Ben Horton has based his career on being able to go places that other people either cannot, or don’t want to go. From thousands of feet underwater to the most remote regions in the arctic, Ben’s passion is to use photography as a means to inspire people to take stewardship of the planet. He aims to give people who may not be able to see something for themselves a vicarious experience through his images that will instill a passion in them they would never have otherwise. Ben started his career with National Geographic by telling the story of the sharks of Cocos Island. He traced the illegal fishing industry from Costa Rica to China, and as a result of his work helped to increase the park boundaries and protection of two of Costa Rica’s national parks. He was awarded the National Geographic Society’s first ever Young Explorer Grant for his work, and he has since moved on to receive a number of other National Geographic grants, assignments, and stars in his own television series on the National Geographic Channel called “Extreme China”, which highlights Bens travels through the harshest environments in China as he photographs wild places, explores remote regions, and meets local cultures.
Ben is based in southern California, where he works primarily on adventure campaigns. As a photographer, his career has been highlighted by contrasts, and it’s variety that keeps Ben inspired to continue creating dynamic imagery.