Through the fog of a tropical fever, I forced myself to stop when I saw this scene of drying laundry and two emaciated cows seeking water in the dry bed of the Mandrare River. Water is our most precious resource– all life on Earth depends on it. And while the Mandrare River has a history of running dry throughout certain months, Madagascar has increasingly become vulnerable to prolonged droughts as well as powerful cyclones– a deadly combination stirred by a changing climate.

Cristina Mittermeier is a Mexican-born fine art photographer, marine biologist and conservationist renowned for her evocative images that explore the intersection of nature, culture and human connection. A Sony Artisan of Imagery who aligns with Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative, she is a two-time Emmy Award recipient for her photographic work on The Last Ice and Photographer, both on National Geographic/Disney+. Mittermeier is the founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers and co-founder of SeaLegacy. Her photographs have been exhibited at major art fairs and museums worldwide and are held in prominent private and institutional collections. She was named Artist of the Year by the Intersect Art and Design Fair in 2025.