Convocation: Luca Matinez
Madeline Shani ’25
Christine Wu ’25
At the all-school Convocation on April 29th, 2024, Luca Martinez, a young photographer of the natural world, gave the Loomis Chaffee community an insightful and stimulating presentation on his past three years of work in the Everglades. Retelling an endearing story of his upbringing, he explained how his childhood experiences evoked his passion for his current work. Throughout the Convocation, Matinez highlighted the underestimated beauty of the Everglades and the life that persists there.
Matinez grew up in South Florida, home to the Everglades, the largest subtropical area filled with undervalued wildlife and beautiful landscapes. As a child in Miami, he spent much time in nature, observing and interacting with the world around him. This instilled a deep passion for the environment from a young age. A few years ago, while Matinez was still in high school, he was drawn to the Everglades and began to spend time in the world of the wetlands consistently.
In his discussion, he described how the Everglades were often falsely depicted as “swamp-like” and “dirty” (Caplin News). To retaliate this narrative, Matinez utilizes photography and film to tell a story of the charm and tenacity of these wetlands. In an article from WPLG, Matinez voiced his desire to protect and advocate for the Everglades, explaining, “Because beyond the beautiful facade, beyond all of this beauty, beyond my beautiful videos lies the reality that this place has been giving me life is dying” (WPLG). Along with population growth in South Florida, environmental threats such as urban development, agricultural and industrial pressures, and air pollution have followed. For this reason, Matinez works as an activist, posting on social media and speaking to crowds nationwide to encourage others to learn about, appreciate, and preserve the Everglades.
During the Convocation, Luca Martinez articulated his passion and care for the Everglades through storytelling, film, and sound. He curated a cultivating picture as he displayed images and videos of his own to go along with his alluring words. Through the perspective of Matinez’s camera lens, Loomis Chaffee students heard and saw the very animals that have shown steadfastness in a threatening landscape. Some examples of the stories he told reflect his time in nature with the animals of the Everglades. This included a time staying overnight in a hammock hovering above the water. When asked by a student what motivates him to do his work, Matinez answered, “I’m addicted.”
The Everglades are composed of beautiful and extraordinary animals, many of which experience endangerment. Luca presented his experience with many unique animals to the audience, including Ospreys, his favorite Animal, and the creature that inspired part of his work. (Luca Martinez) After the Convocation, Matinez left students feeling motivated and interested in his work, the Everglades, and environmental conservation. To protect nature, we need to fully appreciate its beauty. Hence, as Matinez encourages, we should not only look at and marvel over the photographs and videos of the Everglades but also “go out there,” immersing ourselves in the wonders of the natural world.
References
Aguirre, L. (2023a, February 16). South Florida teen hoping to inspire with photos, videos of Everglades Beauty. WPLG.
News - caplin news. (n.d.). https://caplinnews.fiu.edu/
Martinez, L. About Luca. Luca Martinez. (n.d.).
https://www.lucamartinezphotography.com/full-bio/
Reed, J. (2023, September 1). Photographer Luca Martinez shows the Everglades as you’ve never seen it. Gulfshore Life.
