Interview with the Artist: talking with Merche Llobera
Happy Wednesday! And welcome to another appointment with our Interview with the artist.
Today our amazing guest is Merche Llobera, a stunning underwater and wildlife photographer.
© Merche Llobera
Before we start diving (pun intended) into her work, here are her social links. Take a look and be prepared to be amazed by what you will see.
We are also happy to share with you an amazing webinar she made for Pictas. We hope you will enjoy watching it as much as we did.
Q: Good morning Merche, it’s such a pleasure to have you here today. Would you please introduce yourself so we can all know a little more about you?
A: Hey everyone! It’s a pleasure to be here! Well, I can start by saying that I’m passionate about the animal world and a natural-born adventurer. I have travelled the globe to share oceans and land with wild animals, capturing them in my photographs in a special and unique way.
I’m proud to say that my work has been published in several magazines and recognized in international competitions, where I have received awards and honourable mentions, such as Montphoto, Nature in focus, Siena Awards, and 8th 35 Awards, among others. Moreover, I was part of the Spanish team for the 2023 World Photographic Cup, being awarded as “Best of the Nation”.
In 2022, I worked as a mentor for the "Wildlife Photography" program at AFRISOS (African School of Storytelling) in Tanzania. A beautiful initiative that aims to create African photographers who can tell the stories of their continent.
I have also collaborated with 14 women photographers in the inaugural volume of the MOTHER magazine, where they seek to highlight the significance of nature and animals in our lives.
Q: Wow! That’s an impressive curriculum to start with! Congratulations!
Now, where did your passion for photography start?
A: I’ve always liked photography, and it has been a part of my life since I was young, but as a hobby. The idea of being able to freeze moments in time seemed magical to me. My father also took photos and we used to develop them at home together.
When I started diving, I wanted to take photos, so I used a GoPro to capture stills from videos. Every time I considered buying an underwater housing, the high prices discouraged me, and I completely dismissed the idea. In 2019, my life changed because I sold the family business. To celebrate, I decided to fulfil my dream of going to the Galápagos Islands and thought: how can you go to Galápagos without a camera? So, I decided to buy all the equipment, and this adventure began, which I initially didn't expect to go so far. I fell even more in love with photography and decided that I wanted to pursue it professionally.
Q: Galápagos looks like an amazing place! You said you travelled the world, but which is the best place you visited?
A: Baja California Sur in Mexico is for sure my favourite place on earth because of its biodiversity (sea lions, dolphins, orcas, marlins, mobulas, whales…): everything could happen there and I love it. It’s the place I have visited the most and I would never get tired of it.
© Merche Llobera
Q: The love you put into sharing your story is contagious. I already wish I could just jump into the ocean and explore its beauty.
Why did you specialise in underwater photography, among all the genres of photography?
A: I just started with underwater photography because I love diving. I’ve been diving for more than 10 years. And that trip to the Galápagos was the perfect excuse to buy the equipment; after that, I also started with land photography when I went to Kenya. I love animals in the water and outside.
What I love the most about underwater photography is to be so close to the animals and also the sun rays reflecting in the water. It’s pure magic.
© Merche Llobera
© Merche Llobera
Q: Yep, I can imagine how beautiful it can be. And looking at your images, I can say it truly is.
You said you photograph also orcas, sharks and that kind of animals which, in the head of most of us, aren’t exactly the friendliest.
Did you ever get really scared while being down there with them?
A: Yes, only once. I was in Cape Town, South Africa, with a friend and we went diving with the cape fur seals. It was our second day there. The first day everything was amazing and the animals were really friendly but that day after 10 minutes in the water one of the seals started being aggressive. It bit my fin hard, not playing like other times. After that, it bit my friend’s regulator and shook her so we started going up trying to get away from it. When we arrived at the surface it was gone so our guide said: “Let’s try to go down and go to the other side of the island”. I wasn’t sure about it. It was quite scary and that seal didn’t want us to be there for sure. He started going down and we were following him from the distance. The seal was waiting and, when it saw him there, again it went directly to him and bit him in the leg. We went back to the boat and left the place. The guide went to the hospital but the wound got infected and it took a long time to heal.
Q: Oh man! That was definitely scary! Good it all ended well, eventually. Even if your guide now has a scar to remind himself about that adventure.
Well, that said, thank you so much for being here today and for sharing your incredible adventures with us. Your work is absolutely inspiring.
A: Thank you for inviting me!
This is it for today! Thanks for spending a little time with us and remember to follow Merche and share this publication!
Learn, create and inspire together!