Cristina Mittermeier
@cristinamittermeier
Photographer / Speaker / Mexican / Contributor to National Geographic / Co-founder of @sea_legacy / SonyArtisan / NatGeoCreative / Founder of iLCP
http://www.cristinamittermeier.com/
Images and videos by Cristina Mittermeier
A group of crabeater seals rests on the fast ice on the Antarctic Peninsula. If successful, the efforts to create an MPA here will protect the important feeding grounds on which these animals depend. Does anyone know why they’re called crabeater seals? They don’t eat crab. *
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Shot on #assignment for @natgeo with @paulnicklen @andy_mann @ladzinski and @CraigWelch.
#stopclimatechange #saveouroceans #watersedge #nature
#Repost @paulnicklengallery ・・・
Image: “Portrait de loup blanc dans la brume” (“White Wolf in the Mist”) by Vincent Munier
Event Information:
You’re invited to join the Wolf Conservation Center at its three-day weekend pop up shop in Paul Nicklen’s SoHo fine art gallery (paulnicklengallery.com) now through July 30th, 2017!
The shop will be the first-ever conservation awareness pop up inside an environmental advocacy-focused fine art gallery (a portion of sale proceeds from the Paul Nicklen Gallery funds @sea_legacy (sealegacy.org), my non-profit dedicated to protecting our oceans). The purpose of the pop up shop is to spotlight the WCC’s conservation efforts while offering a multitude of WCC branded items, as well as a finely curated selection of limited edition photographs by Paul Nicklen Photography, Vincent Munier – Photographer and Julie Betts Testwuide Photography.
Hours of operation
July 29: 10AM-9PM
July 30: 12PM-7PM
#wcc #wolfconservationcenter
@paulnicklen
? 184❤ 21,157Normal2017-07-29
At Paul Nicklen Gallery
Set against a towering wall of multi-layered ice, this nomad of the north appears tiny, but despite this illusion in perspective and size, it is clear that he is on a mission. Springtime in Svalbard, Norway, means one thing for Polar Bears – food. They must replenish the staggering amount of body fat that they have lost during hibernation, and this guy thinks something may be hiding nearby. Polar Bears can smell a seal 32 kilometres (20 miles) away. ⠀
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On SeaLegacy expedition with @PaulNicklen⠀
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#svalbard | #polarbears | #awesomeearth | #sony | #earthofficial | #earthpix
? 74❤ 12,424Normal2017-07-27
At Svalbard
A polar bear takes a nap after an arduous and unsuccessful search for seals, his favourite prey. On years like this one, when the sea ice was plentiful, it is uplifting to once again, watch these bears patrol their hunting grounds. ⠀
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On expedition with @SeaLegacy, @natgeopristineseas⠀
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#polarbears | #seaice | #polar | #magic
? 106❤ 14,282Normal2017-07-26
At Svalbard
A pod of Peale’s dolphins accompanies our ship as we cross the infamous Drake Passage on our way back from a National Geographic expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula. We are working towards the creation of a Marine Protected Area in the region.⠀
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These dolphins also referred to as “black chinned dolphins” travel in pods of usually five and up to twenty although on rare occasions, have been witnessed travelling in groups of up to 100. ⠀
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@natgeo | @natgeoprisineseas | #@paulnicklen | @andy_mann | @ladzinski | @craigwelch | #antarctica | #drakepassage | #dolphins | #CCAMLR |
Crabeater seals appear cuddly and cute on land, but in the water, they are agile and incredibly fast. With populations estimated from 7 – 75 million, (some estimates hover at 15 million) they are the most abundant seal species in the world. They are dependant on krill for survival and ironically, don’t eat crab. ⠀
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Shot on #assignment for @natgeo and @natgeopristineseas with @paulnicklen @andy_mann @ladzinski and @craigwelch ⠀
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#stopclimatechange | #saveouroceans | #watersedge | #nature | #antarctica
A flock of seagulls under a storm. Northern Russia is a fantastic landscape; a little bit foreboding and yet, so majestic. So excited to be on our way to the North Pole to continue documenting the effects of climate change! With @paulnicklen and @sea_legacy.
#polar #climatechangeisreal #respectnature #beauty #gratitude #russia #arctic
? 83❤ 13,611Normal2017-07-20
At Franz Josef Land
There are many different kinds of sea ice and survival depends on being able to tell them apart. The beautiful patterns on this landscape are created by “fast annual ice”, an ephemeral and highly unstable ice formation that will melt away by the end of the summer. For @sea_legacy with @paulnicklen and @samkretch
#beauty #love #respectnature #climatechangeisreal #ice #polar
? 44❤ 10,246Normal2017-07-18
At Svalbard
Like ghosts appearing from the deep, one second I was alone, and the next I was surrounded by hundreds of Adelie penguins returning to land after spending the day feeding at sea. Clumsy and funny on land, they are like a symphony in motion underwater. There were several seals in the area waiting to ambush them and I had to smile when I realized they were using me as a “shield” to get to land safely.
