In National Geographic’s “Photographer” series, we get to travel along with some of the world’s best photographers as they carry out their photo assignments in six parts. The episodes are one hour long, and let the photographer himself talk about his photography, his assignments and thoughts.
In the first episode “Win or Die”, we join marine biologist and conservation photographer Cristina Mittermeier as she sails to the Bahamas with her partner Paul Nicklen who is also an NG photographer – to capture the scenes of the beautiful sea and life there, which threatened by the progress of the oil industry.
Kamera & Bild interviewed Cristina Mittermeier about the documentary series, but also to find out more about her life as a photographer, and what made her constantly strive so hard in her dangerous missions, to tell her stories to the outside world.
By both capturing the activity of the whales and at the same time approaching the Stena Icemax oil rig, they hope to be able to capture the feeling of what can happen to nature, the animals and what we can lose when the disaster does happen.
– We want to remind people that all life and all nature is still there, but that we must protect it. If we can protect it here, we can protect it everywhere, Cristina begins when asked why she traveled to the Bahamas.
– I’m an introvert and find it difficult to be in front of the camera myself, but the people who filmed us are friends and National Geographic photographers, so it went well. And because storytelling is so powerful in making people believe in something, we choose to tell the stories based on what is happening around us. How do we stop plastic emissions? I think we need to remind people of what is happening and take better care of our planet, explains Cristina.
What content do you think is most important in your photography to tell a story to the viewer?
– The ingredients are always the same, I want to create images that create a connection, that act as a bridge to build empathy towards the natural world, and that starts with curiosity. But it must be an invitation to an adventure. The viewer should feel that they are the ones spending time with the whales. If we can get the feeling of our beautiful planet moving through the universe – and that every species matters – that’s what I want to show with my pictures.
– But every time you go into the sea, I also feel that you almost sign a contract that you are now part of the food chain – you don’t know what can happen. I recently had the opportunity to spend time with southern pilot whales, whales that migrate between Antarctica, New Zealand, Australia, and you often don’t get close to them because they’re endangered – they’ve gone from 45,000 to 300 individuals, but now that they are protected, they have recovered to the current 3,000. It is life-changing when you meet these animals that are so smart. It is the first time I have encountered a whale that makes a u-turn and comes back and has an eye that is almost human. I want to know what she’s thinking, I want to talk to her and ask her things. Such encounters are absolutely incredible.
You have worked in over 130 countries and seen the world – what will be the next step?
– I have a long list of things I want to do. The Mediterranean and the Red Sea – there are so many oceans out there that I want to see a lot. I think there is a lot we can learn from the elders and I want to spend time with the indigenous peoples that exist. I want the next ten years to really mean something.
Do you feel there is a difference now with those working in conservation photography? There have been many men who worked in the field – but now more and more women – is this something you have also reflected on?
– First of all congratulations to Melissa Schäfer and Mother Magazine – I think it’s amazing that she dedicates an entire magazine to women’s work, and I’m proud to be in the magazine. What I think has happened is that photography has been so male-dominated with heavy equipment, but now cameras are so much smaller and simpler, so I think a lot of women have gotten over that barrier. I was inspired by photographers Beverly Joubert and Jodi Cobb from National Geographic – they showed us that women can work at the absolute highest level. And I hope that I can inspire the younger generation of women that they can do this – and must do this – because we need so many more people telling the story.
What tips do you have for those who want to work as a photographer?
– It’s like a marathon. The most important thing is to know that it’s a lifelong career, it doesn’t happen overnight. You have to know so much, so you have to be calm – make sure to give it time.
How powerful is the camera?
– I think the camera is the most powerful tool we have. I was at an exhibition of Robert Capa once, who was the first photographer to enter our living rooms. I feel that the horror that we are seeing now with climate and biodiversity is a war – and our job as photographers is to ensure that all of this is present in our daily lives so that we don’t forget that it is urgent – and that it will require all of us to help.
Photographer
Paul Nicklen & Cristina Mittermeier: Win or die
Paul Nicklen and Christina Mittermeier fell in love while photographing during their first joint dive in the Yucatan. Now they are using their images and millions of followers online to create change and protect the oceans. Inspired by Jacques Cousteau, the pair embark on a four-year global expedition off the Bahamas, where they fight to protect marine life from oil drilling.
Anand Varma: Hidden Wonders
Anand Varma, known for capturing the secrets of nature through his images, struggles to figure out how to document the development of an egg into a chicken. At the same time, he reflects on his own evolution, from a child obsessed with fish to a young photographer taking iconic images of hummingbirds, bees, bats and jellyfish, to starting his own educational agency.
Krystle Wright: Heart Explosions
World-renowned adventure photographer Krystle Wright is on a mission to regain momentum in her career after an extended hiatus. While photographing one of the season’s most dangerous hurricanes and a climber in the light of a supermoon, she shares the highs and lows of her extraordinary lifestyle.
Muhammed Muheisen: Finding the Light
Muhammed Muheisen, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer who rose to fame documenting the conflict in the Middle East, left journalism at the peak of his career to become a lawyer. Instead of heading to the front line, he now works with refugee families and uses his work to share glimmers of light in the darkness and shed new light on the global refugee crisis.
Dan Winters: Life is Once. Forever.
Dan Winters is one of the most acclaimed photographers working today and is at the height of his career. But his many professional successes have also had a personal price. As Dan photographs the Artemis launch and the yards in Bangladesh, he reflects on the highs and lows of his illustrious career.
Campbell Addy: Feeling Seen
At the age of 30, British-Ghanaian photographer Campbell Addy has reached the pinnacle of fashion photography, photographing famous celebrities such as Beyoncé, Naomi Campbell and Meghan Markle. After fearing that he is becoming too commercial, Addy decides to hold his first solo exhibition as an artist.
National Geographic’s series Photographer can be seen now on Disney Plus and National Geographic.
