Meet the 2026 Vital Impacts Fellows That Are Making A difference to the Planet Through Photography

Vital Impacts has announced its 2026 Environmental Photography Fellowships, selecting a new cohort of photographers dedicated to telling the stories that connect people and the planet. The organisation was founded by National Geographic photographer Ami Vitale, and has built a reputation for backing work that nurtures long-form projects rooted in trust and deep cultural engagement. The fellowships and year-long mentorships are designed to provide emerging and established photographers with the time, guidance, and editorial support necessary to tackle environmental stories with nuance, rather than relying solely on urgency.

This year’s projects move from the Brazilian Amazon to the deserts of Algeria, the mountains of Bolivia, and the rural landscapes of Spain, exploring deforestation, Indigenous sovereignty, ancestral stewardship, resource extraction, and climate resilience. There’s a deliberate balance between documentary clarity and visual poetry, where the images serve as both testimony and invitation. As Vitale puts it, the aim is to uplift local voices and solution-based storytelling, reminding us that environmental photography isn’t just about witnessing loss, but about imagining what protection, responsibility, and coexistence might look like. Let’s take a look at some of the photographers and their work selected for the fellowships.

Dr. Jane Goodall $20,000 Environmental Photography Fellowship

Tommaso Protti, Brazil
‘Terra Vermelha’

A decade-long investigation into deforestation and Indigenous resilience in the Brazilian Amazon.
“The Vale do Javari represents one of the most urgent front lines to document in the rainforest today,” said Protti. “This grant offers a vital chance to advance my investigation, focusing on the Univaja group’s struggle to defend their territory and lives.” While deforestation is not only an environmental catastrophe but a profound crisis of human rights and Indigenous sovereignty, this work is ultimately hopeful—because it amplifies Indigenous leadership, resilience, and the possibility of meaningful protection when these stories are seen and supported.

Honoring Legacy $5,000 Environmental Photography Fellowship

Dr. Sylvia Earle Environmental Photography Fellowship

Tatsiana Chypsanava, Nelson, New Zealand
“Te Urewera: The Living Ancestry of the Tūhoe People”

Named in honor of Dr. Sylvia Earle, this project celebrates the Tūhoe people’s revolutionary model of stewardship, where the land itself is recognized as a living ancestor.

Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim Environmental Photograph Fellowship

Cléa T. Rekhou, Algiers, Algeria
“Beyond the Steppe”

Named in honor of environmental activist Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Cléa T. Rekhou’s story illuminates how desert communities are revitalizing arid landscapes through ancestral knowledge and collective innovation.

Ian Lemaiyan Environmental Photography Fellowship

Supratim Bhattacharjee, Kolkata, India
“The Cost of Coal”

Honoring the late Kenyan wildlife conservationist Ian Lemaiyan, Supratim Bhattacharjee’s work exposes the human and ecological toll of coal mining in India while tracing the country’s transition toward renewable energy.

E.O. Wilson Environmental Photography Fellowship

River Claure, Cochabamba, Bolivia
“A Boat for the Future of the Mountains”

In tribute to E.O. Wilson, River Claure’s poetic body of work turns totora reed boats into symbols of memory and resistance amid the disappearance of Andean waters.

Madonna Thunder Hawk Environmental Photography Fellowship

Whitney Snow, Heart Butte, United States
“The Women’s Grass”

Named for Madonna Thunder Hawk, this project documents women of the Blackfeet Nation as they restore sacred sweetgrass, preserving its teachings for future generations.

Chico Mendes Environmental Photography Fellowship

Carlos Folgoso Sueiro, Verin, Spain
“Beyond the Lake”

Echoing the spirit of Chico Mendes, this project explores rural Galicia, where communities confront drought, wildfire, and depopulation while holding on to memory and place.

I addition to the Fellowships, eleven photographers were selected for a year-long mentorship to strengthen their storytelling and professional connections. You can see their images and learn more about Vital Impacts on the website.

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