MIGUEL FAIRBANKS PHOTOGRAPHY

On Assignment

  • Cover photo of a large group of jubilant men in Tarragona, Spain, who had just collapsed after successfully constructing a “human tower” that stood nine levels high-a rare accomplishment in this highly competitive national pastime.(for the National Geographic book, “Descubrir España: Cataluña,” or, “Discover Spain: Cataluña”)
  • Cover of the first-ever, non-English edition of National Geographic Magazine, Vol. 1, Number 1, used to launch the magazine in Japan. Photo from the assignment originally shot by Miguel for the English edition of the magazine.
  • Photo of President Ronald Reagan and wife, Nancy, as they address guests at a private gathering in Hope Ranch, an exclusive enclave in Santa Barbara, California.
  • Photo of Mel Fisher (left of center, wearing glasses) on the day he and his crew celebrate their discovery of the Spanish galleon, Nuestra Señora de Atocha, off Key West, Florida. Mel's son, Kane, holds a solid bar of silver over his head, just one piece of an enormous treasure of gold, silver and jewels valued at more than 400 million dollars. (for Stern magazine)
  • Photo of Cerro Tres Puntos (Three-Point Peak), from the lookout where Robinson Crusoe (the real-life Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk) watched for passing ships that might save him from the island on which he was marooned. Story on Robinson Crusoe Island originally photographed for the National Geographic book, “Islands Lost in Time,” and subsequently published in the Italian magazine CLASS (seen here).
  • Photo of the Brazilian youths who “surf” the tops of Rio de Janeiro’s electric commuter trains, which serve the world’s most dangerous slum, the Baixada Fluminense. Some 150 kids die each year in this deadly “sport.” (Miguel was going backwards atop the train at 50 mph, while trying to avoid the 3,300-volt wires just overhead).(for COLORS magazine)
  • Motorcyclists cruising north on Highway 1 along the coast of California near Kirk Creek, Big Sur. Photos part of a story on west coast adventures for National Geographic book, {quote}Adventure America.{quote}
  • Photo of President Clinton (while he was President), flanked by Secret Service Agents as he greets bystanders near San Francisco. (for Business Week magazine)
  • Story on the Brazilian island paradise of Fernando de Noroñha, in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Spread 1 of 2.(for National Geographic Magazine)
  • Story on the Brazilian island paradise of Fernando de Noroñha, in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Spread 2 of 2.(for National Geographic Magazine)
  • Walking the red carpet with actor George Clooney, at the Arlington Theater during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. (for The New Yorker)
  • Santa Barbara teen Hannah Montgomery (wearing tiara) celebrates her Sweet 16 party with close friends while featuring her favorite actor of all time, George Clooney.
  • Ad for Men’s Journal, aboard a Harley in a tunnel outside Cody, Wyoming.
  • Portrait of Director Gus Van Sant, on the set of “My Own Private Idaho,” in Portland, Oregon.(for The New York Times Magazine)
  • Acting legend Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith pause for love during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.(for The New Yorker)
  • Story on investing in the highly successful Harley-Davidson Corporation. (for SmartMoney)
  • Aerial photo of downtown Los Angeles, as part of a larger cover story on air pollution in that city.(for The New York Times Magazine)
  • Photo of a koala being taken home for the evening by an animal caregiver in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. Story on Koalas originally photographed for National Geographic Magazine, and subsequently published in the German magazine GEO (seen here).
  • Photo of President Ronald Reagan as he spoke at a private gathering in Hope Ranch, an exclusive enclave in Santa Barbara, California.
  • Cover of the book, “Thunder in the Hills-Sturgis at 50,” photographed and published by Miguel Fairbanks. The story on the biker culture in this small, South Dakota mining town, was originally shot for the Paris-based magazine, Le Figaro.
  • Ad for Patrick Media Group. Shot at Mono Lake, Eastern Sierras, California.
  • Parachuting for the National Geographic book, “Adventure America,” in Lompoc, California, near Vandenberg Air Force Base.
  • Photo of Pope John Paul II on a papal visit to Chile, here making a speech in the presence of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.(for National Geographic Magazine)
  • Portrait of Director Gus Van Sant, on the set of “My Own Private Idaho,” in Portland, Oregon.(for The New York Times Magazine)
  • Photo of Pão de Azucar from the famed statue of Corocovado, overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, host of the 2016 Olympics.(for The New York Times Magazine)
  • Hikers traverse mammoth driftwood logs along the famed West Coast Trail, a treacherous 77-kilometer trail that is as difficult as it is beautiful; on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.(for GEO magazine).
  • Photo of Mother Teresa visiting a church in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.(for the Lethbridge Herald)
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  • Bravo TV "Newlyweds," Montecito, CA
  • National Geographic, etc.
    • Robinson Crusoe Island, National Geographic
    • West Coast Trail, GEO Magazine
    • Koalas, National Geographic
    • Santa Cruz Island, Nature Conservancy
    • Maya Heartland, National Geographic
    • Guatemala, Brazil & Mexico, Material World
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