We're in Los Angeles for this amazing project called Assignment Inspiration, National Geographic and Mazda made a call out for photographers most inspiring work.

Congratulations out of thousands of entries.

It was your work that inspired us.

One of you will be selected to go on assignment with National Geographic Travel.

I think I'm starting to get a little nervous because I'm like, Oh, my gosh, this is National Geographic.

I've been reading National Geographic Magazine since I was a little kid being confirmed as a finalist.

Nothing like this has ever happened to me.

Put for in my life, National Geographic is known around the world for us iconic photography.

Now we're asking you to inspire us with images you take over the next three days.

We're providing each of you with a MAS to 6 30 to inspire you out on the road.

Get those quests, Simon.

Inspiration is about understanding the world around you and capturing that as a photographer and having it resonate and inspire people.

For this assignment, you will be judged on your ability to photograph images that convey three different ideas.

Thes quests were really inspired from my trip to Hiro Shima I was able to take away what amounted to some really life changing concepts.

These are big ideas.

They came from simple interactions that I had with the people in the natural environment.

I met craftsman who embodied the Japanese tradition of Takumi Takumi means in Japanese master craftsman.

But it is so much more than that.

It's not just a job, it's a passion.

It's a total dedication to a single skill, just like the Takumi in Japan that help shape and design our cars.

It's not something that could be trained in the weeks, months, years.

It's decades in the making.

It's really about pouring all of your own life, experience and emotion into your work, so that when people who you share your work with see it, they really can feel what you felt.

You guys ready?

All right, good luck.

Thes quests are not easy.

We're looking for are five images from each quest.

They can only choose one location per quest.

They only have three hours and each location.

They have no idea what they're gonna find until they get there.

And on top of that, they have camera crews all around them.

All the time.

Hi, I'm Beth.

Hi.

How's it going?

I'm Kazuki.

Nice to meet today.

I am shooting a glass artist.

I was trying to think creatively.

What would look really cool for light e love that they use fire.

You know, there's a lot of motions because they spin and so I want to be able to play with motion.

E think this is really cool.

I'm fascinated.

Is this too close for this?

No, you're good as long as you're not feeling the heat.

I think what I'm most interested in exploring is the process.

I definitely feel the spirit of Takumi here.

Goal here is to stretch it across the studio.

I think he's putting his soul into desert so that people can see that it shines through.

We're looking for are three photographers to capture images that, of course, have incredible composition and beautiful color.

But there's a second layer to any image, and the real root of that is inspiration.

We're trying to capture not just technical mastery, but spirit and soul.

Today we're at Judson Studios, home of some really cool stained glass craftsman.

One thing that's really cool about this place is it's been around for generations, so they really had timeto perfect their work.

Hey, Sam Tip, it's Dave Johnson.

Good to see you.

Thanks for coming.

You have been around since the 18 nineties.

97?

Yeah.

The company was started by my great grandfather.

What I've seen is that each generation has its own kind of mark on the process.

The reason I really chose this place was other people that work here.

I knew that this studio is kind of like renowned.

E knew that everyone working here had to be really dedicated.

I'm really interested in capturing their passions.

Really important.

A big part of I think, what's going to show in my photography?

There's certain traditions that uphold, and it kind of connected to our ancestors.

How long have you been working with stained glass?

35 years longer than I've been alive.

We're at El Matador State Beach.

I'm gonna be meeting Ashley Polski in miniature landscape artist.

Oh, my goodness.

That's e u like I'm, like, nervous.

You're like a celebrity Thio.

So I have been following Ashley Polski on Instagram for a while, putting her artwork inside of a mint.

Tim, do you see?

Not on Lee the landscape.

But the palette that she used and it's really cool toe have both the destination and the journey.

I feel very connected to you because of your connection with medicine.

She is a medical student.

I am a medical doctor or physician.

There's this similarity between us.

I can understand the need to find something outside of medicine that can reenergize you ground.

You balance you like.

She is very thoughtful, methodical, each brushstroke.

I'm seeing her essence like I feel like I'm witnessing a master at work.

Talk to me.

In the case of photography, it's not only about the technical mastery of photography, it's about connecting with the person that's in the photograph, so that when you share it and people see it, they'll feel everything that you felt in the moment when you made that photograph.

I like it.

How long have you been doing it?

I've been blowing glass for about 14 years.

I made a point of looking to find somebody that had a message behind their art that's really important to me.

Why was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and that's kind of makes me who I am, and he's into my creativity.

I've struggled with mental health since I can remember I was 13 when I was diagnosed with clinical depression.

I love that he's trying to bring awareness to.

It's really cool in the dark.

Yeah, photography is my therapy definitely keeps me balanced.

It's my time where I could just kind of clear my head and still be artistic.

In darkness.

There is a beauty, and I think you're able to put that into your work thing is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for these photographers, thing is a moment they have to embrace.

And my hope is that these challenges push them in new ways.

Excuse me.

Can I scoot on that side of you?

We're like, have you over here?

Yeah, you're perfect.

I think time management's a little bit of a struggle.

I tend to get kind of sucked in on one shot.

If I'm really interested.

I wanna push myself a lot, definitely feeling that pressure.

I'm taking photos really quickly because I feel like I'm super rushed.

Even though I have three hours, I really want to get a shot of the miniature right on top of the actual landscape that she's painting.

I'm getting so excited and then never fails.

There's a person that walks right into the arch.

And this is it.

The light.

Yeah.

This lady is It's for the gram.

It's a beautiful scene.

I don't begrudge people for wanting to experience it as well.

I never tell someone to move.

I don't have it in me.

I feel frustrated.

Oh, now I have to go talk to them.

And I feel uncomfortable.

I could do that.

Excuse me.

I'm sorry.

Is it okay if I could get a clear shot?

I'm so sorry.

I'm really sorry, guys.

Oh, that was so painful.

E think this is gonna be a good one?

My goal always is to reflect what I saw and to do that scene justice.

And I really hope that the photos I took do that.

I have no idea how much went into this.

Wow, that makes for some really cool pictures.

E think I nailed today's assignment.

I've got some really great light off the heat sources.

E got it really excited to go through the pictures.

I wouldn't say that I'm interested in getting the prettiest photos.

I want people to see my photos, and I want them to say I want to know more about what's going on her arms sort of mirror.

The painting she's doing its life imitates our dessert imitate life.

So we think it's definitely going to be a challenge to choose my images.

I want it to be a cohesive set of photos.

I wanted to feel like a story.