Lisa Mezghenna

I was born on 25 August 1989 and grew up on a farm in the Cévennes. In contact with nature, I developed a passion for animals which I have always felt very close to. As a child, I was fascinated by the photos I saw in books dedicated to wildlife. As I grew up, I wanted to study English so that I could travel easily and get in touch with these magnificent species and observe them with my own eyes in their natural environment. Following a master's degree in languages and education, I became an English teacher in 2013.

At the age of 20, I made my first long journey along the East Coast of Australia, admiring the diversity and beauty of its landscapes and wildlife. It was there, immersed in nature, that I took amateur photos of all the species I was lucky enough to meet in order to immortalise these incredible moments and show their beauty to those around me. The reactions to my photos led me to believe that they could contribute to the protection of these fragile creatures.

Following Masa Ushioda's advice, I bought my first professional camera, a Sony RX10 III, in 2017. I became a contributor to "Blue Planet Archives" and have since been travelling extensively to meet as many wild animals as possible and to immortalise these magical encounters.

All my animal photos are made on approach, a technique that allows a sharing of intense emotions while remaining only a short time in the living space of the animal I admire through my camera. The main part of my work consists in studying the species I wish to photograph: to know their habits, their habitats, their reproduction and hunting methods in order to be able to meet them and to approach them while respecting the limits of each one. Through each of my photos, I wish to show the beauty of nature and raise public awareness of the importance of preserving wildlife.