An unbelievable experience on an island that is now protected in perpetuity thanks to the efforts of the @TheWCS. Steeple Jason is part of the Falklands archipelago (once known as islas Malvinas). On assignment for @NatGeo with @PaulNicklen.
@Sea_Legacy | #penguin | #ocean | #underwater | # wildlife | #animals | #cute | #beauty | #ProtectEarth
? 142❤ 12,726Normal2017-07-16
At Steeple Jason Island
Spending time with animals in the wild is a privilege reserved for a very few. What is my responsibility as somebody who gets this chance? I don’t want to just make pretty pictures; I want to tell stories and I want to give a voice to animals, like this polar bear, who cannot speak for themselves. The work is hard, dangerous, and often lonely. I am really lucky to have an amazing team supporting me. Thanks to @PaulNicklen, @derek_rushton, @Maptia, @erichroepke, @burgankait, @samkretch, @Mikeberard, @lnixpix and @steinretzlaff. Thanks to their hard work, @SeaLegacy is an effective Impact organization.
#love | #animals | #magic | #instagram | #team | #polar | #gratitude
? 162❤ 17,760Normal2017-07-15
At Svalbard
The Arctic is changing rapidly and what to many of us is still a theoretical problem, happening far away, for others, like the Inuit people who live in the most remote corners of the Arctic, is already a reality. While traveling on the sea ice, one of our dog teams fell through the ice. As the heavy sled pulled the dogs underwater, the entire team had to help rescue the dogs and the vessel, which was loaded with our heavy gear. Thankfully we were able to pull the dogs out and lost only a young pup, who was pulled under for too long. We just couldn’t save it but the rest were okay.
Want to do something about climate change? Make changes in your lifestyle, speak up and use your influence to make others care.
With @PaulNicklen and @EnricSala with @NatGeo and @NatGeoPristineSeas
#climatechange is real | #dogs | #ice | #stopclimatechange
? 562❤ 18,364Normal2017-07-14
At Thule, Greenland
Those eyes….they seem almost human. A male Grizzly bear assesses my presence as we share a small length of the Fishing Branch River. He fishes, I photograph. If we take the time to be with animals as equals, they tend to surprise us…with their sensitivity, their intelligence, and their vulnerability.
On assignent for @NatGeo with @PaulNicklen.
@Natgeocreative | #nature | #beauty | #love | #animals | #wild | #wildlife
? 178❤ 17,403Normal2017-07-13
At Yukon
It is impossible to tire from the company of humpbacks. Whether underwater or under moonlight, their presence always makes me skip a breath. @PaulNicklen and I have spent many hours hoping to catch a glimpse of these amazing giants and sometimes, when the light is just right, we have been gifted with amazing moments.
On assignment for @NatGeo and @SeaLegacy.
#love | #whale | #nature | #moon
? 129❤ 17,635Normal2017-07-12
At Gryllefjord
How do you relax? I like gardening and I have a mild addiction to my backyard hot tub. Polar bears, on the other hand need to cool down and they do so by rolling around on the snow. What most impresses me about polar bears, is the size of their paws. Larger than dinner plates, they are designed to travel over snow and ice. Polar bears are so well insulated they must release excess heat through areas where fur is absent or blood vessels are close to the skin, like muzzle, nose, ears, and those black footpads. So happy to be heading back to the #Arctic with @paulnicklen
@SeaLegacy | @NatGeoCreative | #bear | #polar | #wildlife | #animals | #nature
? 148❤ 21,474Normal2017-07-12
At Franz Josef Land
After taking turns to sit on the nest for 70 days, the black-browed albatross chick finally hatches. Instead of the bright, white plumage spotted by the adults, the baby is covered with a soft, fluffy gray coat of downy feathers. Its black beak will eventually turn bright orange, and as both parents work around the clock to keep it fed, the baby will grow quickly and after only 120 days, it will take flight for the first time. I truly enjoyed sitting quietly among the nests, watching the comings and goings of the colony during an assignment for @NatGeo with @PaulNicklen. Thankfully, this island has been protected by @TheWCS so this baby has very little to worry about.
