Rick Smolan
Rick Smolan is a visionary photographer and storyteller best known as the creator of the Day in the Life series. Renowned for blending global data, journalism, and photography, Smolan transforms complex stories into compelling visual narratives—revealing patterns, connections, and the human story behind a rapidly changing world.
Big Picture Guy
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Day in the Life Creator
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Freedom Fighter
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Big Picture Guy • Day in the Life Creator • Freedom Fighter •
More about Rick
When 26-year-old Robyn Davidson sought funding from National Geographic for a 1,700-mile walk across the Australian outback with only her dog and four camels, the Magazine agreed—with one condition. Photojournalist Rick Smolan would document the nine-month journey, joining her at intervals along the way. Davidson resisted at first, but the resulting clashes, perseverance, moments of panic, and eventual friendship became a landmark National Geographic cover story, a bestselling photography book, and the hit film Tracks, starring Mia Wasikowska as Davidson and Adam Driver as Smolan.
Over the years, Smolan has contributed stories and images to TIME, Life, and National Geographic. He is a New York Times bestselling author with more than five million books in print and the creator of the groundbreaking Day in the Life book series, which brought together the world’s leading photographers to capture single days across 13 global locations—from the Soviet Union to Japan—offering a vivid snapshot of life on Earth.
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A sought-after global speaker, Smolan has presented at TED, TEDx, the World Economic Forum, All Things Digital, the Ford Foundation, and the Wired Health Conference. His TED talk, Natasha’s Story, about an 11-year-old child entrusted to him in a dying woman’s will, has been viewed nearly 1.5 million times. Oprah Winfrey featured America 24/7 on her “Favorite Things,” and Fortune named his company, Against All Odds Productions, one of the “25 Coolest Companies in America.”
In 2023, Smolan received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for embodying American patriotism, tolerance, and diversity. In 2025, Rick He received the Photography Appreciation Award at the HIPA ceremony in Dubai, honoring his distinguished career as a photographer, author, and influential storyteller.
Speaking Topics
AI and Your Business
Exploration
Culture
Watch Rick in action
Presentations
TRACKS: Alone Across the Outback
Learn the behind-the-scenes inside story of 26-year-old Robyn Davidson and her epic 1700-mile walk across the treacherous Australian Outback with four camels and her dog Diggity. Flying in and out of the Outback five times to join her during her 9-month trek, Rick documented her journey and earned her trust, creating an unforgettable National Geographic cover story and, later, the award-winning feature film TRACKS.
“What amazes me is that you can have 10 different photographers in the same room, and you see 10 different rooms. You realize how much of it is the person's perspective rather than the situation itself.”
– Rick Smolan