Dominica, 2018

A virtuous mind and voice in conservation photography and one of the most influential female photographers in the world, Cristina Mittermeier began her career as a Marine Biologist working in her native Mexico.

For the past twenty-five years, she has dedicated herself to inspiring a global audience to care about the delicate balance between human well-being and healthy ecosystems.

Cristina’s work has exhibited at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, The Miller Gallery in Cincinnati, The Paul Nicklen Gallery in New York, Xposure in the UAE , Art Basel Miami, Terras de Salitre/Mar de Mares Festival in Santiago, The Museum of Plastic Pop-Up in New York, The United Nations Headquarters in association with Disney and Girl Up, and at Fotografiska in Stockholm, Sweden.

Cristina is the co-founder of SeaLegacy, the founder and former president of the International League of Conservation Photographers, a board member for the WILD Foundation, an advisor on two major Conservation International programs, an esteemed public speaker, and a recipient of multiple internationally recognized awards for her photography. In 2016, Cristina received the Imaging Award for Photographers who Give Back and in 2018 was acknowledged as a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.

She is the editor of 26 conservation photography books and her Fine Art Coffee Table book, Amaze, is in its second printing.

Today, Cristina is the Co-founder of the conservation society, SeaLegacy, a National Geographic contributing photographer, a Sony Artisan of Imagery and the editor of 26 coffee table books on conservation issues. She is the first female photographer to reach 1M followers on Instagram and was a 2018 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. She is acknowledged as one of the most Influential Women in Ocean Conservation in 2018 by Ocean Geographic, and The Men’s Journal recently named her as one of the 18 Most Adventurous Women in the World.

Cristina is a pioneer in the use of powerful and emotive imagery to propel conservation efforts. Born in Mexico, Cristina is a marine biologist, photographer, and writer who specializes in issues surrounding fisheries and indigenous cultures.

Antarctica, 2017

“To capture simple moments eloquently and to translate them visually so that universal human experience is recorded for future generations to see. That is all I am trying to achieve as I photograph the fluke of a large humpback whale glistening under the setting sun.” -Cristina Mittermeier

Jardines de la Reina, Cuba, 2017

“Suspended alone in the deep blue, the silhouette of a shark passes slowly below me in the fading light. It senses the subtle changes in vibrations within the water, feeling out the vast expanse of a world as mysterious to human beings as our own solar system. “Azul” reminds me of how little we truly know about life in the deep.” – Cristina Mittermeier

Madagascar, 2009

Cutting through the ebbing tides along Madagascar’s golden shores, a traditional schooner makes its way on three weathered sails swelling with the breeze. Every patched hole, fresh tear, and salt spray stain told the timeless narrative of human beings pitting themselves against the raging elements in a life spent at sea. The island nation’s ports and coastlines are a maritime menagerie of traditional sailing vessels, from skiffs to makeshift dhows and even sailing canoes. They remind me of the thrilling pirate stories I devoured as a child – tales like Emilio Salgari’s Sandokan, the indomitable “Tiger of Malaysia.” For as long as people have lived by its waters, the ocean has always had a peculiar way of capturing our imaginations and inspiring us to venture into the uncharted unknown.