Water is life, and the ocean is where life on Earth began. Covering over 70% of the planet, the ocean is not only home to an astonishing array of biodiversity – from the tiniest plankton to the largest whales. It is also the true lifeblood of our world, sustaining the delicate balance of ecosystems. The ocean’s life-giving gift can be felt as far away from the coast as the Serengeti savannah and the Amazon forest, where a rich biodiversity is dependent on seasonal rains created by the evaporation of ocean moisture into the atmosphere.

Biodiversity: Through the Lens is a collaborative exhibition by UNESCO, Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, Discover Earth, and Nautilus, dedicated to exploring the extraordinary diversity of life on our Planet Ocean. Through the eyes of talented nature photographers, the exhibition reveals the vibrant and intricate ecosystems beneath the ocean’s surface and on land. Each photograph captures unique moments of life, offering a rare glimpse into the beauty and complexity of biodiversity.

Photography serves as a vital tool in documenting the planet’s rich biodiversity. Each image deeply reconnects people to nature, becoming a window into the natural world and showcasing the vibrant life forms that thrive within delicate ocean and terrestrial ecosystems.

This exhibition not only celebrates the wonders of life but also underscores the urgency of preserving it. By immersing visitors in the planet’s natural beauty and diversity, Biodiversity: Through the Lens aims to inspire action, reminding us that the health of our biodiversity is inextricably linked to the health of our ocean and planet. Protecting that biodiversity is essential for sustaining life on Earth, both now and for generations to come.

FOREWORD

It is my honor to introduce Biodiversity Through the Lens, an exhibition that brings together the worlds of art, photography, and nature conservation. In a world where our planet’s ecosystems are under increasing pressure, this collection offers a moment of pause, inviting us to marvel at the delicate beauty and fragile balance of life that surrounds us. More than just an exhibition, it is a call to action—a reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the harmony between people and nature.

Photography holds a unique potential to open our eyes. It transcends borders and speaks a universal language, capturing not only the intricate beauty of the natural world but also the emotional depth of our connection to it. Through these lenses, we witness more than landscapes and species—we witness stories of interdependence, resilience, and life.

Art, in all its forms, has always been a storyteller – a force for change that weaves emotion, meaning, and vision into every stroke and frame. It has been a powerful complement to my work through Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy. Policy and action are crucial, yet art has the unique ability to move and inspire people. It tells the story of our world, its beauty, its fragility, and the possibilities for a better future.

The artists featured in this exhibition have dedicated their work to capturing the essence of our planet’s rich biodiversity, offering new perspectives on the natural world. Their art bridges the visible and invisible, revealing not just what is known, but what is at risk of being lost forever. By bringing awareness to the delicate beauty of our ecosystems, they create a vital connection between advocacy and empathy—one that drives real change.

As we explore these images, I hope they spark admiration and action, reminding us that protecting biodiversity is not a distant challenge but an immediate responsibility we all share.

Dona Bertarelli
Executive Chair
Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy

While on a remote big-wall climbing expedition, our team was surprised by a large polar bear approaching our zodiac boat as we maneuvered through the sea ice, looking for a good place to go ashore and set up a basecamp.

Beautiful place where monks and mahouts take care of elephants rescued from the zoo. Under the tree at dawn, you can still see the stars and the moon in the sky.

A giant whale shark is followed by a hoard of hitch hiking remora fish. They use the shark as a slip stream and transport to food, traversing the oceans at its side.

I always dreamed of getting an impossible shot of lions. This one was taken with a wide-angle lens, which means being really close to the lions—something impossible with wild animals like them. You need to take a risk to get this shot by leaving your camera on the ground and waiting for them, hoping they will come to say hello. That’s exactly what happened, and the composition was perfect to my eyes. This female touched the camera with her paw, and that’s how I got this shot while the male stood behind.

Panorama of Milky Way with me standing in the middle with headlamp (camera on the timer).Salt flats filled up with water so you can see stars everywhere even under your feet!

Cruising elegantly through the shallow lagoon reef is an eagle ray. Its spots glow in the sunlight, contrasted against its dark skin. These gentle rays feed on mollusks and crustaceans, crushing their shells with their tiny teeth.

A male leafy sea dragon drifts above the kelp beds, camouflaging itself among the weeds. On his tail are numerous eggs, encasing the next generation of sea dragons.

