Lot Essay
Covering a vast array of subjects from the power of chocolate to Pope John Paul II, James Stanfield's adventures have taken him to more than 120 countries. His professionalism, ability to blend in with his subjects, natural curiosity, and dedication have earned him numerous awards, a fascinating life, and plenty of stories to tell. He has always been interested in photography; his early memories are of his father, a newspaper photographer, teaching him the basics of black-and-white photography in the basement darkroom. After a stint in the army and five years at the Milwaukee Journal, Stanfield joined the National Geographic magazine photographic staff in 1967.