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National Geographic's
Michael Yamashita
Journeys Along the Silk Road
A Farland Chang docuseries
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Michael Yamashita
Renowned visual storyteller Michael Yamashita has worked for the National Geographic magazine for 40 years, photographing wide-ranging topics throughout six continents. As the first person of color to regularly contribute to National Geographic, his long career has carried him from the Great Wall of China to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and across his ancestral home country of Japan, on more than 30 major stories for the magazine.
After graduating from Wesleyan University, Michael went on a “roots” trip to Japan, where he discovered his two passions—photography and travel. His first assignments shooting for Singapore Airlines took him all over Asia while he was based in Tokyo and Singapore. Since then, he has continued to focus on Asia, especially China and Japan, as his primary area of interest and expertise.
Many of Michael's stories have focused on great explorers, from Marco Polo’s travels along the Silk Road to the epic voyages of 15th-century Chinese Admiral Zheng He and the 16th-century journeys of Matsuo Basho, Japan’s most celebrated literary figure.
He has published 16 books, including Marco Polo, Zheng He, The Great Wall of China, Shangri-La, Along the Tea Horse Road to Lhasa, A Silk Road Journey, and In a Japanese Garden. Upcoming books will focus on a retrospective of his 40 years covering China, titled East Meets West, and on his roots in Japan, with the working title Full Circle.
In addition to his still photography, Michael has produced two award-winning feature-length documentary films based on his work retracing Marco Polo's and Zheng He's journeys.
As one of the top photography influencers worldwide with over 1.7 million followers on Instagram (@yamashitaphoto), Yamashita is a powerful voice in contemporary visual media, as well as a mentor to emerging photographers. In recent years, Yamashita has ventured into digital innovation, successfully launching five sold-out NFT collections that translate his archive into new contexts.
A charismatic communicator, Yamashita frequently speaks at global photography events and has delivered TED Talks that reflect on his career, travels, and the evolution of the field of photography. He has received many industry awards, including those from the Pictures of the Year competition, the New York Art Directors Club, and the Asian American Journalists Association, and is often called on to judge international photo competitions.
Balancing global travel with grounded community involvement, Michael juggles time between homes in New York and rural New Jersey, where he maintains a studio and is a volunteer firefighter.
Farland Chang
Farland Chang is an Emmy award-winning storyteller whose passion is to bridge East and West.
For nearly 30 years, he has been covering stories across the US and Asia for news organizations, including NBC & CNN. During Farland's time in Hong Kong as anchor & correspondent, his CNN colleague and business partner, Suberna Shringla, made the introduction to National Geographic's master photographer, Michael Yamashita. A friendship was born between two fellow storytellers, two Asian Americans, and two ambassadors between east & west. The rest is history.
Michael Yamashita's iconic photos for Nat Geo over four decades, his acclaimed books about his journeys along the Silk Road, and his sweeping body of work over decades have made him one of Nat Geo's legendary ambassadors. One of the elite photojournalists who fulfill Nat Geo's motto to "illuminate and protect the wonder of our world."
And as a fan of Michael's and one who grew up with Nat Geo, Farland is honored to join the cause of opening a window to the world: whether it's about capturing timeless beauty and preserving our planet to fostering peace among people and appreciation between cultures.
Farland set out to turn vision into reality: producing a documentary series to celebrate Michael's timeless stories
and unforgettable adventures. On the road and behind the scenes with one of the world's greatest photojournalists.
A deep dive into the art of the photographer. And a profound look into how this Nat Geo master sees the world
through his mind's eye. With so much of Michael's work to share, Farland's vision of just one documentary evolved
into a series of nine episodes. This would become Farland's obsession. A passion project. And a labor of love.
One he could pursue while wearing his other hat as an educator.
While in post production to wrap up the series, Farland continues teaching audiences around the world.
He is currently a visiting scholar at Nanjing University (NJU) after serving as professor
of journalism & communication at Shantou University. Farland has also lectured at Cornell, UCLA, USC,
Hong Kong University (HKU) & Zhejiang University (ZJU).
Farland earned his bachelor's in Government at Cornell, his master's in journalism at Columbia
and his post-graduate certificate in radio, film and TV from the University of Bristol,
where he studied as a Rotary Scholar and Paul Harris Fellow.