Miriam Staiger | Ocean Artist | Marine biologist | Photographer | Germany
Miriam is a talented ocean artist/illustrationist and underwater photographer from the Black Forest area in Germany. She is currently based at Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives as the project manager for the Manta Trust where she is a full-time marine biologist.
Miriam is also working on some big projects on the side. Firstly, she is currently painting 50 illustrations for a marine education board in collaboration with Wise Oceans - how epic!
She is also preparing for her biggest adventure yet… Miriam has been invited to join ACE – the Antarctic Climate Expedition with Ocean Geographic, Mission Blue and Aurora Expeditions! We can’t wait to hear all about her trip, and see what other stunning illustrations she paints on her journey.
When did you first start your storytelling journey?
From when I was young, I have always enjoyed writing and photography. I am not always good in speaking, but I know how to put feelings and emotions down on paper and make people connect with it. I feel like I can do the same through my photographs and my art. Through my watercolour paintings I feel like I have a whole different medium to make people fall in love with the underwater world.
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
My parents always had my back, no matter what career choice I would make they would support me.
My mum was a biology teacher and from a young age always made me aware of the life around me, explained the songs of the birds and the flowers on the pathways. I remember my mum would let me use her camera and every now and then I would be allowed to go out and shoot a whole 32 picture – film, after the film being developed my mum said how proud she was of me – having taken 30 blurry pictures of a black bird in the tree.
My dad was a solar scientist and a true adventurer, a man that lived in the moment and travelled the world. My family wouldn’t invest much into a fancy home, but more into travelling somewhere new. Some of my fondest memories are playing with my sister and friends in the car boot of our old VW camping bus while driving to Italy.
What path did you choose after leaving school?
I first studied to become a high school teacher, then learned diving during a semester break, saw my first manta ray and I was hooked.
From then on, I changed my whole path to become a marine biologist.
It wasn’t straight forward, coming from South Germany there wasn’t exactly an ocean I grew up with, so it took a long time to make it all happen, but eventually I got a BSc in Biological Sciences, a MSc in Marine Biology and spent a lot of time to become a dive master and freedive assistant instructor.
Who/what currently inspires you?
Her deepness, Sylvia Earle.
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
For everyone to start being a little less selfish, spend a little less time on Amazon and a little bit more time in nature. Once you really spend time in nature, with the phone packed away and just taking it all in – I believe that the sounds, the smells and the emotions that come about when feeling like a part of nature are the main thing that make people feel connected to our planet, making us realise what truly matters. Feeling connected is the first step to making change, when we feel one with something we protect it like it’s ours.
Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking, and that you'd like to recommend to other ocean lovers?
All the David Attenborough documentaries!
What legacy do you hope to leave?
I hope to leave this place a little bit more kind. I believe that kindness is one of the features being lost more and more in a world dominated by profit, power, beauty standards and followers. I believe we come further with kindness when we listen and answer rather than just react. I believe this is an important skill to have in conservation, we need to be able to understand all sides to a story before assuming our solution is the only right one.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an Ocean Storyteller?
Always keep swimming. There’s so many fish in the sea (or is there?), but you are you and your story is unique.
Stop being afraid of speaking up, stop being afraid of not being perfect and just do it! If you want to tell your story, if you want to show the world your work – just do it! It will never be as perfect as you might wish, but before you don’t tell it all you might as well show what you got!
“YOU are unique, your view on life is unique and the story you want to tell is unique.”
WEBSITE: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/UnderTheSeaArtShop
INSTAGRAM: @under.the.sea.art / @miriunderthesea
