ELIGIBILITY:

Photographers developing long-term bodies of work that explore environmental issues who are also committed to meaningful collaboration with the communities, orgs, and people working toward solutions.

Theme: Exploring the environmental challenges facing our world and the people and communities working toward meaningful solutions.

Vital Impacts is particularly interested in photographers who have a meaningful, established relationship with the people, places, and issues they are documenting. We believe the strongest environmental stories often emerge from photographers who have taken the time to listen, build trust, understand context, and return to a story over time. 

They strongly encourage applications from photographers documenting environmental and conservation stories in their own communities. Local photographers bring perspectives, knowledge, access, and relationships that can offer a depth and authenticity that outsiders may not have. 

At the same time, they recognize that meaningful relationships with a community or issue can take many forms. You do not have to live permanently in a place to have a genuine connection to it. They will also consider photographers who can demonstrate sustained knowledge and engagement through recurring travel, long-term collaboration, professional or academic experience, or other meaningful relationships with the community or issue they propose to document. 

Applicants should clearly demonstrate why they are the right person to tell this story: what they know, whom they know, what relationships they have built, and what perspective they bring that will allow them to tell the story with depth, context, and care. 

They are looking for photographers who are committed to long-term storytelling rather than short-term access—photographers willing to invest the time necessary for trust to develop, relationships to deepen, and more nuanced stories to emerge. 

What they are looking for:

They are seeking photographers who can convey the complexity of environmental and conservation challenges while also documenting potential solutions. 

Strong applications will demonstrate:

A meaningful and sustained relationship with the community, issue, or conservation initiative being documented;

A clear understanding of the environmental issue and its broader significance;

A thoughtful and realistic plan for developing the project over 12 months;

Existing access and trust, where appropriate;

A commitment to ethical and responsible storytelling;

A distinctive visual approach and strong photographic ability; and

The potential for the resulting work to contribute meaningfully to public understanding of environmental and conservation issues.

Prior publication experience is not a requirement.

What can be submitted: 20 images representing one or two bodies of work
Synopsis of the proposed project
Project statement
Biography
Social media information

Cost: $25 per submission. Fee may be waived for economic hardship.

BENEFIT:

In 2027, Vital Impacts will award: 

One $20,000 fellowship to an established environmental photographer;

Six $5,000 fellowships to emerging photographers from around the world; and

Ten mentorships to photographers whose work demonstrates strong potential and would benefit from additional guidance and professional support.