Cristina Mittermeier
Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier (born Cristina Sofía Goettsch Cabello: November 26, 1966 in Mexico City, Mexico) is a Mexican photographer, conservationist, biologist, and author.

Cristina Mittermeier is a marine biologist and activist who pioneered the concept and field of conservation photography. Her images focus on demonstrating the important relationship between human cultures, indigenous people and biodiversity, the ocean and climate change.

Education 
Mittermeier attended the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, (ITESM), where she received her undergraduate degree in marine biology in 1989.

From 1996 to 1999 Mittermeier attended the Corcoran College for the Arts, Continuing Education Program in Washington, DC, where she received a Photography Associate degree.

Career

1990 - 1991

Conservation International (CI) 
Mittermeier began her career working at Conservation International Mexico as a Technical Associate for the Gulf of California and Selva Lacandona programs. It is during this time she cultivated a sense of purpose for conservation work and met her former husband Russell Mittermeier. It is also during this time when she gifted her first camera. Prior to becoming a professional photographer, she conducted fieldwork in the Gulf of California and the Yucatan Peninsula in subjects including marine mammals, fisheries, aquaculture, biodiversity research and conservation for CI.

2005 - 2010 
International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP)

In 2005 Mittermeier founded the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP), a non-profit organization consisting of photographers from around the world, with the goal of using photography as a tool to drive environmental and conservation efforts worldwide. Mittermeier served as founder, president and fellow until her departure from the organization in 2010.

2006 - present

Wild Foundation 
Mittermeier serves on the board of trustees of the Wild Foundation.

2007 - present

Cemex Conservation Book Series 
Mittermeier serves as the series editor of the Cemex Conservation book series; a series of books produced by Cemex, a cement manufacturer located in Mexico, illustrating strategies and diverse approaches to foster the protection of our natural world, complemented with powerful images from the world's best photographers.

2008 - present

Sony Artisan of Imagery

2014 - present

SeaLegacy 
Alongside her partner and fellow nature photographer Paul Nicklen, Mittermeier co-founded and serves as President of SeaLegacy, an environment protection organization, which works alongside filmmakers, conservationists and photographers, with the mission to use strategic communications at the intersection of art, science, and conservation to protect and rewild the ocean within our lifetimes.

Personal life

Children 
Cristina Mittermeier has two children with Russell Mittermeier. Michael Mittermeier, born April 27, 1992 and Juliana Mittermeier, born June 26, 1996. She also has one step son John Mittermeier, born September 14, 1985, from her husbands first marriage.

Relationships 
Cristina married Russell Mittermeier in 1991, moving to Great Falls, Virginia to raise their children. It is with him that she has coauthored several books. . The two divorced in 2008 and remain amicable. They continue to work together on many conservation efforts including the CEMEX conservation book series.

Mittermeier met Paul Nicklen in 2010, bonding over their mutual love of photography, the ocean and conservation. They have been partners since 2012, residing on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Bibliography
Cristina  Mittermeier has edited or coauthored twenty-seven books, including the CEMEX Conservation Book Series.

Amaze
Hotspots: Earth's Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions
 Megadiversity: Earths Biologically Wealthiest Nations
Wildlife Spectacles
Hotspots Revisited: Earth's Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions
Wilderness Areas: Earth's Last Wild Places
Transboundary Conservation: A New Vision for Protected Areas
The Human Footprint: Challenges for Wilderness and Biodiversity
A Climate for Life, Facing the Global Challenge
The Wealth of Nature
Freshwater; the Essence of Life
Sublime Nature: Photographs That Awe and Inspire
Pantanal: South America's Wetland Jewel
Oceans; Heart of our Blue Planet
 A Gift of Nature; 20 Years of Conservation and Photography
Earth’s Legacy; Natural World Heritage
A Geography of Hope; Saving the Last Primary Forests
Back from the Brink/ Desde el Borde de la Extincion

Awards
Member of the World Photographic Academy

2010 Nature’s Best Conservation Photographer of the Year Award.

2010 North American Nature Photography Association Mission Award.

2010   The 40 Most Influential Nature Photographers. Outdoor Photographer Magazine.

2015/2016 -Imaging Alliance Photographers Who Give Back, New York, NY

2017 Time Magazine Top 10 Photos of the Year

2017 National Geographic top 10 stories of the year.

2018  National Geographic Adventurer of the Year

2020 Botanical Research Institute of Texas- International Award of Excellence in Conservation  

2021 Global Vision Awards

2021 Seattle Aquarium Sylvia Earle Medal

2021 Humanity Content Creator Award HIPA (The Hamden International Photography Award)

2022 Doctorate of Fine Art. Honorary PhD- Simon Fraser University

2022 Distinguished Environmental Leadership Award

See also
 Conservation photography
 Nature photography
 Wildlife photography

References

External links
Photographer's website
ILCP website
Kayapó Indigenous Nation 
Nature Journal experts 
SeaLegacy Website

Mexican photographers
Living people
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education alumni
Marine fauna researchers of the Gulf of California
People from Mexico City
1966 births
Mexican women photographers
People from Great Falls, Virginia