More than a photographer, Rachid Dahnoun is a visual storyteller who draws viewers into the earth’s wildest places. His award-winning images earned him a coveted spot on the Nikon 100 List composed of the world’s top 100 rising photographic stars—and in fact, nighttime photography is one of Dahnoun’s specialties (the cover of National Geographic’s Night Sky of North America features one of his spectacular Milky Way shots).A Manfrotto and Lowepro Global Ambassador, Dahnoun is both a photographer and a director. His work has appeared in hundreds of publications, such as National Geographic, Backpacker, The New York Times, SKI, Forbes, and Outside. Some of his commercial clients include Microsoft, Time Inc., AARP, Coors Light, Visit California, and Vail Resorts. He also works with non-profits dedicated to landscape conservation: National Parks Conservation Association, The Trust for Public Land, and The Conservation Fund are among his favorite organizations.An outdoor adventurer at heart, Dahnoun is comfortable working solo, even in harsh winter climates and rainforests. But he’s also an experienced director who can conduct large crews with his trademark blend of efficiency and humor. That affability has made him a sought-after speaker for such events as the Photokina conference in Cologne, Germany and the Tandem Stills and Motion Summit (where he delivered the keynote address).Traveling more than 200 days a year, Dahnoun jokes that his business card should read “professional packer,” and as a surfer, snowboarder, mountain biker and hiker, he’s accustomed to toting all manner of equipment. Yet some of his favorite haunts are close to home: With studios in South Lake Tahoe and Healdsburg, California (the de facto capital of Sonoma’s wine country), he logs frequent trips into the Sierra and along Sonoma’s picturesque coastline—often accompanied by wife Regina and his dog Avery.