What Makes Maria Paula Martinez More Than a Photographer
@maripomartini
www.maripomartini.net
Maria Paula Martinez is a documentary photographer, human rights defender and marine conservationist from Mexico City. Maria first got involved with PWB by attending our PWB School India workshop in 2017 to learn ethical storytelling while documenting the work of Sambhali Trust.
Maria's photos were featured as a Photographer Spotlight article in our Print Magazine Issue #10. The article was also published to the PWB Online Magazine.
Maria Paula Martinez on PWB School India with Sambhali Trust
After PWB School India, Maria went on assignment in 2018 with PWB to document Drug Fight Malawi, an NGO working with partners to bring attention to alcohol and drug abuse, as well as violence against women. The work was highlighted on PWB's Online Magazine.
Maria Paula Martinez on assignment for Drug Fight Malawi
In 2018, Maria went on another PWB School workshop in Mongolia to learn ethical storytelling while staying with nomadic families with Ger to Ger, an organization that is trying to help families sustain themselves through ecotourism.
Maria's drone photography captured the stunning vastness of the Mongolian steppe.
“For me, to be a photographer goes much further than being behind a camera’s lens. It is the connection of my very deep being with the way I express myself. It is an affirmation of my place in this world, of me and the cosmos. It is the reflection of my heart. For me, to establish a connection with another human being, with a landscape, with the sea, with an animal, with a volcano or a mountain, is much deeper than with just a glance; it means opening my heart and from the very true and original love of it, connecting, melting the feelings that awake inside me with the other great beyond when I am going to click. For me, taking a photograph is a revelation, a metaphysics; it’s poetry.”
Maria Paula Martinez on PWB School Mongolia
In 2019, Maria went on back-to-back assignments with PWB. The first was in Ukraine to document the fight for 2SLGBTQ+ rights in Kiev with Tergo.
The second assignment in 2019 was in Armenia, to document Society Without Violence, whose mission is to promote a society where there is no gender based violence, discrimination and where women equally participate in all decision making processes.
Maria Paula Martinez on assignment for Tergo (left) and Society Without Violence (right)
Thank you Maria for continuing to advocate for human rights and telling important stories that amplify voices of grassroots communities.
Want to become more than a photographer?