Award-winning National Geographic photographer Annie Griffiths discusses her organization Ripple Effect Images, which uses "visual storytelling to shine a light on programs that empower women and children in the developing world." She give us insight about the process of documenting marginalized communities and the power of visual storytelling.

 

This interview was conducted by PhotoWings in partnership with the Blue Earth Alliance.

 

Annie Griffiths was one of the first women photographers to work for National Geographic, and has photographed in nearly 150 countries during her career. She has worked on dozens of magazine and book projects for the Society, including stories on Lawrence of Arabia, Baja California, Galilee, Petra, Sydney, New Zealand, and Jerusalem. In addition to her magazine work, Annie is deeply committed to photographing for aid organizations around the world. She is the Executive Director of Ripple Effect Images, a collective of photographers who document the programs that are empowering women and girls throughout the developing world, especially as they deal with the devastating effects of climate change. Annie’s work has also appeared in LIFE, Geo, Smithsonian, Fortune, Merian, Stern, and many other publications. With author Barbara Kingsolver, she produced Last Stand: America’s Virgin Lands, a book celebrating the last pristine wilderness in North America. Proceeds from the book have raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for grassroots land conservation. In 2008. Annie published A Camera, Two Kids and a Camel, a photo memoir about balance, and the joy of creating a meaningful life. In 2010, she published Simply Beautiful Photographs, which was named the top photo/art book of the year by Amazon and by Barnes and Noble.

 

Annie is currently at work on three new books. Annie has received awards from the National Press Photographers Association, the Associated Press, the National Organization of Women, The University of Minnesota and the White House News Photographers Association.