Presentation: Sergio Pitamitz - MontPhoto FEST 2024

Sergio Pitamitz

"Feathered Stories: The Starling Invasion and the Return of the Northern Bald Ibis"

5 October - 12:45 am

Municipal Theater of Lloret de Mar

Main Auditorium

Sergio Pitamitz will show images taken for two of his reports published in National Geographic.

The first, photographed in Italy, tells the story of European starlings, a well-known subject that had never been covered in all its aspects. An assignment carried out in Milan, Rome, and Puglia, where he witnessed the largest roost recorded by researchers: over five million individuals.

The second report will take us through the reintroduction of a species that was on the brink of total extinction: the Northern Bald Ibis. A project carried out over two years that took him to capture images in Morocco, Egypt, Spain, Italy, and Austria.

Sergio Pitamitz is a professional photographer and journalist with dual French and Italian nationality. A contributor to National Geographic, he specializes in nature, wildlife, and conservation. He has traveled to all seven continents, from the Americas to Australia, from the Arctic to Antarctica, and from Africa to Asia and the Middle East. His images and stories have appeared in hundreds of publications, including National Geographic Magazine, BBC Wildlife, Terre Sauvage, Geo, The New York Times, Time, Newsweek, and Le Figaro Magazine.

In addition to his work with renowned media outlets such as BBC Wildlife, The New York Times, Geo, Time, Newsweek, Figaro Magazine and Condé Nast Traveler, Sergio Pitamitz is an active contributor to global conservation initiatives. He participates in projects with the NGO ARCA (Animal Research Conservation in Action) and is a prominent member of the ILCP (International League of Conservation Photographers), highlighting his commitment to environmental protection through photography.

His exceptional talent has been recognized in numerous international photography contests, with notable accolades including the Best of Photojournalism 2016 award in the Nature and Environment category, granted by the NPPA (National Press Photographers Association). This recognition, along with his role as an ambassador for Swarovski Optik Nature and his association with Panthera, an organization dedicated to the conservation of big cats, reinforces his influence in the field of conservation photography.

Currently, Pitamitz also plays a crucial role as the president of the jury for the Environmental Photography Award of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. This position allows him to continue using his art to promote environmental conservation, reaffirming his belief in photography as a powerful tool for change and planet protection.