- Thu April 16, 2026 at 8:00 pm
An award-winning National Geographic photographer renowned for her breathtaking wildlife images, Cristina Mittermeier uses her lens to convey the urgency for ocean conservation, tell powerful stories about the effects of climate change, and inspire action. She is the co-founder of SeaLegacy, an ocean conservation organization.
Mittermeier is a marine biologist, storyteller and pioneer in the field of conservation photography. Hailed as one of the most influential conservation photographers of our time, she has dedicated her life to protecting the world’s oceans and wild places, and inspiring millions of people to do the same. In 2005, she founded the International League of Conservation Photographers to provide a platform for photographers working on environmental issues, coining the phrase “conservation photography.” In 2014 she co-founded SeaLegacy, a non-profit organization using strategic communications at the intersection of art, science, and conservation to protect and rewild the ocean for the benefit of biodiversity, humanity, and climate within our lifetimes.
Mittermeier’s work has been published in National Geographic, TIME, O, and more. Her prints are on display in private galleries and public exhibitions around the world. She has been honored with many awards, including the Smithsonian Conservation Photographer of the Year Award, the Humanity Content Creator Award from HIPA, and the Imaging Award for Photographers who Give Back. In 2021, she was named one of the 100 Latinos Most Committed to Climate Action. Along with her partner, Paul Nicklen, she was named one of National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year in 2018.
Mittermeier received a degree in Biochemical Engineering in Marine Sciences from the ITESM University in Mexico. She attended the Fine Art Photography program at the Corcoran College for the Arts in Washington, DC.