“This is still an amazing planet that we live on, and we can still do something about it.”
Sadly, the devastating effects of climate change are nothing new, from the loss of sea ice and rising ocean levels to more intense heat waves. According to the United Nations, the impact of this crisis is the “single biggest health threat facing humanity.”
Despite the decidedly dire outlook, some conservationists are choosing to remain optimistic and resilient. In fact, that’s the message of renowned photographer Cristina Mittermeier’s newly released book, Hope.
“Every decision we make has an impact,” she tells Katie Couric Media. “And the hopeful part of that conversation is that there are so many of us. We’re all passengers on this ship.”
Still, the veteran conservationist admits bringing attention to the issue is a delicate balance. “You don’t want to create a photographic body of work that scares everybody and turns people away,” she explains. “So, how do you lure them into the conversation? You say, ‘Look, this is still an amazing planet that we live on, and we can still do something about it, so be part of it.'”
What’s unique about Mittermeier’s work is its emphasis on humanity’s connection to nature — something she felt from an early age. Raised in Mexico with a love for animals and the environment, Mittermeier transitioned from marine biology to photography after witnessing the devastating impacts of industrial fishing. Her work was subsequently published in hundreds of major news outlets, including National Geographic, which gave her the coveted Adventurer of the Year title in 2018.
“I’ve always been fascinated by nature and aware of the massive existential threats since I was in my twenties,” says Mittermeier. “So my entire career has been about shouting as loud as I can to let people know that we’re heading towards a cliff and need to pay attention. That’s what I try to convey with my photographs.”
Since then, she has dedicated herself to protecting the world’s oceans and marine life. In 2014, she founded the Canadian-based nonprofit SeaLegacy with her partner and fellow photographer Paul Nicklen. Together, they’ve completed more than 45 expeditions, documented more than 765 species, and captured more than 7 million images. (We’ve been so inspired by their impactful efforts that we partnered with the organization for our own sustainability newsletter, Ripple Effect.)
Their conservation efforts have garnered serious attention on social media. Between SeaLegacy and personal accounts for both Mittermeier and Nicklen, they’ve attracted more than 10 million followers who track their journeys around the globe. That includes celebrity fans: Robert Redford has not only hailed Mittermeier’s work as “remarkable and important,” but he also wrote the foreword for her new book. She even visited the 88-year-old actor at his ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico; if you’re wondering, he’s still got it. “He made me melt,” she recalled. “When he looked at me, I was like, ‘I get it.'”
While it’s probably impossible to distill her three-decade career into a single book, Hope features 130 photographs and is a stunning reflection of her travels to the far corners of the Earth. (In fact, as this interview was being conducted, she was on a boat off the coast of Indonesia.) It’s also not your average photography — each image is paired with a quote or poem to help readers feel “hopeful and inspired.”
But Mittermeier reveals that the book was just as much an essential endeavor for her own mental health. At the end of last year, Mittermeier said she was struggling with depression and a sense of hopelessness over the state of the planet, but it was her book that helped keep a sense of perspective.
“I thought that if I just focused on the good things happening and all the amazing work that people are doing around the world, maybe we can hold on long enough actually to turn the tide,” she says.
Eager to get your hands on this book yourself? Order Hope right here.
