Ulrika Larsson
Ulrika Larsson is a Swedish photographer, adventurer, and environmental communicator. She is known for being the first woman to solo sea kayak the full length of Sweden’s coastline over 66 days and for cycling solo across the United States from Miami to San Diego. These formative journeys sparked a lifelong connection to the natural world and have shaped her approach to photography and storytelling. Today, she combines visual storytelling with a commitment to environmental awareness.
Ulrika believes strongly in the role of nonfiction storytelling to effect change. Her award-winning images explore the intersection of science, conservation, and public understanding. Drawing on first-hand field experience, particularly in climate-affected regions, her work bridges scientific discovery and human emotion, encouraging viewers to reflect and act.
Her visual narratives celebrate resilience—both ecological and human—and seek to amplify the often unseen efforts of scientists working in critical environments. Through lectures and public engagements, she delivers insights from the front line of research in ways that are accessible and engaging. Ulrika’s storytelling is not only a call to adventure but a call to responsibility, reminding audiences that each person has a role to play in the planet’s future.
Ulrika’s career began early, with her first conservation image published in a local newspaper at age ten. Today, her photography is exhibited internationally and her stories featured in Oceanographic Magazine, The Guardian, and others. In 2024, she was named a finalist in the Ocean Photographer of the Year awards, a recognition of her ability to fuse visual excellence with ecological advocacy.
Her recent projects include Reefs of Hope, which earned Honourable Mentions at the Tokyo International Foto Awards and the International Photography Awards in 2024 and 2025. These works focus on coral resilience and environmental cooperation, particularly in regions where science and diplomacy converge. Her message continues to inspire individuals to embrace nature with curiosity, purpose, and hope.
Her exhibitions include Corals of the Red Sea—Bringing Science and Diplomacy Together for the Reefs of Hope in Geneva (2024), and Stories Trapped in Ice—Polar Observations in Copenhagen (2024), in collaboration with the European Space Agency. Her work is currently on view at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney through April 2025.