Chautauqua Institution, located in Chautauqua, NY., offers a weekly morning lecture series on topics of interest to many.

Week Two of their summer program highlights five National Geographic photographers that have worldwide recognition in their photographic fields.

The following photographers will be speaking at the Chautauqua Institution at 10:45 a.m. at the amphitheater.

Annie Griffiths Belt begins the National Geographic lecture week. Belts photography deals with the environment. She tries to hold the wonder of the world and capture it in her photography. She also is involved with fundraising events, which help communities or raise awareness for all to give back to the world.

Wade Davis is known for his strong interest in the environment. He wrote “In Search of One River” which was made into a film.  He also starred in “Grand Canyon Adventures” a movie about Davis and Robert Kennedy Jr., which follows their trip on the Colorado River. Davis, Kennedy and Kennedy’s children took a trip on the Colorado River and their adventure brought to attention environmental issues.

Kobie Boykins, an engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will be discussing the challenges and triumphs of mars exploration. In his lecture he will share images, current discoveries and his love for the Mars Exploration Project.

Ronald Johanson has a background in fossil exploration, which included the famous “Lucy” skeleton fossil”. This fossil is unique in the fact is has ape like qualities along with human qualities. Lucy, the 3.2 million year old skeleton is now being displayed throughout museums in United States.

Mattias Klum has dedicated 20years to flora and fauna of Borneo, He is a highly regarded natural history photographer with his work dealing with nature, culture and history. His recent trip to Borneo in 2008 documents the massive damage by man to the lowland rainforests.

Photography has been a way to share culture, history and images otherwise not available to millions of people. This series of lectures will carry you to far away places and make you aware of current environmental issues that shape our world.

If you are unable to catch the lectures tapes are available on their lectures at the Chautauqua Institution Kiosk or through the Chautauqua Institution.