Aug.22: National Geographic Photographer Mike Yamashita Shares His Shangri-la at the AAJA Convention in New York

On Thursday, August 22, 2013, don’t miss Elusive Paradise: National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita’s Shangri-la at 10:00am at the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) Convention at the New York Hilton.

National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita at a book signing at the Asia Society on February 21, 2013 for his new book Shangri-LA. Photo by Lia Chang

Yamashita will start off the session with a short presentation on putting together and selling a book project, followed by a slideshow of his images of a rare and fast-disappearing view of Tibet which are featured in his new book, Shangri-La (along the tea road to Lhasa).

Yamashita fell in love with the region over fifteen years ago, and his photographs offer a record of a way of life that has flourished in the rarefied heights of the Himalayas for centuries but is now threatened with extinction.

AAJA-NY chapter members Michael Yamashita, Lia Chang, Henry Moritsugu, Marilynn K. Yee and Stan Honda at the opening reception for the AAJA Convention at The New York Hilton on August 21, 2013.

Michael Yamashita has been shooting for National Geographic magazine for over 30 years, combining his dual passions of photography and travel. After graduating from Wesleyan University with a degree in Asian studies, he spent seven years in Asia, which became his area of specialty. Returning to the United States fluent in Japanese, he began shooting for National Geographic as well as many other U.S. and international clients. Michael is known for epic stories that retrace the paths of famous travelers, like Marco Polo, the Japanese poet Basho, and the Chinese explorer Zheng He. His feature documentary, The Ghost Fleet, won the Best Historical Documentary prize at the New York International Independent Film Festival. His National Geographic Channel documentary, Marco Polo: The China Mystery Revealed, received two Asian Television and Film Awards and was also included in the top 20 most popular NG Channel documentaries of the decade.

National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita and Lia Chang at the opening reception of the AAJA convention at The New York Hilton on August 21, 2013. Photo by Stan Honda

Lia Chang is anactor, a performance and fine art botanicalphotographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia recently starred as Carole Barbara inLorey Hayes’ Power Play at the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, Lorey Hayes, Marcus Naylor and Phynjuar.