access – she even donned a panda suit to remain anonymous among giant pandas – to document the efforts to breed pandas and release them back into the wild. 2018.
https://www.amivitale.com/




Reteti Elephant Sanctuary

One of the principles I believe that she is using here is the Texture. To me she makes the clothing of the woman and the elephant stand out with its texture making it feel realistic, as I was there at the moment. Another principle is the feeling that this image is giving. The relationship that the elephant and the woman are showing is heart melting. It portrays such love, trust, and just enjoying each others company.


Elephant Sanctuary for World Elephant Day. 2019 https://www.amivitale.com/



IMPACT

Ami Vitale's images has affected society in such a huge way. Vitale is a messenger, as a story teller. She uses photography as a tool to find stories that inspire us, that remind us what we can achieve as individuals as societies for our planet. There are millions of beautiful people in this world who are building the world they want to live in. With Vitale's images and her passion she is on a mission to find these people and shine a spotlight on them in order to amplify their voices.


YOUR MAJOR AT AIC

As a Visual Digital Arts major, and a passionate fine arts artist. Photography has so many similarities and other secrets that relate to art. Given that photography to me is also art it is inspiration to what I am passionate about. Photography helps me give me an image in my head that I can see and then put down on my canvas. Before starting my art pieces I will think of ideas and creative thinking in my head but I will have difficulty trying to visualize it out. Using photography makes it easier for me to see and really drill the image of what I am trying to create in my head. All in all photography to me is art and it just as artistic as it is with art in general.


VIEWPOINTS

From other peoples perspective on Ami Vitale. They viewed her as a superwoman. A woman with such raw power to inspire everyone around the world. While helping all animals and nature. She is viewed as another voice for those who can’t speak, or be heard.



HYPERLINKS








https://www.amivitale.com/




CREATIVE ASPECT- COLLAGE



IMPACT










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