Michael Melford

Award-winning photographer Michael Melford has produced more than 50 stories for National Geographic and National Geographic Traveler magazines over the past 30 years. His work has been featured on the cover of National Geographic, as well as LIFE, Smithsonian, GEO, TIME, and Coastal Living, among other publications. Michael has traveled to numerous countries and all seven continents—from Antarctica to Alaska and from New Zealand to the Seychelles. His assignments have focused on conservation, preservation, and celebrating the beauty of wilderness and national parks around the world. 

Melford also has produced photography for multiple National Geographic books, and is featured in two online photo courses from National Geographic and The Great Courses (National Geographic Masters of Photography and The National Geographic Guide to Landscape Photography). Michael’s work has garnered prestigious honors, including the Lowell Thomas Award for Travel Photography and recognition from World Press Photo. The United States Postal Service also recently honored Melford by featuring several of his images on a set of Forever stamps celebrating Wild and Scenic Rivers.