JON CARMICHAEL
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHER, PILOT, SPEAKER
Chasing the Impossible: The Inspiring Story Behind "History's Most Amazing Photo"
What happens when teams lose connection, feel burned out, or stop feeling a sense of purpose in their work? In fast-paced, high-pressure environments, it’s easy to get stuck heads-down in the day-to-day and lose sight of the bigger picture.
Astrophotographer and keynote speaker Jon Carmichael invites us to zoom out and look at things differently. In 2017, he set out to capture what many called impossible: the most ambitious photograph ever taken of a solar eclipse — from 39,000 feet in the air. His now-iconic image, 108, required years of planning, relentless curiosity, and an audacious level of teamwork, including convincing a commercial airline crew to perform aerial turns mid-flight so he could stitch together a 180° panorama of totality.
But this isn’t a talk about photography.
It’s a captivating story about perspective, alignment, and what becomes possible when people unite around a bold vision.
Through cinematic visuals and vulnerable storytelling, Jon takes audiences behind the scenes of the high-stakes mission where preparation, intuition, and risk-taking collided. Along the way, he reveals the Eclipse Mindset — a powerful shift that helps teams zoom out, look up, and realize the impact they have.
Audiences leave inspired to:
• Shift their perspective and see their work in a new way
• Embrace uncertainty as a catalyst for creativity and innovation
• Align their team around a shared vision and bold goals
• Rediscover curiosity, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose
Jon's story will stay with you - and ignite true transformation.
TESTIMONIALS
“Jon Carmichael is the living Vivian Maier. Honoured to be his first collector and hope more people hear his story.”
- ELTON JOHN
“I was immediately struck by Jon’s photo, and the story behind it was awe-inspiring. So excited for the world to hear it”
- JACK DORSEY
"Wow! What an amazing story behind this photo. Jon's story is truly an inspiration."
- GEORGE TAKEI
PRESS
TWEETS FROM THE AUDIENCE
Press (Blog)
GIVE YOUR AUDIENCE AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD EXPERIENCE
PAST APPEARANCES
NASA
Invited to speak at NASA's Hubble Auditorium, Jon's presentation and Q&A was broadcast to NASA centers nationwide. At this event Jon explores the complex technical and artistic aspects of astrophotography, inspiring the audience with insights on creativity and overcoming challenges
Twitter founder, Jack Dorsey, invites Jon to unveil his awe-inspiring eclipse photograph to his 5,000 employees. In this talk Jon shares the incredible story behind the image, showcasing the power of persistence and unwavering determination in achieving a lifelong ambition.
TEDx
Speaking to a riveted audience of 2,500 at the world’s largest TEDx venue in Manchester, England, Jon shares his astrophotography work as well as the story behind the iconic eclipse photograph. His talk ignited a cosmic perspective, sparking curiosity and wonder.
TOPICS
PERSEVERENCE
LEADERSHIP
INSPIRATION
STORYTELLING
CURIOSITY
A TRUSTED PARTNER FOR:
PRINTS NOW AVAILABLE
FOR A LIMITED TIME
24”x36” PRINT
For the first time ever, Jon is offering an open-edition of one of his works to the public. As one of the most uniting moments in history, Jon wanted to make sure this photograph was accessible to all in hopes of inspiring others to keep looking up.
Printed in the U.S.A. with high-gloss UV protective coating.