@NatGeoCreative | @NatGeoTravel | #love | #beauty | #nature | #malvinas | #moreocean
? 150❤ 16,963Normal2017-07-10
At Steeple Jason Island
Ice, light and mood, are all it takes to entertain a photographer for hours in Antarctica. Regardless of where you look, there are incredible ice formations and reflections everywhere. Sometimes whimsical, sometimes awe-inspiring, the ephemeral nature of ice, with all tis hues of blue and white, makes it the most fascinating subject.
On assignment for @NatGeo with @PaulNicklen, @Ladzinski, @Andy_Mann, and @CraigWelch.
@Sea_Legacy | @NatGeoCreative | @NatGeoTravel | #MPA | #PhotographersforAntarctica | #ClimateChangeisHere | #wildlife | #nature | #penguin | #animals | #Antarctica #SonyCamera #dreamy | #ice
Perhaps the best part of spending three weeks alone on a remote island, was having as our only company some 50,000 pairs of nesting gentoo penguins. Once a sheep farm, the island of Steeple Jason is now protected and in a short period of time it has seen the return of incredible numbers of animals, including albatross, sea lions, fur seals and of course, tons of penguins, like these ones that I photographed as they made their way back to the colony after a day of feeding in the rich waters off the island. #onassignment for @natgeo with @paulnicklen.
@sea_legacy | @thewcs | @natgeocreative | #bird | #beauty | #naturephotography | #conservation | #wildlifephotography | #sonycamera
? 98❤ 13,785Normal2017-07-04
At Steeple Jason Island
Wrongly named by whalers as the “crabeater seal”, this toothy marine mammal feeds instead on krill, a small shrimp-like crustacean on which much of the food chain relies on in the cold Antarctic continent. It’s teeth close as a sieve, which allows the seal to catch its small, yet very abundant prey. Shot on #assignment for @natgeo with @paulnicklen @andy_mann @ladzinski and @Craig Welch.
#stopclimatechange #saveouroceans #watersedge #nature
Happy ?? Canada Day! On this 150th Anniversary of confederation we can reflect on the long, often turbulent journey we have traveled to get here and we can be proud of the amazing future ahead of us! #Nice #Canadaday #canada150 #canada?? #proudcanadian
With @paulnicklen @aaron_nicklen @maptia @sea_legacy
? 40❤ 4,955Normal2017-07-02
At Parksville, British Columbia
When I first saw one of these large male Southern Sea Lions I honestly thought it looked like a Grizzly bear! During the mating season, the males come on land to build their harems and they become quite territorial and they will chase away anything and anyone that comes within their invisible boundary. They literally wait at the water’s edge for the females to come out so they can mate with them. Majestic and wild, the Falkland islands are a real paradise for wildlife and thanks to the efforts of organizations like @theWCS, some of these islands are now protected. On assignment for @natgeo with @paulnicklen
@natgeocreative @natgeotravel #wildlife #animals #nature #beauty #sealion #moreocean
? 187❤ 14,358Normal2017-06-29
At Falkland Islands
There is so much wisdom encapsulated in the minds and hearts of elders, and especially old matriarchs, like this Saramacca woman I photographed in the remote village of Asindohopo in the interior of Suriname’s vast rainforests.The water we drink, the food we eat, the fibers that clothe us, the fuels that keep us warm and cool, and the medicines that restore our health are all part of a toolkit for sustainable survival that lives and breathes in the minds of elders. With @Jittermeier and @jennygnichols for @conservationorg
#shareifyoucare #thefemalequotient #girlpower ##girlswhocare #elder #tribe #love #women #flashesofdelight #femalequotient
? 104❤ 9,322Normal2017-06-29
At Suriname
The idea of certain people being “untouchable” is pretty incomprehensible to me. I spotted this lady working in the salt pans of southern Kerala, and I stopped to take her photo. As I walked around, watching her patiently clean all the debris from the salt, I accidentally stepped in the wrong spot and sank into deep, thick mud on the edge of the salt bed. She was horrified and insisted on cleaning my foot with the only drinking water she had. In her culture she might be so low caste as to be untouchable, but to me, she really represents the best in humanity. I wanted to pay her but she refused, so I just hugged her. That too horrified her, but it made me happy. With @jennygnichols and @radharangarajan for @sea_legacy.
#shareifyoucare #thefemalequotient #girlpower ##girlswhocare #friendship #sisters #love #community #Gettingto5050 #women #flashesofdelight #femalequotient
? 207❤ 10,435Normal2017-06-26
At Cochin, Kerala
I am building a new website, and as I go through my images, I am reminded of all the amazing women I have met along the way. Some have names, some I never asked. On many occasions, I have given away my shoes, my reading glasses, my pens and pencils, to women who had less than I do. I have always been rewarded with so much more: gratitude, honesty, the occasional meal or cup of tea, and countless brief friendships. It is going to take a lot of work from all of us to lift all these women up from poverty and despair, I would love to hear back from you on how you think we can accomplish it.
