Overview Michel Roggo

Michel Roggo was born in Fribourg, Switzerland in 1951. He has worked as a professional photographer since 1987. He is a member of the iLCP International League of Conservation Photographers. Michel started taking pictures at the age of thirty. Trips abroad quickly followed, including to Alaska, where he observed migrating salmon for the first time. Fascinated by these images, he decided to document them – under water, but without diving, so that he could work independently outside in the bush. He returned to the salmon rivers year after year to refine his technique.

Using the technique he developed for salmon, Michel began photographing other freshwater subjects, focussing more and more on freshwater landscapes, and revealing these unique habitats for perhaps the first time. He has since become an award-winning leader in his field. "We know what coral reefs look like", Michel says, "but what about the creeks, streams, lakes and ponds on our doorstep? I'm always looking for new and interesting scenes with the most dramatic light - a marsh pond, under the ice in a mountain stream, among algae… these habitats are hardly ever seen but they are incredibly beautiful." Michel Roggo still uses remote control systems under water, but at the age of sixty he began shooting pictures while snorkelling. Two years later, he took up diving – in the Siberian Ozero Baykal, the largest and deepest lake in the world.

In 2011, with the experience of more than a hundred expeditions behind him, Michel Roggo launched an ambitious project dedicated to freshwater: The Freshwater Project. In seven years he photographed forty different and spectacular freshwater environments from around the world. The project was supported by the IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Michel Roggo is internationally recognized as a specialist in freshwater photography. He has exhibited his work in over thirty solo exhibitions, and has been a prize winner in competitions such as the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year and European Wildlife Photographer of the Year. More than 18’000 of his pictures have been published by GEO, BBC Wildlife, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC online, mare, ArtMalaysia Magazine, WWF International, Sierra Magazine and more. He was a photographer for Wild Wonders of Europe.

Travels (selection)
2018 Spain 2017 Brazil, British Columbia, Antarctica 2016 Pantanal, Siberia, British Columbia, Lapland, Slovenia, Mexico, Lapland 2015 Malawi, Slovenia, Sichuan, Lapland, Buryatia, Romania, Australia, Oman 2014 Greenland, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Romania, Mexico 2013 Siberia, Lapland, Slovenia, China, New Zealand 2012 Pantanal, Croatia, Kamtchatka, Lapland, England, England, Sarawak, Florida 2011 Brazil, Slovenia, Lapland, British Columbia, United Arab Emirates, Florida, Amazon 2010 United Arab Emirates, British Columbia, Lapland, Slovenia 2009 Slovenia, Sweden, Atlantic Canada, Iceland 2008 Slovenia, Sweden, Atlantic Canada 2007 Spain, Slovenia, Sweden, Croatia 2006 Slovenia, Norway, Sweden, British Columbia 2005 Croatia, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovenia 2004 Croatia, Sweden, Slovenia, Croatia 2003 Cuba, Slovenia 2002 British Columbia, British Columbia 2001 Slovenia, British Columbia, Bolivia 2000 Slovenia, Sweden, Bolivia 1999 Cuba, Slovenia, Cuba, British Columbia, Cuba 1998 Germany, Slovenia, Sweden, Sweden 1997 New Zealand, Slovenia, Haida Gwaii (B.C.) 1996 Austria, Sweden, England, Haida Gwaii (B.C.) 1995 Austria, British Columbia, Amazon 1994 Amazon, Sweden, British Columbia, Amazon 1993 Amazon, British Columbia, Amazon 1992 Norway, Sweden, Norway 1991 Kenia, Alaska, Alaska, Christmas Island 1990 Florida, Sweden, British Columbia, Alaska 1989 Kenia, British Columbia, Alaska 1988 Okavango, Florida, Atlantic Canada 1987 Spain, Yugoslavia, British Columbia 1986 Scotland, Sweden, Norway, British Columbia 1985 Alaska, Galapagos 1984 Alaska, Sweden 1983 Yugoslavia, Alaska 1982 Sweden 1981 Sweden, Kenia

More than 18'000 photographs used by clients such as GEO, GEO Special, Mare, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Figaro Magazine, Terre Sauvage, Paris Match, Nature Canada, Alaska Magazine, The National Magazine, Lamborghini Magazine, Airone, DU, Schweizer Illustrierte, Sierra Magazine, Vokrug Sveta, Nanyang Siang Pau, Art Malaysia Magazine, Pacific Discovery, Kosmos, Photographie, Illustré, Schweizer Familie, Natura, Naturfoto, Adventure, British Columbia Magazine, Revue Schweiz, Frankfurter Allgemeine Magazin, Bianco Magazine, Newlook, Camera Natura, Terra, Science, New Scientist, Tonhalle Zürich, Aquatis Hotel, Swisscom, Canon Europe, Transhelvetica, SF Schweizer Fernsehen, TSR Télévision Suisse Romande, WWF International, WWF Switzerland, ARKive, IUCN, Presence Switzerland, National Geographic and many others.