Mia Stawinski | Underwater Photographer/Filmmaker | Eindhoven, The Netherlands
About 8 years ago, Mia purchased her first GoPro, kick-starting her love for underwater filmmaking. Six years later, Mia acquired her own underwater housing, and that's when she began to seriously pursue underwater photography and filmmaking. Now she runs her own photography and website design business and is working on a short film that will highlight several underwater galleries created by the sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, an award winning sculptor and environmentalist who has been creating underwater sculptures beneath the waves. This short film will be an opportunity to inspire and educate audiences on how we can successfully coexist with our planet.
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
For every government to play a bigger role in protecting our oceans.
Who/what currently inspires you?
Cristina Mittermeier - she inspires me to continue my conservation photography path and communicate the importance of protecting our oceans.
What do you value most in life?
Giving back; I value making a difference in life and living with integrity.
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
While growing up my parents have given me the opportunity to travel to many different countries and spend time in nature on our camping trips. This has helped me to connect with nature, expand my horizons and broaden my perspectives by taking in other cultures.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
Marine and wildlife conservationist who helped create a deeper connectedness between humans and our planet. Someone who left the earth better than they found it.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an ocean Storyteller?
Create stories that you are passionate about and are important to you. Patience and practice is key in underwater photography. While photographing marine life, you will never be able to get the same picture twice because the lighting, movement and placement of the animal are constantly changing. Be very familiar with your dive and underwater camera gear - you don’t want to miss a shot because of technical issues. Go in with ultimate respect for the environment you document: learn as much as you can about the animal’s behavior, keep a healthy distance away from the animal, and be as still as you can to not scare the animal away. Once they feel comfortable with you being in the water, their curiosity might get the better of them and they’ll come over and say hello.
WEBSITE: www.miastawinski.com
INSTAGRAM: @wandervicariously