With @Jennygnichols and @radharangarajan for @Sea_Legacy in Kerala, India
#girlswhocare #friendship #sisters #love #community #50/50 #women #shareifyoucare #flashesofdelight #femalequotient
? 183❤ 9,885Normal2017-06-26
At Kerala
Once part of a Kingdom last ruled by a Queen, the women of Hawaii are artists of the sea. Fearless, creative, and capable with surf boards of many kinds, Hawaiian women to this day take to the sea to ride the waves. This week I was part of a gathering of powerful women -the female CEOs and CMOS of companies like @Visa_us, @Marriotthotels, @EBay and @BankofAmerica, putting their might together to reach the goal of #50/50. Having a workforce at every level that includes at least fifty percent of women, earning at the same level as our male counterparts by 2020. They call it #TheFemaleQuotient, an intuitive, empathetic, gentler narrative for how humans should live on Earth.
Photographed #onassignment for @natgeo with @paulnicklen
#WeAreTFQ | #women | #mujeres | #genderequality | #mujeres | #gratitude | #hawaii | #girlpower | #makahabeach
? 108❤ 12,081Normal2017-06-24
At Makaha, Hawaii
When I ask them what they want, women from every corner of the world, like this Kayapó mother from the Brazilian Amazon, have always told me the same thing. Regardless of religion or race, we all want the same thing: control over our own reproductive future. Not only should that be a basic human right, it is also the solution to an overpopulated planet.
#mujeres #femalequotient @wearetfq #girlpower #humanrace #rights
? 227❤ 14,457Normal2017-06-21
At Xingu, Amazonas, Brazil
This week I will participate in @wearetfq a meeting of women from all over the world who are gathering in Cannes to discuss how women are changing the world. For myself, as one of NatGeo female photographers, making sure that the stories of women and girls, like this young Lisu girl I photographed in the southwestern corner of China, are not invisible, is one of the best parts of my job.with @amivitale and @natgeocreative.
? 58❤ 9,007Normal2017-06-20
At Yünnan, Yunnan, China
happy #FathersDay! It takes both parents to raise a single chick, and although oftentimes a pair will lay two eggs, it is rare for both chicks to survive. As one parent goes out to sea to feed and bring back food for the chicks, the other parent watches over the babies. It is a lot of work to be a penguin parent and the threats to the chicks are many. Thankfully, these birds live on an island that is protected by the efforts of @thewcs, great organization working on behalf of wildlife all over the world.
#onassignment for @NatGeo with @paulnicklen And @sea_legacy
#malvinas #love #conservation #beauty #penguin #parents #fathersday #moreocean #wildlife #animals #baby
? 109❤ 15,062Normal2017-06-19
At Falkland Islands
For his many contributions to our understanding and appreciation of our polar regions and climate change, today his #almamater, the #UniversityofVictoria confers the amazing @paulnicklen a very well-deserved honorary doctorate in science. Won’t you join me in congratulating him?
#gratitude #uvic #proud #convocation
? 581❤ 12,836Normal2017-06-16
At University of Victoria
Oh Canada! What an honor it is to be part of promoting ocean protection here in my adoptive country. Blessed with the largest coastline in the world and beaches on three oceans, we also have the largest responsibility. On track to protect 10 percent by 2020, Canada will have to create more marine protected areas in the next four years than it has in its entire history…..and it is determined to do it. I hope that portions of the #salishsea, where I photographed this egg yolk jellyfish are among them.
