Brazilian nature photographer Luciano Candisani started his career working as a photographer for scientific expeditions, while he was still a graduate student at the Biosciences Institute of São Paulo University. His first professional opportunity as a photojournalist came in 1996, on a three-month long expedition to Antarctica to document marine life under the ice. Since then, his assignments have taken him to some of the world’s most remote places, such as Antarctica, Patagonia, the Amazon, Atol das Rocas, and the Darwin and Wolf Islands.
Candasani has published seven photo books, has held a number of exhibitions. His work has appeared in publications worldwide, including Geo and BBC Wildlife magazines. He is a contributing photographer to the main edition of National Geographic, and a frequent contributor to the Brazilian edition of the magazine.
‘Hippie Monkeys’, his story on muriqui monkeys, received first prizes in four categories of the prestigious Brazilian April journalism award, including the topmost distinction of photo of the year. The story also brought real benefits to conservation efforts for this endangered primate. A photo from his 2013 story on the Brazilian Pantanal caiman won a first prize in the 2012 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. In 2013, Candisani was one of the judges for this competition. He is also is a fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers.