Tamara Merino

Tamara Merino is a Chilean National Geographic Explorer, award-winning documentary photographer and visual storyteller. With a deep commitment to uncovering untold narratives, her work delves into subterranean communities, identity, human rights and climate change, capturing the hidden corners of the world with striking intimacy and depth. Her photography has been featured in National Geographic, The New York Times, TIME, Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, and many more. Her photos have appeared on the cover of National Geographic Magazine twice, and her work has been selected three times for its prestigious The Year in Pictures and Best Photos of the Year editions.

 

Tamara was honored with the National Geographic Wayfinders Award, an elite recognition given to individuals who have proven themselves as the next generation of influential leaders and innovators. She has also received a National Geographic Emergency Fund and a National Geographic Level II Grant to further her lifelong project, UNDERLAND, a profound documentation of underground communities across the globe. Her accolades include the Magnum Foundation’s Inge Morath Award and recognition as one of PDN’s 30. She has participated in the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass and The New York Times Portfolio Review. Tamara is a fellow at the International Women’s Media Foundation and her work has been exhibited across the USA, Germany, Greece, France, the Netherlands, Myanmar, India, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Antarctica. Beyond her photography, Tamara is the co-founder of Ayün Fotógrafas, a collective of women photographers reshaping visual narratives in South America. She also leads National Geographic Expeditions, speaks at international conferences, and teaches documentary photography and storytelling workshops, inspiring the next generation of visual storytellers.