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As many of us do this time of year, I am reflecting on the incredible journey 2024 has been. It’s been a year of meaningful connections, bold new ventures, and milestones that have humbled and inspired me.
The year began with a heartwarming visit to Makaha Beach on the west coast of Oahu, Hawaii, reconnecting with friends we met during a National Geographic assignment a decade ago. Their aloha spirit reminded me of the enduring power of community and shared stories.
From there, I headed to Turin to open “A Greater Wisdom,” my first solo museum exhibition with Gallerie d’Italia and National Geographic. This exhibition, which was beautifully curated and presented, drew almost 100,000 visitors from around the globe and reaffirmed the impact of storytelling through photography.
In April, I stepped out of my comfort zone to anchor a live solar eclipse broadcast on ABC News for National Geographic. While it was an exhilarating experience, it confirmed that my true calling lies behind the lens and not in front of it.
Despite this, the airing of “Photographer”, the National Geographic series featuring the work that my husband, Paul Nicklen, and I do with SeaLegacy, on Disney+ was an amazing experience and I am so glad we could share our world with you.
This year also saw the successful crowdfunding launch of my book, HOPE. Thanks to your unwavering support, we surpassed our fundraising goals, setting the stage for this project to inspire communities on a global scale.
One of the year’s highlights was raising significant funds for ocean conservation through our “100 for the Ocean” print sale, which supports the vital work of organizations like Young Ocean Explorers, Coral Gardeners, and Oceans Initiative. Their work fuels my belief in the collective power of conservation.
On the global stage, attending the 12th World Wilderness Congress (WILD12) and successfully introducing a resolution supporting the ratification of the High Seas Treaty was a proud moment for ocean advocacy.
2024 has been an amazing year in my journey as an artist, and I am more motivated than ever to keep using my camera to tell the stories of our planet. Despite all the beauty we are still in a fight for our planet. 2024 saw another record year for rising temperatures on our planet- hurricanes, floods, droughts, fires- there is still so much work to do. Let us head into 2025 with a renewed sense of urgency for our planets future.
Coral bleaching at the Great Barrier Reef
As I look ahead to 2025, I’m excited to continue this journey. There are so many exciting projects I can’t wait to share with you. I want to thank all of you once again for being part of this mission. I would not have the courage or motivation to do what I do without all of your kind words and support all year, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. Together, we’re making waves.