Photographer Ami Vitale covers stories about culture, animals, and global issues with a thoughtful eye. Her work aims to engage viewer's emotions while informing them about global issues. As part of our "Through the Lens" series, we spoke with Vitale to find out what makes her tick.

I went to the West African country of Guinea Bissau and planned to stay a couple of weeks to tell a story about the aftermath of civil war. Those weeks turned into months—the months turned into a half a year. What I encountered was not the Africa of war and famines, nor was it the idealized world of safaris and exotic animals. It was something altogether different.



I spent my days