Aya Okawa is an award-winning aerial and environmental photographer and visual anthropologist who enjoys shooting landscape transformation, abstract patterns, and documenting the interaction of natural and human systems.

Aya experiments with photography as a way to create space to slow down and study moments of being, in simplicity and complexity. She sees photographs as both research and meditation; either inspiring to ask more questions or to simply enjoy silence. Photography is way of studying the natural world and learning through seeing.

Her work has been printed in the National Geographic Magazine, the National Geographic book 'Spectacle', Newsweek (Polksa), Natur, Open Skies Magazine, The Washington Post, The Daily Mail, The Guardian, National Geographic Travel, ArtDoc Photo Magazine and the National Geographic Traveller Magazine. In 2017 Aya was the Grand Prize winner of The Weather Channel, 'It’s Amazing Out There' Photo Contest, and her photos have won recognition at the International Photo Awards, Photo District News, Tokyo International Foto Awards, PX3, The Big Picture, Smithsonian Magazine and the California Academy of Sciences. Aya’s work is currently featured on the Samsung Frame TV in collaboration with Nava Contemporary. She was regular contributor to National Geographic Your Shot, National Geographic’s global photography community.

Aya is passionate about exploring the natural world and protecting ecosystems and wild lands. She can often be found at the wee hours hauling around a heavy tripod and camera or taking photographs from small planes. She is available for international collaborations & assignments, and shoots regularly in the Continental U.S., Hawai’i, Europe, and New Zealand. Contact her for commissions, licensing and prints.

SELECT PUBLICATIONS

Published in National Geographic book, Spectacle.
Printed in National Geographic Magazine (June 2017 Issue).
Published as National Geographic Your Shot Photos of the Week.
Featured in Newsweek Polska.
Featured in National Geographic Magazine (Online & iPad vs, April Issue).
Featured on "25 Best National Geographic Travel Photos."
ArtDoc Photo Magazine Cover Image + Feature Interview. Meditative Lens
Royal Photographic Society features (Themes: Human Impact and Everyday Earth).
PetaPixel features NatGeo YourShot Best Landscape Photos.
ArtDoc Photography Magazine Photo Series, Ghost Trees: Vestiges of Change.
Nature Vision Magazine by Nature Photographers Network, Interview and Photo Series.
All About Photo, Exclusive Interview with Aya Okawa.
PetaPixel Feature and Write Up “Visual Anthropologist Captures the Beautiful Complexity of Planet Earth”
The Guardian 'Unmissable' Photo.
Emirates Air Magazine, Bodie, California Ghost Town Story.
Featured by The Guardian.
Front page of Washington Post Travel.
Featured on CNN for the Samsung Frame TV nomination for CES 2022.
Featured on the CNN Homepage.
Smithsonian Magazine Photo of the Day.

EXHIBITION
Nov 2025. Seregno, Italy Exhibition - World Water Day traveling exhibition.
Sep 2025 Featured in Bay Area Photography Open Exhibition (Jurors, Allie Haeusslein, Pier 24 Photography, Shana Lopes, SFMOMA, and Nathan Lomas, Image Flow).
Apr 2025 Milan Exhibition, with World Water Photo Contest awardees.
Nov 2022. Siena Awards - On Exhibition in Siena, Italy.
Sep 2022 On exhibit Photo Place Gallery (The Life of Water exhibition).
Sep 2022 Marin Museum of Contemporary Art Exhibition.
Feb 2022 Marin Museum of Contemporary Art “What is Art?” exhibition recognition ('Life').
Feb 2022 Solo Exhibition awarded by All About Photo ('The Systems That Shape Us').
Feb 2020 Exhibited at the Wildling Museum through 2021.
Jul 2018 Big Picture Opening at the California Academy of Sciences.

AWARDS

Jan 2025 Tokyo Int’l Foto Awards: Bronze Prize & Honorable Mention.
Feb 2023 Royal Photographic Society, Woman Science Photographer of the Year awards 'The Value of Trees'.
Jan 2023 Tokyo Int’l Foto Awards (TIFA): Gold Prize Editorial Environmental 'The Value of Trees'
Sep 2022 National Geographic Your Shot Photographer of the Month (July 2022)
Jan 2020 Tokyo Int’l Foto Awards: Gold & Silver Awards - Science Environment.
Apr 2018 Tokyo Int’l Foto Awards (TIFA): 2nd Place & Gold Prize in Science.
Oct 2018 Honorable Mention, International Photo Awards (IPA) 2018.
Dec 2017 3rd Place for Environmental Issues - International Photo Awards (IPA).
Sep 2017 Guest Editor, National Geographic Your Shot "Lines, Textures & Patterns".
Sep 2017 Grand Prize Winner, The Weather Channel's 'Its Amazing Out There'
Mar 2017 Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Finalist.
Nov 2016 PDN First Prize for Photo Essay, 'Salt-scapes'.
Oct 2016 International Photo Awards: Second Place, Nature Aerial.