Edwin L. Wisherd was born 1900 in Hagerstown, Maryland and got his start at National Geographic at age 19 as an assistant to the one-man photographic staff. As one of the earliest staff photographers at National Geographic, Wisherd took the first natural color plates exposed in the field for National Geographic. He played a large role in making National Geographic famous for the use of 35mm camera and Kodachrome color film in producing dramatic images in lifelike color. He utilized a method for making dye-transfer prints that was later adapted by National Geographic printers, producing large, color plates. He retired from National Geographic and died in 1970.