Vital Impacts Awards $50,000 in Environmental Photography Fellowships to Tommaso Protti and Others
Vital Impacts, a nonprofit organization established in 2021 by Ami Vitale and Eileen Mignoni, revealed the recipients of its 2026 Environmental Photography Fellowships, totaling $50,000. The Dr. Jane Goodall Fellowship, worth $20,000, was awarded to Tommaso Protti from Brazil for his project 'Terra Vermelha', which examines deforestation and Indigenous resilience in the Vale do Javari region of the Brazilian Amazon. Protti highlights the dangers posed by illegal gold mining and land grabbing, along with Indigenous resistance efforts. Additionally, six fellowships of $5,000 each were granted, and eleven emerging photographers will benefit from mentorship. The judging panel featured Alessia Glaviano among others. To date, Vital Impacts has secured $3.5 million for conservation efforts.
Key facts
- Vital Impacts awarded $50,000 in Environmental Photography Fellowships for 2026.
- Tommaso Protti received the Dr. Jane Goodall $20,000 Fellowship for 'Terra Vermelha'.
- The project investigates deforestation and Indigenous resilience in the Brazilian Amazon.
- Vale do Javari spans 8.5 million hectares and is home to 26 Indigenous groups.
- Univaja is an Indigenous association organizing patrols to defend territory.
- Eleven emerging photographers will receive year-long mentorships.
- Judging panel included Alessia Glaviano, Azu Nwagbogu, Evgenia Arbugaeva, Kathy Moran, and Pat Kane.
- Protti's work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Le Monde, The New Yorker, and National Geographic.
- Protti exhibited at Saatchi Gallery, Maison Européenne de la Photographie, and Benaki Museum.
- Vital Impacts has raised $3.5 million for conservation and reached 30,000 students.
Entities
Artists
- Tommaso Protti
- Ami Vitale
- Eileen Mignoni
- Alessia Glaviano
- Azu Nwagbogu
- Evgenia Arbugaeva
- Kathy Moran
- Pat Kane
- Dr. Jane Goodall
- Dr. Sylvia Earle
- Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim
- Chico Mendes
- Madonna Thunder Hawk
- E.O. Wilson
- Ian Lemaiyan
- Bruno Pereira
- Dom Phillips
Institutions
- Vital Impacts
- National Geographic
- PhotoVogue
- African Artists' Foundation
- Lagos Photo Festival
- The Wall Street Journal
- Le Monde
- The New Yorker
- The New York Times
- TIME
- The Washington Post
- Saatchi Gallery
- Maison Européenne de la Photographie
- Benaki Museum
- University of Rome Tre
- London College of Communication
- Global Witness
- Pictures of the Year International
- Carmignac Photojournalism Award
- Royal Photographic Society
- North Carolina Media and Journalism Hall of Fame
- Conservation International
- Lenscratch
Locations
- Brazil
- Vale do Javari
- Brazilian Amazon
- Amazonas
- Atalaia do Norte
- Solimões River
- Colombia
- Peru
- Pará
- Santa Cruz
- Itaquai River
- Boa Esperanca
- London
- Paris
- Athens
- Rome
- United States