The person behind the lens – Léa Zinsli

Trained as a microbiologist and immunologist at ETH Zurich, with a PhD in Microbiology and Biotechnology, I also did a postdoc at the Université de Montréal focusing on marine prophages. I also worked as a guide and science educator in Svalbard. My professional life is dedicated to studying the unseen world of microbes, in particular phages, and mentoring students in the lab. But beyond science, my greatest passion is exploring the natural world with a camera: self-taught, driven by awe, and inspired by the urgency to protect what is so easily lost.

In 2016, I caught the “Arctic virus” on my first trip to Svalbard. The fragile beauty, the wilderness, the roughness, the silence, and the vastness of the Arctic continue to fascinate me. Svalbard, in particular, feels like the home of my heart. I love venturing out on snowmobile trips, observing and photographing wildlife in their habitats. These moments ground me, reminding me of the power and resilience of nature.

Through photography, I try to capture both the awe-inspiring beauty and the delicate vulnerability of our planet. Climate change and human impact scare me deeply, and I hope my images can serve as quiet reminders of what we stand to lose and why it is worth protecting.

Welcome to my space. Here, you’ll find photographs paired with stories giving glimpses into the landscapes and encounters that inspire me most. I hope they bring you closer to the beauty of nature, and encourage you to slow down and take in our extraordinary world.