James Stanfield is the quintessential NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC photographer. From rats to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, Jim's adventures have taken him to over 120 countries for 65 assignments. His professionalism, ability to blend in with his subjects, natural curiosity, and dedication have earned him numerous awards, a fascinating life, and plenty of stories to tell.

As a journalism major at the University of Wisconsin and then a student at the Layton School of Art and Design, Jim honed his photographic skills. After a stint in the army and five very educational years at the Milwaukee Journal, Jim Stanfield joined the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine photography staff in 1967.

Jim's mission has been to document the world's places, events, and cultures. He has covered the coronation of Iran's Shah, the robbing of pre-Columbian Indian gravesites in search of gold, the power and allure of chocolate, and royal life in England's Windsor Castle. He has produced articles on Syria, Bulgaria, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Burma, Israel, Poland, Bhutan, and the Czech Republic. Jim's lens has focused on the grand dramas of history and civilization including: "The World of Süleyman the Magnificent," "Genghis Khan," "In the Wake of Darwin's Beagle," "Portugal's Sea Road to the East," "The Rat, Lapdog of the Devil," "The Power and the Glory of the Roman Empire," and "Ibn Battuta, Prince of Travelers." Books have also contributed to Jim's mission; Inside the Vatican, The Greatest Flight, and his latest book, a retrospective of his career, entitled Eye of the Beholder.

Jim Stanfield's contributions to the world of photojournalism have earned him the recognition of his peers. The White House News Photographers Association has chosen him as Photographer of the Year four times: in 1970, 1977, 1982, and 1987. The National Press Photographers Association also named him Magazine Photographer of the Year in 1985. In July of 1999, the NPPA presented Jim with the Joseph A. Sprague Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement.