Mayor's Environmentalist of the Year

2023 Mayor's Youth Environmentalist of the Year 

Luca Martinez is a nature and wildlife photographer and videographer from Miami, FL. It was likely destined, as when he was a little boy Luca wanted to be outside from sunrise to sunset. He couldn't wait to be in nature and growing-up in South Florida meant he could be outdoors almost every day of the year.

His love for ospreys took him to the Everglades where he's been shooting regularly for the past three years. Lost for hours and days at a time, he draws inspiration from the subtropical wilderness among the grasses, cypress trees, and wildlife. Luca spent months wading through remote cypress domes and sloughs. It was the crystal-clear water and vibrant green aquatic plants that kept him going back. But only seeing it from above wasn't enough. His curiosity took him below the surface where he realized the world underwater in the Everglades is just as extraordinary and alive as its dry reflection.

Luca has introduced the beauty of a rarely experienced Everglades to more than 100 million worldwide viewers through viral cinematic videos on social media. When he's not out in the field, Luca gives talks about the wonders of the wetlands where he takes the audience through his experiences diving in cypress domes and photographing wildlife.

Luca is deeply passionate about inspiring his generation and others about the importance of preserving our South Florida ecosystem. He hopes to be doing this forever. Luca has spoken around Miami to students and adults alike.  He has volunteered to speak to the Deering Estate and the 100 Ladies of Deering in April among other groups.  He has also spoken to a 1000 people last year at a special Earth Day assembly at Palmer Trinity School.   He has done short documentary films showing the importance of the Everglades and has done presentations at Palmer Trinity and elsewhere to share his excitement about nature and conservation.  When he’s not out in the field, Luca gives talks about the wonders of the wetlands where he takes the audience through his experiences diving in cypress domes and photographing wildlife.

Luca is an extraordinary young man whose work should be recognized therefore, is 2023 Mayor's Youth Environmentalist of the Year.   Here's a look at his instagram page. 

Recognition & Media Appearances:

• Oceanographic Magazine Issue #28, A Different Kind of Wild; Byline, LucaMartinez. January 2023
• NBC Nightly News Kids Edition with Lester Holt, January 19, 2023
• Recognized among 28 Youth Voices Making a Difference. EvergladesFoundation Magazine (Cover Feature), 2022
• “A Teenage Photographer… with a Goal of Preservation” Flamingo Magazinefeature article
• WSVN Channel 7 Spotlight Segment, Nov 2022
• FOX Weather interview, Wild, August 2022
• Interview on WLRN, Sundial, Wildlife Thursday, April 2022
• “National History Museum Youth Photographer of the Year” two-time finalist
• Center for Great Apes Photography Contest Winner and Exhibition 2019