Internationally acclaimed photographer
Jasper Doest is an internationally acclaimed photographer. His presentations move effortlessly from a moment of laughter to a moment of silence — when an image or story suddenly reveals something about ourselves and the choices we make in a world where nothing exists in isolation.
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Sometimes a photograph only reveals its true story when you look a little longer.
Jasper Doest must have been about five years old when his mother handed him her Kodak Instamatic. It was a simple little camera, but it opened a door to a way of seeing the complexity of the world that has never left him.
Today, Doest works as a photographer for National Geographic Magazine. His work takes him all over the globe, to remote ecosystems and densely populated cities — from Central Africa to Antarctica. In Svalbard he once found himself standing a little too close to a polar bear. He walked hand in hand with a Japanese macaque through a busy streets of Tokyo. And one morning he woke up beside a flamingo he now considers family.
At first glance his photographs often seem to be about animals. But those who look a little longer discover that his images ultimately say something about ourselves. For Doest, the many encounters with other species aren’t simply isolated adventures, but clues — small moments in which it becomes visible how humans and other species are trying to inhabit the same world.
That question runs like a thread through his work. His visual stories explore how this shared landscape is constantly shaped by culture, economics and the instinct to survive. From storks living off our waste at landfills in Southern Europe to farmers and elephants sharing land in Zambia, from sacred monkeys in Japan to communities in the Carpathian Mountains searching for ways to coexist with wolves and bears.
With a background in ecology, Doest approaches these stories as part of one larger system in which nothing stands alone. In his lectures he combines powerful photography with personal experiences from the field, showing how choices made in one place can have unexpected consequences somewhere else — for ecosystems, for societies, and ultimately for ourselves.
Jasper Doest is an internationally acclaimed photographer. His accolades include four World Press Photo Awards and the title Environmental Photographer of the Year awarded by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. He is also a Senior Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers.
In his talks, Jasper Doest takes audiences on a visual journey through the world as he has come to know it through photography. Through powerful imagery, personal stories and a touch of humor, he invites audiences to look at the world with fresh eyes. His presentations move effortlessly from a moment of laughter to a moment of silence — when an image or story suddenly reveals something about ourselves and the choices we make in a world where nothing exists in isolation.
On responsibility in a world of hidden connections
In nature, nothing exists in isolation. Every species, every landscape, and every decision is part of a larger system. As a photographer for National Geographic Magazine, Jasper Doest travels the world to places where the deep connections between people, nature, and society become visible — from the Arctic and the forests of Central Africa to our own cities and rural landscapes.
Through powerful photography and personal stories from the field, he reveals how choices made in one place can have unexpected consequences elsewhere — for ecosystems, for societies, and ultimately for ourselves.
An inspiring talk about systems thinking, responsibility, and the question: how do you make good decisions in a world where everything is connected?
On perspective and change
The power of an image often lies not in what you first see, but in what becomes visible when you take a closer look. In this keynote, Jasper Doest shows how attention, curiosity, and perspective help us recognize patterns we might otherwise miss.
Through stories from his work for National Geographic, he demonstrates how small shifts in perspective can lead to new insights — about leadership, decision-making, and the systems we operate within.
Sometimes, change begins with something very simple: learning to see differently.
What encounters with other species teach us about coexistence
At first glance, many of Jasper Doest’s photographs seem to be about animals. But those who look closer discover they ultimately tell a story about ourselves. From flamingos and monkeys to elephants and polar bears, his work shows how humans and other species attempt to inhabit the same world.
With humor, wonder, and sometimes confronting stories from the field, he reveals what these encounters teach us about collaboration, sharing space, and taking responsibility.
Because in the end, the way we share the world with other species may say more about who we are than anything else.
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