Tamara Merino
Tamara Merino is a Chilean National Geographic Explorer, award-winning documentary photographer, and visual storyteller. Her work explores underground communities, identity, human rights, and climate change, capturing hidden lives with intimacy and emotional depth.
She has been featured twice on the cover of National Geographic Magazine, and her images have been published in National Geographic, The New York Times, TIME, Der Spiegel, and Die Zeit. Her work has been selected three times for National Geographic’s “The Year in Pictures” and “Best Photos of the Year”.
Merino was honoured with the National Geographic Wayfinders Award, which recognises innovative and influential emerging leaders. She has received both an Emergency Fund and a Level II Grant from National Geographic in support of her long-term project UNDERLAND, a global documentation of subterranean communities. Her accolades also include the Inge Morath Award from the Magnum Foundation and selection as one of PDN’s 30.
She is a fellow of the International Women’s Media Foundation and has participated in the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass and The New York Times Portfolio Review.
Merino’s work is grounded in a humanistic approach that reveals alternative ways of life and resilience in the face of challenging conditions. In addition to her photographic career, she is the co-founder of Ayün Fotógrafas, a collective of women photographers reshaping visual narratives in South America.
She leads National Geographic Expeditions, teaches documentary photography and storytelling workshops, and speaks at international festivals. Her exhibitions have reached audiences across the United States, Germany, France, Greece, the Netherlands, India, Myanmar, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Antarctica.
Merino’s most enduring body of work, UNDERLAND, began in Coober Pedy, Australia, where residents live underground to avoid extreme heat. The project expanded to the cave dwellings of Andalusia, Spain, and to a secluded polygamous community living in caves in Utah, United States. These communities are brought to light through Merino’s lens, showing resilience, cultural preservation, and adaptation.
With over sixty million people globally estimated to live underground, UNDERLAND uncovers how climate, economics, culture, and religion contribute to this lifestyle. Merino’s approach gives voice and visibility to people who remain largely unseen, offering a nuanced view of human connection with the earth and a reflection on alternative models of survival.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Merino turned her camera inward. While in lockdown in Santiago, she created a personal series exploring isolation and motherhood. A self-portrait with her son Ikal was later published on the cover of National Geographic Magazine, adding a deeply personal chapter to her career.
Tamara Merino continues to collaborate with other visual storytellers and publications worldwide to advocate for ethical documentary practice. Through her teaching and mentoring, she encourages photographers to challenge dominant narratives and foster greater inclusion in the field of visual journalism.
