Chris Johns (photographer)
Encyclopedia
Chris Johns is a prize-winning photographer who spent many years in Africa for National Geographic Magazine
and is the first photographer ever to be named Editor-in-Chief of the publication, the position he has held since 2005. Under Johns' leadership, National Geographic received the General Excellence prize in the National Magazine Awards in 2007 and 2008. He started his journalism career at daily newspapers, and at age 28 was named Newspaper Photographer of the Year by the National Press Photographers Association
.
in April 1951, Johns studied agriculture at Oregon State University
and photojournalism at the University of Minnesota
. Johns began his photography career as a staff member at The Topeka Capital-Journal
(where he and Gerald Ford
's daughter Susan Ford
were the paper's two interns in 1975). He was named National Press Photographers Association’s Newspaper Photographer of the Year in 1979, and by 1980 was a staff photographer at the Seattle Times
. After joining National Geographic, he contributed extensively, shooting two cover articles before becoming an editor.
Johns has photographed extensively in Africa
. The foreword to Johns' photography book Valley of Life: Africa's Great Rift was written by Nelson Mandela
.
He lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains
of Virginia
with his wife, his daughters Noel and Louise, and his son Tim.
In 2009 Johns was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Indiana University.
National Geographic Magazine
National Geographic, formerly the National Geographic Magazine, is the official journal of the National Geographic Society. It published its first issue in 1888, just nine months after the Society itself was founded...
and is the first photographer ever to be named Editor-in-Chief of the publication, the position he has held since 2005. Under Johns' leadership, National Geographic received the General Excellence prize in the National Magazine Awards in 2007 and 2008. He started his journalism career at daily newspapers, and at age 28 was named Newspaper Photographer of the Year by the National Press Photographers Association
National Press Photographers Association
NPPA is the acronym for the National Press Photographers Association, founded in 1947. The organization is based in Durham, North Carolina and its mostly made up of still photographers, television videographers, editors, and students in the journalism field...
.
Biography
Born in OregonOregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in April 1951, Johns studied agriculture at Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
and photojournalism at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. Johns began his photography career as a staff member at The Topeka Capital-Journal
The Topeka Capital-Journal
The Topeka Capital-Journal is a daily newspaper in Topeka, Kansas owned by Morris Communications. It has won one Pulitzer Prize.-History:...
(where he and Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
's daughter Susan Ford
Susan Ford
Susan Elizabeth Ford Bales is an American author, photojournalist, and former chairman of the board of the Betty Ford Center for alcohol and drug abuse.-Youth:...
were the paper's two interns in 1975). He was named National Press Photographers Association’s Newspaper Photographer of the Year in 1979, and by 1980 was a staff photographer at the Seattle Times
The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times is a newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, US. It is the largest daily newspaper in the state of Washington. It has been, since the demise in 2009 of the printed version of the rival Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle's only major daily print newspaper.-History:The Seattle Times...
. After joining National Geographic, he contributed extensively, shooting two cover articles before becoming an editor.
Johns has photographed extensively in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. The foreword to Johns' photography book Valley of Life: Africa's Great Rift was written by Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
.
He lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
with his wife, his daughters Noel and Louise, and his son Tim.
In 2009 Johns was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Indiana University.