Exploration & Discovery

Driven by a desire to understand who journeyed here alongside us, Ella is undeterred by war zones, pirates, and politics in her quest to unearth the fossil record before it’s too late.

Driven by the pursuit of knowledge and an insatiable curiosity, NASA’s Chief Engineer for the ambitious Europa Clipper Mission is convinced he has the best job on Earth.

Jodi Cobb’s trailblazing career breaks through gender and cultural barriers, as she documents momentous change in some of the world’s most complex, impenetrable environments.

This wildlife biologist-turned-photographer is working on a long-term study, exploring the relationship between humans and wolves around the world. His ambitious goal? Peaceful coexistence.

David Doubilet’s photography reveals two worlds at once, uniting life above and below the water's surface in one frame.

By showing how every breath of air we take and every drop of water we drink depends on the health of our Oceans, Dr. Sylvia Earle makes marine conservation everyone’s concern.

Andrew invites us to move beyond the tourist selfie to open ourselves to the rich kaleidoscope of humanity, adventure, and experience the world offers, to become a more evolved version of ourselves.

Leading adventure writer Kevin Fedarko brings to life the wild places we share and the adventurers who find their solace in nature.

For 20 years, Deanne served as a photojournalist for the San Francisco Chronicle, documenting the AIDS crisis, pivotal SCOTUS rulings, sports, and pop culture.

Terry Garcia served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Science and Exploration Officer for the National Geographic Society for seventeen years, launching more than 400 scientific field research, conservation, and exploration projects annually.

Highly decorated photojournalist David Guttenfelder is celebrated for his thorough study of geopolitical conflict, conservation, culture, and technology, with a keen and curious eye to the future.

Scientist and photographer Jennifer Hayes has captured stories about every topic under the sea—from shipwrecks to coral kingdoms.

The name Hillary is synonymous with Himalayan mountaineering and philanthropy. Peter Hillary has been on 40 expeditions around the world, including five to the top of the world—Mount Everest.

This dynamic photographer refuses to be labeled, producing award-winning editorial work, creating magic for blue-chip brands, and starring in the global TV series, Extreme China.

After 20 years as a Nat Geo photographer, Chris Johns was the first to be elevated to Editor-in-Chief of the venerable magazine. Under his direction, National Geographic earned 63 nominations and 23 National Magazine Awards.

South African-born Dereck Joubert has been filming, researching, and exploring in Africa for more than 3 decades with his wife, Beverly Joubert. Their mission is to save the wild places of Africa and to protect the creatures that depend on them.

Beverly has dedicated her life to helping the wildlife of Africa thrive amidst the pressures from hunting, poaching, decreased habitat, climate change, and conflict. Her striking photographic portraits of wild animals call us to our highest sensibilities.

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner is a climbing legend—the first woman to have submitted all 14 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen and high-altitude porters.

Photography has taken Andy along the skeleton coasts of Namibia, inside the most exclusive wineries in the world, and—most recently—through America's National Parks in a COVID-escape van named Gypsy.

Photographer Mattias Klum is an eloquent defender of biodiversity. Whether addressing the World Economic Forum or students, Mattias brings his A-game and nobody leaves his show unchanged.

Whether documenting her journey through depression or celebrating the world through the eyes and words of her two boys, Photographer Marvi Lacar is the consummate creator.

Keith Ladzinski is a master of documenting the ends of the earth. His breathtaking images of our world’s wonders evoke a powerful sense of curiosity and awe.

One of the great nature photographers of our time, Frans Lanting has captured the beauty of our natural work for over three decades, using images and stories that inspire wonder and help audiences engage deeply with our living planet.

Mike Libecki is a man on a mission—to climb 100 first ascents in his lifetime. Guess what? He’s nearly there. If enthusiasm, dedication, and extreme skill could be bottled inside a human, this would be the man.

Albert Yu Min Lin has dedicated his life to uncovering the lost relics of our past. From the Mongolian plains to the Maya jungle, he combines cutting-edge technology with vivid storytelling to piece together the forgotten fragments of our humanity.

This grandson of Holocaust survivors needed to understand the hate that leads to war, so he got as close as he could, embedding alongside soldiers in Iraq. Now he channels that passion into storytelling.

Rock climber turned award-winning photographer/filmmaker Andy Mann documents our natural world to show its interdependence, to raise empathy, and to bridge the gap between science and policy.

Who says you can’t have it all? This primatologist, TV Host, university executive, O mag Insider, National Geographic Explorer, and mother of six begs to differ.

To see the natural world through Pete’s eyes is to fling open your arms to the sky and dance in the rain. This gifted creator tells some of the most important stories of our time with passion, wit, and curiosity.

In his longest-running project, Photographer David McLain travels alongside author Dan Buettner to document the diet and lifestyle habits shared by the longest-lived people in the world.

Cristina’s commitment to conservation extends beyond the Ocean to what it means to be human...understanding that the history of every living thing that has ever existed on this planet also lives within us.

Leading adventure photographer and filmmaker Ben Moon is best known for his seminal film Denali, documenting a heart wrenching and universal story of love between man and dog.

J pioneered the concept of Blue Mind, a flow-state that acknowledges the physical, ecological, economic, cognitive, emotional, psychological, and social benefits of being on, in, or near water. (In Memoriam)

Emmy Award-winner tells the story of Wild Africa, taking us deep inside the animal kingdom—most recently, showing how generations of shared wisdom have enabled elephants to survive against all odds.

Meet CNN Hero of the Year and the founder of the world's only "environmental-strength" river clean-up organization—the personification of optimism and sheer will.

An internationally renowned photographer, filmmaker, mental health advocate, and Nat Geo Adventurer of the Year, Cory Richards has explored from Antarctica to the Okavango Delta.

To get a fresh perspective of humanity today, this two-time Pulitzer Prize winner is on a 24,000-mile walkabout around the entire planet. He calls it the Out of Eden Walk.

Joel Sartore is on an epic quest to save nature through his sweeping Photo Ark Project. Already 14,000 portraits strong, this project aims to document every living species in captivity, while there's still time.

This Emmy Award-winner brings into sharp focus the pivotal moment at which we find ourselves in history—when we understand the problems, know the solutions, and simply need to summon the will to act.

This extreme filmmaker talks about 360-degree leadership, risk management, and why he aims to work at the edge of failure to produce authentic and memorable content.

Mark Synnott is a New York Times best-selling author, a pioneering big wall first ascensionist and one of the most prolific exploratory climbers of his generation. This quest has taken him on more than three dozen expeditions.

In biologist/photographer Anand Varma’s hands, a camera is not just a tool to capture what he sees—it’s a way to illuminate the layers of beauty and complexity that are otherwise hidden from the naked eye.

Commanding U.S./Italian/and Russian crews on the ISS for 200 days during the Russian invasion of Crimea showed Terry Virts that anything is possible with diplomacy and constant innovation.

In the hands of Nikon Ambassador, Nat Geo photographer, and nonprofit Chief Ami Vitale, the camera is a tool for change.  Her work celebrates how and where we are learning to coexist with wildlife.

What if the first Afghan woman to earn a commercial pilot’s license went on to break the world record as the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine plane? Meet Shaesta.

One of the most iconic and innovative photographers of our time, Stephen Wilkes constantly pushes the boundaries of what is possible.

Purpose and passion have coalesced in the hands of photographer Steve Winter - saving Big Cats is his life’s mission, and one heck of a story.

Photographer Michael Yamashita has trained his lens on Asia for more than 40 years. With a love of history and culture, his body of work is a photographic time capsule and a compass forward.