Country: Germany 🇩🇪
Esther Horvath is a documentary photographer whose work focuses on climate research in the polar regions, using photography as a powerful tool for science communication.
Born in Hungary, she earned a master’s degree in economics from the University of Western Hungary. In 2012, driven by her passion for photography, she moved to New York City to study at the International Center of Photography, graduating in Documentary and Photojournalism. After six years in New York, she relocated to Germany in 2018, where she is currently based.
Since 2015, Horvath has dedicated her work to the polar regions, participating in 25 scientific expeditions across the Arctic and Antarctic. Her photography captures not only the dramatic landscapes but also the behind-the-scenes efforts of scientists working to better understand the impacts of climate change in these fragile environments.
In 2019–2020, she documented the MOSAiC expedition in the Central Arctic Ocean — the largest scientific mission ever conducted in the region. Her visual chronicle of the expedition was published by Prestel Verlag in two editions: Expedition Arktis (German) and Into the Arctic Ice (English).
Her work has appeared in National Geographic, The New York Times, GEO, Stern, TIME, The Guardian, Audubon Magazine, and many others. In 2020, she won first prize in the World Press Photo Award (Environmental, Single Category), along with numerous international honors.
A TEDx speaker, Horvath is also deeply engaged in public outreach through exhibitions, books, and educational programs, using visual storytelling to raise awareness of our planet’s most vulnerable ecosystems.
Born in Hungary, she earned a master’s degree in economics from the University of Western Hungary. In 2012, driven by her passion for photography, she moved to New York City to study at the International Center of Photography, graduating in Documentary and Photojournalism. After six years in New York, she relocated to Germany in 2018, where she is currently based.
Since 2015, Horvath has dedicated her work to the polar regions, participating in 25 scientific expeditions across the Arctic and Antarctic. Her photography captures not only the dramatic landscapes but also the behind-the-scenes efforts of scientists working to better understand the impacts of climate change in these fragile environments.
In 2019–2020, she documented the MOSAiC expedition in the Central Arctic Ocean — the largest scientific mission ever conducted in the region. Her visual chronicle of the expedition was published by Prestel Verlag in two editions: Expedition Arktis (German) and Into the Arctic Ice (English).
Her work has appeared in National Geographic, The New York Times, GEO, Stern, TIME, The Guardian, Audubon Magazine, and many others. In 2020, she won first prize in the World Press Photo Award (Environmental, Single Category), along with numerous international honors.
A TEDx speaker, Horvath is also deeply engaged in public outreach through exhibitions, books, and educational programs, using visual storytelling to raise awareness of our planet’s most vulnerable ecosystems.