Melanie Müller is a 31 year old wildlife and conservation photographer from Germany. Her passion for the natural world has accompanied her since childhood, eventually leading her into the fields of wildlife photography in 2019. As a certified scuba diver (PADI Advanced Open Water) and free diver (AIDA Lv. 1), she specializes in underwater photography.
Having lived in Spain, Lebanon, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, Melanie experienced both wild places of endless biodiversity as well as human-shaped environments with nature in crisis. She began using photography to document the wonders of the wild, hoping to spark people’s awareness and curiosity about nature.
Exhibitions and Features
06 February 2025 — “Between Manta Rays and Manatees” – Presentation on underwater photography at the German Horse Museum, Verden.
December 2024 – March 2025 — “Yin Yang” in the exclusive Vital Impacts 2024 Annual Print Sale Collection
Since October 2024 — Part of the “European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024” (EWPY) exhibition by GDT
March 2024 – Endémika RD — Article on the endangered Antillean Manatee published in “Revista Endémika” — Read the article here (Spanish).
03 March 2023 – 21 May 2023 — Photo exhibition “Under the Caribbean Sea” in the Natural History Museum of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
12 August – 4 September 2022 — Photo exhibition “Under the Caribbean Sea” displayed in Agoral Mall, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
22 July – 8 August 2022 — Photo Exhibition “Under the Caribbean Sea” / “Bajo el Mar Caribe – El Manatí Antillano” launched in WAO Gallery, Altos de Chavón, Dominican Republic.
November 2021 — Series of photographs of the rewilded Antillean manatees published in the book “Otra Oportunidad”.
Honours
June 2025 – Big Picture Competition
Finalist (Aquatic Life Category)
BigPicture: Natural World Photography Competition,
presented by California Academy of Sciences
Winners’ gallery (BPC website)
October 2024 – European Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Honourable Mention (Underwater Category)
GDT German Society for Nature Photography
Winners’ gallery (EWPY website)
June 2024 – Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year
Finalist (“Emerging Photographer” Category)
Ocean Geographic
May 2024 – SPC Photo Awards Berlin
1st Place (Jury Price)
Swiss Photo Club
Read more here
May 2023 – II Premio Nacional del Fotoperiodismo
Honourable Mention (Environmental Category)
Asociación de Fotoperiodistas de República Dominicana
Read more here
Conservation Projects
March 2021 – June 2022 — Rewilding 3 endangered Antillean manatees
Documenting the first ever reintroduction program for three captive Antillean Manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) in the Dominican Republic. This conservation project is implemented by the Dominican Foundation for Marine Research FUNDEMAR.
August 2022 – July 2023 — Manatees in the Dominican Republic
In August 2022, Melanie joined FUNDEMAR on their mission to count and document how many wild manatees are still left in the Dominican Republic.
Melanie Müller 