Jonathan Irish
Jonathan Irish is a travel and conservation photographer based in Golden, Colorado, sharing landscapes, wildlife and cultures through National Geographic stories, photo expeditions and national park projects.
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Latest
Jonathan’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
- The Greatest American Road Trip2016 · Photographer and project partner
Independent project - Explore America’s National Parks Deck2024 · Photographer
Rizzoli Universe - This city should be your next adventure: Tokyo, Japan2025 · Photographer and featured traveler
National Geographic - Samsung Art StoreNational Park Foundation collection on Samsung Art Store2026 · Photographer, 40-image collection
Overview
- Based in
- Golden, Colorado
- Work
- Travel and conservation photographer; photography instructor
- Signature project
- Photographing all 59 U.S. national parks in 2016
- Reach of his travels
- All seven continents and more than 100 countries
Mini bio
How it started.
Jonathan grew up exploring the outdoors. In a Digital Trends interview, he traced his love of national parks and photography to his grandfather, who shared both interests. He later spent more than eight years at National Geographic, where he founded and led the National Geographic Adventures program.
The journey fans know.
In 2016, Jonathan and his partner Stefanie Payne spent a year traveling to all 59 U.S. national parks for the National Park Service centennial. Their project, The Greatest American Road Trip, brought together his photographs and their stories from the road. It also led to a 240-page book and an appearance on Good Morning America.
Teaching along the way.
Based in Golden, Colorado, he photographs landscapes, wildlife and cultures with conservation in mind. His work has appeared in National Geographic and The New York Times, among other outlets. He also teaches photography on expeditions, including trips to Alaska, the Galápagos and polar regions.
Recent chapters.
His National Geographic collaborations have taken fans through European cities and into Tokyo’s craft traditions. In 2026, Samsung and the National Park Foundation brought 40 of his park photographs to the Samsung Art Store.
Creditschronological, newest first
- 2026National Park Foundation collection on Samsung Art StorePhotographer
- 2025Your next adventure: Unwind in Hakone, just outside TokyoPhotographer and featured traveler
- 2025This city should be your next adventure: Tokyo, JapanPhotographer and featured traveler
- 2024Explore America’s National Parks DeckPhotographer
- 2024Your next adventure: London, EnglandPhotographer and featured traveler
- 2016The Greatest American Road TripPhotographer and project partner with Stefanie Payne
Awards
Quotes
Go do it! Pick a park or two, make a plan, and make it happen.Jonathan Irish, Digital Trends
His encouragement to readers after discussing the challenges and rewards of photographing every U.S. national park.
Trivia
- His grandfather’s enthusiasm for photography and national parks helped shape his own interests.
- He used a 27-foot tripod during the national parks project, sometimes attracting as much attention as the scenery.
- He has also shot virtual reality assignments with 360-degree cameras on six continents for Discovery and Google.
- In Tokyo, he bought a kitchen knife and had it engraved in katakana.
Find Jonathan
Follow his photographs and find upcoming photo expeditions.
Are you Jonathan Irish?
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