David McLain
David McLain is the eye behind the Blue Zones. For more than 25 years, he has worked alongside Dan Buettner exploring the science, culture, and daily rituals of the world’s longest-lived communities. Through immersive storytelling and striking imagery, he reveals how community, purpose, and connection shape longevity—and health span.
Globetrotter
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Blue Zones Evangelist
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Brand Wizard
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Globetrotter • Blue Zones Evangelist • Brand Wizard •
More about David
A National Geographic photographer, Sony Artisan of Imagery, filmmaker, and author, McLain has spent decades documenting the world’s five Blue Zones—regions where people routinely live vibrant lives past 100. His work includes the National Geographic cover story that introduced the Blue Zones to the world and several books, including the #1 New York Times–bestselling The Blue Zones Kitchen. Recently named a Blue Zones Fellow, McLain draws on a lifetime of experience photographing the world’s oldest healthiest people to help audiences understand what it truly means to live longer—and better.
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David honed his craft shooting feature-length assignments around the world, working across six continents and often spending more than 200 days a year on the road. He has photographed seven feature stories for National Geographic, shot the feature documentary Bounce, which premiered at SXSW, and worked extensively with major magazines worldwide. His work as a visual storyteller brings the human condition into sharp focus for leading brands and institutions including Sony, Apple, Blue Zones, and CaringBridge.
David’s mandate is always the same: work with every kind of person under any kind of condition and create timeless yet contemporary images for clients with the highest visual standards. Guided by curiosity, deep listening, and empathy for lives different from his own, David focuses on original reporting that explores complex issues in the context of real people and their everyday lives. He lives in a 220-year-old farmhouse in Maine, where a post-and-beam barn houses his studio.
Speaking Topics
Reinvention
Navigating the Future
Health & Wellness
Science
Culture
Watch David in action
Presentations
The Blue Zones: Unlocking the Secrets of Longevity
Join photographer David McLain on a journey to a life well-lived as he uncovers the secrets of the BlueZones—places where people live vibrant lives beyond 100. David has spent years studying the habits of centenarians across the globe. Now, through personal anecdotes and scientific research, David shares how adopting their practices can add quality years to our own lives.
Across the Healthcare Divide
Health inequities in America—shaped by race, income, gender, and zip code—leave many struggling to survive. David McLain’s ten-part docuseries and photo essays follow individuals whose lives reflect stark statistics, from diabetes and cancer to childbirth and mental health. Yet amid hardship, he uncovers hope: communities quietly fighting back, building resilience, and shaping a healthier, fairer future.
“My primary tools are curiosity, an ability to listen, and deep empathy for people who inhabit different realities than mine.”
– David McLain