Micah de Lizaraga, a 17-year-old wildlife photographer from Miquelon, is showcasing his stunning collection of photographs and videos at the Micro-Folie cultural center in Saint-Pierre. The exhibition, featuring 17 carefully selected images and videos of local wildlife including arctic hares, foxes, deer, and falcons, runs until September 19, 2025.
The young artist's passion for nature photography began with simple observations of deer behind his family home in Miquelon. "I inherited my love for nature from my father, but my parents can't really explain where my passion for photography and videography came from," Micah explains. "Watching the deer behind our house, I wanted to capture them in photos. I looked up tutorials on the internet to learn about camera settings, and that's how it all started."
One of the exhibition's standout pieces is a photograph of an arctic hare nibbling on a piece of fir tree, which represents the culmination of three years of winter searches. "I had this photo in mind for so long. It's exceptional," Micah says while standing before the image. "The moment was exceptional, and so is the result." His dedication to capturing fox kits required years of patient searching until he finally discovered their den, returning home shouting with joy about filming the young foxes for hours.
Micah's mother, Nancy de Lizaraga, recalls her son's breakthrough moment with obvious pride: "One day he came home screaming 'I found the burrow, I found the babies, I filmed them for hours!' I had never seen him so overjoyed, and since then his passion has only grown. He creates increasingly beautiful work. We are amazed at home. We are proud, very proud." The family's living room walls are now covered with photographs taken by Micah, and when he needs new equipment, the entire family contributes to help fund his passion.
The teenager's commitment to wildlife photography often involves long expeditions that concern his family. "When he goes on expeditions, he leaves at 8 AM and doesn't come back before 10 PM. When night falls and he hasn't returned, we worry," Nancy admits. "He's an artist, and we have to learn to live with that." During the exhibition's opening on September 6, one of Micah's grandmothers humorously described the behind-the-scenes story of his falcon video, noting how the bird attacked him during filming – something the family now laughs about.
Micah's talent has already gained recognition beyond this local exhibition. He has participated in several documentaries for France TV, showcasing his remarkable ability to capture rare wildlife moments. His footage includes intimate scenes of a female fox and her kits filmed in Cap de Miquelon during the weekend of May 18-19, 2024, as well as dramatic storm photography that has garnered significant attention.
Currently studying professional mechanics in Saint-Pierre, Micah has set his sights on becoming a wildlife documentarian. His educational plans include studying in Canada before continuing his training in France at the Institut francophone de formation au cinéma animalier (IFFCAM), a specialized institute for animal cinematography. This career path reflects his growing ambition to turn his natural talent and passion into a professional pursuit.
The exhibition is open to the public free of charge at Micro-Folie, located at 16 rue Georges Daguerre in Saint-Pierre. Visitors can view Micah's work Tuesday through Friday from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM, and Saturdays from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Those interested in seeing more of his work can follow his Dream Forest project across multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, where he regularly shares his latest wildlife encounters and photography adventures.
