Jim Richardson. Llamas of Machu Picchu.

Llamas roam freely at the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, a reminder of the intimate connection of people, culture and animals in the high Andes of Peru. Llamas were domesticated to carry heavy loads across steep mountain trails. They made life possible here at this 15th-century icon, often referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas.”

Jim Richardson has built his photographic career around visual storytelling by creating groundbreaking work in documentary, resource issues, environmental photography and the critical concerns of feeding the planet. Before concentrating his working life at National Geographic for the last 35+ years he was noted for his innovative documentary narratives of rural life and adolescence life. For National Geographic he pioneered fresh visual narratives of water issues in the 1990’s before beginning his work on food, agricultural development, and the problems surrounding feeding our growing (and hungry) world.  He is also known for his decades of photography in Scotland, focusing on the interplay of people and landscapes, history, culture and traditions. 

Among his awards he is proudest that his fellow National Geographic photographers named him their “Photographer’s Photographer” in 2014 and that the people of Cuba, Kansas (Pop. 186) named him their “Honored Citizen.” In 2017 Kansas State University bestowed an honorary doctorate for his work in cultural and environmental communications.

Follow Jim on Instagram @JimRichardsonNG.