Flying over Shark Bay was overwhelming, with so much beauty in every direction. Every direction offered a stunning view, making it hard to decide where to focus the camera. The pressure to frame the ideal shot while moving quickly through the air added to the difficulty, as there was little time to pause and choose the best angle in such a breathtaking and complex landscape.

Shooting in the water at Teahupo’o with a water housing is quite challenging. The massive waves and powerful currents at this famous surf spot require careful positioning and timing to capture the perfect shot. Additionally, the constant movement makes it difficult to keep the camera steady and achieve sharp, well- composed images. When everything comes together, the reward is extraordinary.

Midnight sun in Greenland, when the sun never sets or just sets slightly in July, giving incredible light all night long.

A majestic humpback whale, accompanied by its calf, shared a fleeting yet profound moment with me underwater. This encounter embodies the mysteries of the ocean and the quiet, unspoken bond between humanity and cetaceans. For me, this image symbolizes hope, curiosity, and our deep connection to biodiversity.

That morning, I walked through a beautiful lavender field in the Sierra de Guadarrama, Spain—a place known for its many raptors. As the first light of dawn touched the landscape, a kite suddenly appeared, gliding smoothly over the purple flowers. The moment was brief, but I managed to capture this image—a memory I’ll always treasure.

Panorama of the Milky Way, shot from under another one of these majestic trees.

But this is a secret one called Pallay Poncho – basically in the name of the classic colorful Peruvian poncho. Almost 5 km elevation and hard to get here!

In eastern Greenland, the local hunters bring their catch and share it among each other. The whale is pulled up onto the beach during high tide, and many families gather to cut the skin, blubber, and meat off at low tide. Almost all of the whale will be consumed, but the spine and bones will be washed off the beach with the next high tide, and the remains can be found in shallow waters.

It has amazing flower-like textures from the sky. The color is explained by the high concentration of minerals, like iron, in the ground.

Flying over this unique landscape was overwhelming, with so much beauty in every direction. Choosing where to point the camera was difficult, as the vast turquoise waters, sand patterns, and coastline all demanded attention, making it hard to capture the perfect shot in motion.

Veins of Earth is an aerial photograph of the glacier river Tungnáa, which begins its journey from the northwestern part of the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull. River systems in Iceland represent the impact of water on the landscape. As the water levels vary throughout the seasons, the flow constantly changes and transforms the landscape on its journey to the vast ocean.

Every year in July, the fields bloom with an amazing scent.

Woman collecting water lilies in the river. Vietnamese make delicious food from it – it’s an essential ingredient of hot pot and also used for religious ceremonies.

My first encounter with an orangutan was memorable. Not only was he an impressive male with large, massive cheeks, but his effortless ability to climb trees also left me amazed.

Along the shores of a mangrove forest near Gam Island in Raja Ampat, a tropical coral reef rises up from the depths, growing right up to the roots of the mangrove trees. A truly unique environment where trees and corals coexist.

The power of the ocean—its color, vibrancy, life, and dynamic energy. Effortlessly utilizing their hydrodynamics for an epic surf, the dolphins create a playful and infectious vibe. The vivid textures and patterns demand attention, yet they also evoke a sense of calm with peaceful blue hues and the soft, fluffy whites of the whitewash.

Glacier crossing of the polar bear. I waited so long to get this photo, and when it finally happened, I had to time it well to capture the foot movement.

I had too many ideas to caption this photo, and I couldn’t choose, so I asked my followers. Here are some of my favorites:
‘Oh no, where are we gonna find a new place to live?’
‘When you forget to format your card before a shoot.’
‘That Monday feeling.’

The amazing variety of frogs in Costa Rica made me fall in love with this largest glass frog in the country. One night, I found this individual near a creek in the deep rainforest.

A mighty elephant photographed against Mt. Kilimanjaro, with a beautiful lush green foreground at sunrise.

A European ground squirrel stops to smell a yellow flower.

While freediving in the Bahamas, a large pregnant female tiger shark and a Caribbean reef shark cruised past me. They were swimming together in tandem, which I had not seen before. I knew this moment would be short-lived, and I was able to dive down just above them for the shot. I tried to create an almost aerial-like image, with the sand ripples as a unique background to the sharks.

Believe, and it will happen! While on location at the North Pole, I said to my expedition leader that I wished I could photograph a polar bear walking on a glacier at sunset. He smiled and agreed we should dream big. For the first five days of the expedition, we didn’t see any polar bears. But timing is everything, and patience is key. Looking at this photo now brings back the same feelings I had when I was capturing it.