@sea_legacy #oceans20 #justintrudeau #speakfornature #canada150 #canada?? #moreocean #mpa #10by2020
? 142❤ 17,221Normal2017-06-14
At British Columbia
As I continue to think about the organizations and people who have played a significant role in my conservation work, I can’t help but think of @enricsala and Pristine Seas at National Geographic. ⠀
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The Ocean covers 70% of our planet and yet, only 3% of it is protected. Pristine Seas at National Geographic was established in 2008 to explore and protect the remaining wild ocean places. Thank you, Pristine Seas at National Geographic for making it possible to share these stories. ⠀
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Photo: #onassignment for @natgeo, @natgeopristineseas and @sea_legacy . Iconic stories, like the fabled friendship that my partner, photographer @PaulNicklen struck with a female leopard seal that insisted on feeding him Penguins back in 2006, are the kind of storytelling that create emotional connections with people. We recently had the privilege of going back there to see if the behavior was the same. When we first arrived at the same spot where he had photographed leopard seals 11 years ago, there were no seals to be seen. As soon as we got in the water, however, this large female immediately swam over to Paul. Thankfully, Paul had told me that this big “show of teeth” is more of a greeting than a threat display and once her initial “hellos” were said, she went back to hunting for penguins and all we could do was smile and try and capture her grace, beauty, and power in these icy seas. Moments like this, are impossible to forget.⠀
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@wwf, @mission_blue, @savingoceans, @unitednations, @lonelywhale, @oceana, @Conservationorg, @natgeo, @natgeopristineseas⠀
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#WorldOceansWeek | #WorldOceansDay | #OceanConference | #ClimateChangeisReal | #TheWatersEdge | #SaveourOcean | #SpeakforNature | #HeDoesntSpeakforMe |#StopClimateChange | #teamwork
#Repost from @paulnicklen. Photo: Cristina Mittermeier. ・・・
So excited to have a Grand Opening at the Gallery tomorrow with @cristinamittermeier as the featured artist! I am also excited to show some new work. We are all looking forward to a wonderful day of Art, Conservation, and Hope at the @paulnicklengallery #thewatersedge #speakfornature #hedoesnotspeakforme #fineartwithapurpose
347 W Broadway
6/10: 10am-9pm
5pm short talk.
? 64❤ 5,116Normal2017-06-10
At Paul Nicklen Gallery
As the end of World Oceans Week approaches, I look to the future with optimism and hope, knowing that we are united in our vision and determination to protect more than just our seas. ⠀
Conservation International, @conservationorg, has been “protecting nature for the benefit of all for nearly 30 years” and I am honored to have sat on their Chairman’s Council for 15 of those years. I am proud to hold that position today. ⠀
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Conservation International has a wonderful article on their website, “Climate’s New Leaders: 6 Reasons for Hope”, by Shyla Raghav. There’s a link in my bio. ⠀
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Photo: “Two Girls and a Net”, Morondava in Western Madagascar. Most of the people fishing on the beaches here were women and children, as the men most often go out to sea in small fishing boats. In the horizon, I could see large fishing vessels, most likely illegal Chinese fishing boats who have been often reported pirating the valuable fish stocks on which coastal communities depend on. These two young girls from the Vezo tribe caught my attention because they seemed to be playing as much as they were fishing. At the end of the day, they had caught a handful of small fish for their family’s supper. This image is part of my fine art exhibition “The Water’s Edge”, opening Saturday at the @paulnicklengallery. ⠀
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@natgeopristineseas, @wwf, @mission_blue, @savingoceans, @unitednations, @lonelywhale, @unitednations, @oceana, @sea_legacy ⠀
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#NatureisSpeaking | #WorldOceansWeek | #WorldOceansDay | #OceanConference | #ClimateChangeisReal | #TheWatersEdge | #SaveourOcean | #SpeakforNature | #HeDoesntSpeakforMe |#StopClimateChange | #oceancorps| #hedoesntspeakforme
? 77❤ 11,205Normal2017-06-09
At Madagascar
Instead of letting what seems like a major setback on the road to ensuring the ecosystem that sustains our planet remains intact discourage our collective society, the withdrawal of the US from the Paris Agreement has become one of the most exciting things I have experienced in my career as a conservationist. ⠀
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“When the sea rises, so do we” has become the rallying cry of the UN Oceans Conference here in New York. I am energized and inspired by the renewed commitment from every citizen on this ocean planet. This is the momentum that is going to move us forward. ⠀
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Today is acknowledged as World Oceans Day. For me, every day is Ocean Day because the ocean is what makes our days possible. ⠀
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All week, I, along with @sea_legacy and @PaulNicklen are acknowledging some of our partners in conservation. Today, we draw your attention to @Oceana. In 1999, a collective of foundations concerned with the fate of our planet commissioned a study and discovered that less than 0.5 percent of all resources spent by environmental nonprofit groups in the United States went to ocean advocacy. From that, a commitment to protecting our oceans was born. Today, Oceana has more than 100 victories and protected more than one million square miles of ocean. ⠀
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Photo: Orcas in Norway, @Sea_Legacy / @NatGeo expedition 2016⠀
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@conservationorg, @natgeopristineseas, @wwf, @mission_blue, @savingoceans, @unitednations, @lonelywhale
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#WorldOceansWeek | #WorldOceansDay | #OceanConference | #ClimateChangeisReal | #TheWatersEdge | #SaveourOcean | #SpeakforNature | #HeDoesntSpeakforMe |#StopClimateChange | #oceancorps
? 78❤ 13,031Normal2017-06-08
At New York, New York