Photography is my language, a way to tell the urgent stories of our planet and its people. My work exists at the intersection of art, advocacy, and hope, driven by the belief that images have the power to inspire change. Through my lens, I seek to capture the delicate balance between humanity and nature, revealing our planet’s beauty and the threat it faces.

As a marine biologist turned photographer, I am drawn to the ocean—the lifeblood of our planet. From the Arctic to the Amazon, I document the resilience and living values of Indigenous cultures and the fragile ecosystems they protect. My images are not just records of what exists; they are calls to action. They challenge viewers to bear witness, to feel connected, and to take responsibility for our collective future.

Photography has the power to create empathy because that is the emotion that fuels change. I want my work to move beyond admiration into action, empowering people to protect the Earth’s last wild places. Every image is an invitation—to listen, to learn, and to act— so that future generation may inherit a world as rich and vibrant as the one we know today.

Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier, “Mitty”, was born in Mexico City in 1966. She graduated from the ITESM University in Mexico with a degree in Biochemical Engineering in Marine Sciences. She later attended the Fine Art Photography program at the Corcoran College for the Arts in Washington, D.C. In 2005 Mittermeier founded the prestigious International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP) to provide a platform for photographers working on environmental issues and coined 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 hundreds of prominent magazines, including National Geographic, TIME, McLean’s, The Men’s Journal and O. Along with her partner, Paul Nicklen, she was named one of National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year in 2018. She was featured in Welcome to Earth and Photographers on Disney+.