Acclaimed photographer Cristina Mittermeier’s dynamic pictures inspire change
Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative supports the conservationist’s work which sparks discussions and action needed to protect the oceans
Devising innovative solutions to global environmental challenges requires the experience, knowledge and dedication of scientific pioneers, daring creatives and intrepid explorers around the world.
Rolex is committed to supporting these trailblazers’ efforts to make a positive and lasting impact on the Earth. The Swiss watchmaker launched its Perpetual Planet Initiative in 2019 to help individuals and organisations that are working to protect the planet while promoting visionary technologies and discoveries that can restore a balance to its ecosystems.
Cristina Mittermeier, a multi-award-winning Mexican conservation photographer, who uses her camera’s lens to highlight how climate change is threatening the Earth’s oceans and the people and wildlife living near them, is among the individuals supported by the brand.
She is also one of the elite men and women selected by Rolex’s new Reach for the Crown campaign for their dedication and excellence in sports, arts and exploration which motivates others to chase their dreams and make an impact on the world.
Raising awareness to the threats to oceans with photography
Mittermeier’s love of the seas and the plants and animals it supports began as a child growing up in the mountainous landlocked town of Cuernavaca in central Mexico.
She was captivated by pictures of marine life in books and magazines and then finally seeing the ocean during a visit to the coast of Mexico with her father. This passion led her to study biochemical engineering in marine sciences at her country’s renowned Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, which led to her working as a marine biologist.
However, Mittermeier realised she wanted to do more than carry out scientific research. She wanted to draw attention – not only to the need for urgent action to safeguard the planet’s oceans, but also to show how the well-being of mankind is closely linked with the health of the sea and its marine ecosystems. So she taught herself to use a camera, then took additional photography classes before embarking on a career as a visual storyteller who uses her images to advocate for the protection of the Earth’s oceans.
“I left biology in the hope of becoming a voice for the ocean and its peoples, to tell its story with a camera,” Mittermeier says. “Everybody understands photography. It’s a universal language that has unparalleled power to inspire and engage audiences to take action.”
In 2005, she founded the International League of Conservation Photographers, which uses photography, filmmaking and creative storytelling techniques to support cultural and environmental conservation worldwide.
When she met her partner, the Canadian marine photographer Paul Nicklen, who is also supported by Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative, her journey as a pioneering conservation photographer flourished under his guidance.
Her most iconic images include those of giant sperm whales diving into the deep for food, gentoo penguins braving cold waters to hunt and schools of spotted eagle rays dancing in synchronicity. Mittermeier’s 2017 picture of a polar bear dying of hunger in the arctic tundra went viral and helped to spark conversations about the effects of climate change.
Her work has also led to her gaining a strong social media following, which has allowed her to become the first woman photographer to gain one million followers on Instagram.
Mittermeier has received many accolades during her career, including the title of National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2018 and being awarded the Seattle Aquarium Sylvia Earle Medal in 2021 for her three decades of contribution to conservation photography and journalism.
How Rolex supports Mittermeier’s conservation efforts
Since 2022, Rolex has supported Mittermeier and Nicklen’s use of visual media to highlight the critical challenges facing the planet’s oceans.
The couple teamed up with Emmy-nominated director and marine conservationist Andy Mann in 2014 to found SeaLegacy, a non-profit organisation which works with leading photographers, filmmakers and marine experts to promote the protection of the oceans. Over the past decade it has carried out 45 expeditions worldwide while capturing more than 7 million images.
Mittermeier has also worked with indigenous groups in the Amazon and communities in the Gulf of California and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula – often focusing on incorporating traditional practices into conservation efforts – and mentored many young environmentalists, and co-written and edited 27 books on conservation issues.
Her book called Hope, which she published last year with the support of Rolex, features her favourite photographs and stories from her travels that encapsulate the Earth’s resilience and humanity’s connection to nature.
“One of the greatest joys and achievements of my career is when people use one of the photographs I have taken as a banner to champion their cause,” Mittermeier says. “Any time I can use my photographs to represent something bigger makes me really happy.
“I am hoping to do my part to help ensure that future generations can experience the wonder and beauty of the ocean, just as I have.”