Javi Garcia | Ocean Photographer & Videographer | Spain | Lanzarote
Javi Garcia is a nature and adventure photographer and videographer. Originally from Castellón, a small city on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Now, he is based in Lanzarote, Canary Islands.
He studied chemistry and after working in the industry for a while, he decided to quit his job, leave his family and friends and start pursuing his passion for the oceans and photography.
He is now a full-time freelance cameraman, open to work and telling stories worldwide.
When did you first start your storytelling journey?
I have always been fascinated by nature films and photography, but it was not until 2016, with an old film camera that my father had, that I started my hobby as a photographer.
During the next months, I saved a little bit of money to buy my first DSLR in early 2017, and then a year later, I bought my first water housing and started my journey as an ocean photographer and storyteller.
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
I was born and raised in a city near the sea, so I have spent a lot of time with family and friends enjoying and collecting good memories around it.
I also learned how to swim at a really young age. I was 3 years old when I started making my first kicks in the water. I think that learning how to swim at such an early age, has made me feel very comfortable in the water ever since.
And finally, I think that one of the things that impacted me the most and sparked my huge passion for the ocean was watching a lot of nature and ocean documentaries on TV. I remember telling my parents to record them on the old VHS cassettes so I can watch them over and over again. I do not know how many times I have seen the first series of Blue Planet, but I am sure it is quite a lot.
What path did you choose after leaving school?
I always wanted to study marine biology, but ended up making a chemistry degree. I was not passionate to become a chemist, but I followed the safe path, like many other people, studying a career that can give you a stable and hopefully well-paid job.
When I finished my degree, I started to work in the industry right away. I worked as a chemist in a couple of companies, but one day something triggered inside me. I was offered a better contract, with a lot of projection inside the company, but inside me, I knew that I was not truly happy and I needed to make some changes in my life.
So I quit and moved to the Canary Islands to start my journey as a freelance photographer, leaving everything in my hometown, my family, my friends, and a stable life.
What/who currently inspires you?
Nowadays I feel really inspired by organizations or projects like 'Sea Legacy', founded by Paul Nicklen, Cristina Mittermeier, and Andy Mann, three of the ocean storytellers that inspire me the most.
Another project that inspires me a lot is 'Pristine Seas', by National Geographic, led by Enric Sala, another figure that inspires me to keep doing what I do. I had the opportunity to meet Enric and also Manu San Felix, photographer and filmmaker of National Geographic and part of the Pristine Seas team, and it was such an inspiring moment for me.
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
Nowadays the word sustainability is used everywhere, but I think most people do not truly understand what involves. Over decades we, as humans, have lived above our possibilities, depleting natural resources and living without keeping in mind our impact on the planet.
It is important to understand that as a society, we need to act now and make changes in our lifestyle, in the way we eat, move, and consume. A lot of people are aware of the problem, but few want to make changes toward the solution.
Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking, and that you'd like to recommend to other ocean lovers?
Reading the book 'let my people go surfing', by Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia's founder, was an eye-opening experience for me. I would recommend a lot of documentaries, but if I had to recommend only one, it would be the Blue Planet series. Here are a few more: Chasing Coral, Mission Blue, and A Life on Our Planet.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
I would love to see my work ignite the same spark that I felt as a child, watching those ocean documentaries, in the young generations to come. I want my work to be inspiring and to make people care more about the future of our oceans.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an Ocean Storyteller?
Trust in yourself and in progress, nobody is born as a master, you will need experience so, start building it.
Remember to enjoy the process, it is easy to forget this one.
And work your discipline, nobody is going to do the things you need to do to achieve that dream, you are in charge, so stay focused.
INSTAGRAM: @javigl
