Peter J. Menzel (born February 7, 1948) is an American freelance photojournalist and author, best known for his coverage of scientific and technological subjects. His work has appeared in many national and international publications including ''National Geographic'', ''Forbes'', ''Fortune'', ''Wired'', ''Geo'', ''Stern'', ''Paris Match'', ''Life'' and ''Le Figaro''. In conjunction with his wife, writer/producer Faith D'Aluisio, Menzel has also published six books including ''Material World: A Global Family Portrait'' (1994); ''Women in the Material World'' (1996); ''Man Eating Bugs: The Art & Science of Eating Insects'' (1998); ''Robo sapiens: Evolution of a New Species'' ; ''Hungry Planet: What The World Eats'' (2005). He is the founder of Peter Menzel Photography and Material World Books.

Biography

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Menzel became a professional photographer in 1970 and soon began to focus on high-tech stories, including virtual reality, DNA fingerprinting, micro-machines and solar cars. But he has also covered more traditional photojournalistic subjects. His work on the Kuwait oil well fires of 1991 ran as a 26-page cover story for German ''Geo'' and won a ''Communication Arts'' award. His photographs have been exhibited at the Nobel Peace Center, Oslo, Norway; The United Nations, the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, the National Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Science in Boston, and Visa Pour L'Image, the annual international photojournalism congress in Perpignan, France. Menzel and D'Aluisio live in

Napa, California Napa is the largest city and county seat of Napa County and a principal city of Wine Country in Northern California. Located in the North Bay region of the Bay Area, the city had a population of 77,480 as of the end of 2021. Napa is a major t ...

. They have four adult sons.

Books

''Material World, A Global Family Portrait''

This epic work of photojournalism centers around family portraits with material possessions of statistically average families around the world and has been excerpted worldwide. (Sierra Club Books, 1994).

''Women in the Material World''

The 1996 companion volume to ''Material World'', this book focuses on women from 24 different countries, along with short essays on subjects such as marriage, childcare, and work.''Women in the Material World.'' Faith D'Aluisio and Peter Menzel. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1996

''Man Eating Bugs: The Art & Science of Eating Insects''

A travelog through 13 countries includes photographs, interviews, cultural inquiries, and recipes about the human consumption of insects. (Ten Speed Press, 1998).

''Robo sapiens: Evolution of New Species''

Sir Arthur C. Clarke wrote: “This is one of the most mind-stretching—and frightening—books I’ve ever read. It’s also a tour de force of photography: the images reveal a whole new order of creation about to come into existence.” (The MIT Press, 2000.)

''Hungry Planet: What the World Eats''

Similar in style to ''Material World'', ''Hungry Planet'' presents what 30 families eat in a week through a combination of photographs and essays. Each family's profile includes descriptions about their food purchases in USD and a portrait of the family surrounded by a week's worth of groceries. The book shows families from 24 countries, offers essays from

Michael Pollan Michael Kevin Pollan (; born February 6, 1955) is an American author and journalist, who is currently Professor of the Practice Non-Fiction and the first Lewis K. Chan Arts Lecturer at Harvard University. Concurrently, he is the Knight Professo ...

, Charles C. Mann, and

Marion Nestle Marion Nestle (born 1936) is an American molecular biologist, nutritionist, and public health advocate. She is the Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health Emerita at New York University. Her research examines s ...

, among others. (Ten Speed Press/Material World Books, 2005).

''What I Eat: Around the World in 80 Diets''

Real Meals: a recent day's food of 80 people in 30 countries. The centerpiece of each photoessay is a portrait of the subject with that day's worth of food and an exhaustively researched list detailing every item consumed, along with the total calorie count. Included are essays by seven authors that provide even more food for thought. (Ten Speed Press/Material World Books, 2010)

Awards

* 2010 — Jane Grigson Award IACP (''What I Eat: Around the World in 80 Diets'') * 2006 – Book of the Year,

James Beard Foundation The James Beard Foundation is a New York City-based national non-profit culinary arts organization named in honor of James Beard, a prolific food writer, teacher, and cookbook author, who was also known as the "Dean of American Cookery." The prog ...

(''Hungry Planet'') * 2006 – Best Writings on Food, James Beard Foundation (''Hungry Planet'') * 2006 – Book of the Year,

Harry Chapin Harold Forster Chapin (; December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was an American singer-songwriter, philanthropist, and hunger activist best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs. He achieved worldwide success in the 1970s. Chapin, a Grammy A ...

World Hunger Media Foundation (''Hungry Planet'') * 2005 – Award of Excellence, Picture of the Year Foundation (''Hungry Planet'') * 2004 – Picture of the Year,

National Press Photographers Association The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) is an American professional association made up of still photographers, television videographers, editors, and students in the journalism field. Founded in 1946, the organization is based in at ...

* 2000 – First Place, Science Photography,

World Press Photo World Press Photo Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Founded in 1955, the organization is known for holding an annual press photography contest. Since 2011, World Press Photo has organized a ...

Foundation (''Robo Sapiens'') * 1999 – Best Writings on Food, James Beard Foundation (''Man Eating Bugs'') * 1998 �
Audie Award
for Abridged Nonfiction, Audio Publishing Association (''Women in the Material World'') * 1991 – World Press Photo Foundation, First Place Science (Biosphere Lightning) * 1985 – Picture of the Year, National Press Photographers Association

References

External links

Peter Menzel Photography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Menzel, Peter American photojournalists People from Napa, California Living people 1948 births Journalists from California James Beard Foundation Award winners