Into the blue

Through their organisation SeaLegacy, renowned photographers Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen are saving the world’s oceans from climate change one powerful image at a time.

Photography by Paul Nicklen and Christina Mittermeier

25 November 2021

What lies beneath the surface of the thin blue line?

This is the story that SeaLegacy tells. The story that sparks a global conversation. The story that inspires people to act.

In 2014, Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier co-founded SeaLegacy, a not-for-profit organisation that propelled ocean conservation onto the world stage. Their mission is to “create healthy and abundant oceans for us and for the planet” through powerful visual storytelling, high-impact campaigns and the funding of sustainability projects.

By harnessing the power of communications technology, SeaLegacy aims to educate and inform the world about the incredible beauty of the ocean and the challenges it faces in the wake of the climate crisis.

Cristina says, “We are a collective of some of the most experienced and renowned photographers, filmmakers and storytellers working on missions on behalf of our oceans.”

Together (Tonga) A devoted mother humpback basks in the warm coastal waters, patiently waiting for her calf to grow and build the strength needed for the long journey back to their feeding grounds in Antarctica. Paul Nicklen.

Nature’s Window (Nunavut, Canada) Ring seals depend on the ice to build birthing chambers and the series of holes that allow them a defence against polar bears. Paul Nicklen.

Svalbard Norway. Ice Waterfall. As a result of climate change, the Arctic could be completely devoid of sea ice during the summer months within the next 10 to 20 years. Paul Nicklen.

Ephemeral Palace (Antarctica) This colossal structure, sculpted from millionyear-old ice, slowly drifts out along the Antarctic Peninsula – losing just a fraction of the world’s ice heralds drastic change for fragile sea levels. Paul Nicklen.

A Precarious Balance (Antarctica) The survival of these plucky Adélie penguins hangs on the natural rhythm of sea ice as it forms and recedes; a cycle that is now threatened by climate change. Paul Nicklen.

Paul's book, Born to Ice.

The core of each SeaLegacy mission is built around an expedition. “We traverse the oceans, telling powerful visual stories that move people from apathy to action,” says Paul.

“With guidance from our expert council, we select locations and issues where our work creates a tipping point in favour of conservation – we will never give up.”

With a highly engaged and growing social audience of over six-million followers, SeaLegacy is poised to deliver global change.

Paul Nicklen

Paul Nicklen is a Canadian photographer and marine biologist. Specialising in the polar regions and their wildlife, he was inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame in 2019. The same year, he was appointed to the Order of Canada.

A fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers and the National Geographic Society, he has placed first in the World Press Photo’s Nature Stories category four times. In 2012, he was named Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Paul has also been recognised for his conservation efforts with the Natural Resources Defense Council BioGems Visionary Award and is a Sony Artisan of Imagery.

School (Bahamas) Moving as if with one mind, the fish dart forward and rush back again in a single synchronised cloud while a lone shark waits for a false move. Christina Mittermeier.

Christina Mittermeier.

Shark Love (Bahamas) Beneath a swirling surface, the massive hammerhead, named Queen by locals, turns gracefully to swim alongside her human companion. Christina Mittermeier.

Christina's book, AMaze.

Christina Mittermeier

Marine biologist and activist, Cristina pioneered the concept and field of conservation photography. She founded the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP) in 2005 to provide a platform for photographers working on environmental issues.

A Sony Artisan of Imagery, Cristina was named one of National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year in 2018. She has received many awards, including the Mission Award from the North American Nature Photography Association, the Smithsonian Conservation Photographer of the Year Award, and the Imaging Award for Photographers Who Give Back.

cristinamittermeier.com
paulnicklen.com
sealegacy.org