Vital Impacts’ 2026 Fellowships and Mentorships, as Featured by The Eye of Photography

We’re honored to be featured by The Eye of Photography for our 2026 Fellowships and Mentorships and the photographers whose work continues to shape the future of environmental storytelling.

For the third consecutive year, Vital Impacts awarded seven environmental photography fellowships totaling $50,000, alongside eleven year-long mentorships, supporting artists exploring the complex and urgent relationship between humanity and the planet. 

“As support for in-depth environmental storytelling declines and the urgency of these stories continues to grow, Vital Impacts champions the artists whose images spark empathy, inspire action, and remind us of our collective responsibility to protect the Earth we call home,” Eye of Photography wrote.

The article also highlights our mentorship program, which brings together emerging photographers and experienced mentors for a year of focused guidance and collaboration. Through one-on-one sessions with leading photographers, editors, and conservationists, mentees build the skills, confidence, and sensitivity needed to tell stories that honor both people and place.

We’re grateful to The Eye of Photography for recognizing the artists at the heart of this work and for helping share their work with a global audience.