MARIA FERNANDA BASTIDAS
MEXICAN PHOTOGRAPHER
BIO
Maria Fernanda, originally from Mexico City, grew up as a competitive swimmer. Her affinity for the ocean led her to combine swimming with photography, a fusion that transformed her life. With over a decade of experience shooting in the ocean, Maria Fernanda stands out as one of the few women worldwide, and the sole Mexican, capturing images in big waves. From Southern California to Hawaii, Tahiti to the Galapagos Islands, her lens has traversed iconic surf spots. Maria Fernanda has documented waves reaching over 30 feet at Waimea Bay and ventured into challenging waters like Nazaré. Her work has garnered international recognition, with features in books, magazines, websites, and blogs worldwide. Beyond photography, Maria Fernanda now shares her expertise through classes and workshops, both in-person and online, aiming to inspire others with her passion for in water surf photography.
“… God gives us gifts and qualities to each one of us, and it is our duty to share it with the world… if we don’t take advantage of them or use them,then we are wasting this …”
PHOTO COLLECTION
WORKSHOP
For more information and to sign up, here is the link.
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She has had the opportunity to take photos in Southern California, Mexico, Tahiti, Hawaii, the Galapagos Islands, Portugal, El Salvadorand Costa Rica.
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The first woman to swim out and photograph at Teahupo’o on a good size day.
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The first and usually the only woman to take photos from the water on big days at Zicatela.
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In 2015, she was one of the 25 finalist photographers worldwide, according to & Girl Surf Network.
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Her biography, as well as her work, have been in magazines, as well as on webpages and blogs around the world throughout her career, fromcountries like Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala, the USA, Puert Rico, UK, Australia, Spain, etc.
- She has participated and had her own Photography Expos in California, Hawaii, Mexico City and Guadalajara.
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Her work has been part of the books “THE LOVE OF SURF & “SURF LIKE A GlRL”, “STORIES OF THE SEAS” and “THE SURF ATLAS”.
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In 2018 she won the “People’s Choice Award” from the “2018 International Surf Photographer Search” competition.
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She was interviewed on the Mexican national television (Noticieros Televisa) with Paola Rojas.
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She was a member of the jury for the grant, Pictures for Parity, by The International Surf Archive alongside some of the best surf photographers worldwide. 2021