Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Anna Tripp. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Anna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

So much. My dad is an outdoorsy adventurous guy from middle Tennessee and my mom, Raquel Tamayo Tripp, is a talented fine artist from Ecuador, a vibrant South American country. My early childhood, primarily based in Jacksonville, FL, was filled with both of my parents sharing their love for their hobbies and passions. We’d go camping, spend hours at the beach, hike volcanoes, rock climb, sketch, paint, make crafts out of items we’d recycle (my abuela is big into making art out of recycled items!), and so much more. Essentially, my love for nature and conservation came from my dad showing us the wonders of the outdoors and my love for art came from my mom encouraging my siblings and me to be creative at such an early age. I remember my mom would spend a couple of hours a day during the summer teaching us art mediums and explaining the various drawing and painting techniques. We had our very own workshop! I was maybe six when I asked Santa for a camera, not sure why… but I remember being so excited on Christmas day when I saw I got my dad’s old Olympus digital camera. I carried that camera everywhere, and eventually in middle school my grandpa gifted me a simple video recording device. That led me to study TV production and film at Paxon School for Advanced Studies, where I fell in love with the art of filmmaking. I started my YouTube channel in 10th grade (2014) where I would upload videos from our scuba diving trips and began my photography Instagram during my senior year (2016). It became clear to me that I wanted nothing more than to use my camera to show the world the beauty around us. Later, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and a minor in photography from Jacksonville University (2020) and have since continued to expand my portfolio and craft while supporting various research and conservation efforts in Florida, Alaska, Alabama, Texas, and Virginia. Long story short, I found my passion through the influence of my incredible parents, and for that, I will always be grateful!

Anna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an Ecuadorian-American Marine Scientist and Visual Artist. I grew up surrounded by art and nature. I got my first camera when I was six, my first video recording device when I was 11, and I became Open Water scuba certified at 12. By seventh grade, I already knew I wanted to be a marine scientist with a camera. For some reason at that point, I understood the best way to promote conservation efforts would be through photographs and videos. I would tell everyone I wanted to be a National Geographic photographer like Thomas P. Peschak or an underwater filmmaker like Jacques Cousteau. In high school, I fell in love with the art of filmmaking where I became captivated by the elements of mise-en-scène and fascinated with auteurs like Wes Anderson. In college, I decided I wanted to challenge myself by capturing a story in just one frame, which led me to declare a minor in photography while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in marine science.

The initial goal for my work was to showcase the beauty of nature, but it gradually evolved into showcasing the beauty of the world around us. This shift happened during an internship assignment in Cuba (2019), where I discovered my deep interest in documentary photography and embraced my inner Alex Webb. Additionally, since graduating in 2020, I’ve been fortunate enough to support various research and conservation projects at the non-profit, state, and federal levels, focusing on threatened and endangered species, including wild Alaskan salmon and several sea turtle species such as Greens, Loggerheads, and Kemp’s ridleys. These jobs have allowed me the opportunity to truly understand and experience these species in their environment; a feeling of appreciation that not even a photograph or video could fully recreate. Regardless, when not collecting data, I’d spend minutes to hours documenting these species and their surroundings, creating visual stories for those who may never be able to experience this magic in person. To me, this is the best way to promote conservation. After all, I feel that igniting love and appreciation goes further than a complex scientific report, that’s what sets me apart from others in my field!

While I have fully embraced this way of experiencing and sharing, I want others to as well. I am not saying everyone needs a camera, just to immerse, explore, and become one with Earth. My goal for 2025 is to encourage this way of experiencing through my upcoming lifestyle brand, TRUETRIPP. TRUETRIPP became my professional social media handle in 2019 as a tribute to my parents’ dream of creating the ultimate travel experience in Ecuador: True Tripp Adventures. My brand will launch through the release of various hoodie collections, all of which will feature the alchemical symbol for Earth (🜃), which has been a signature symbol in my work since 2020. Stay tuned for more details and release dates by following @truetripp on Instagram!

I would say I am most proud of never giving up either of my passions. I thought the only way of having a career in conservation with a camera would be through National Geographic or a similar organization. However, I realized just by carrying my camera to every job I went to, or every place I traveled, I could keep my vision alive and would never have to give either up. I have even been lucky enough to incorporate both passions in a permanent role within one of the most recognized federal agencies in the US.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Engage with us! Whether it’s commenting on a post, resharing to your story, messaging us, or shopping from our store, we want to hear from you. I personally love making connections, and when I feel the support from my followers, it truly warms my heart. But seriously, one of the best ways to support artists is by purchasing their work. I know it’s easy to grab affordable wall art from a retail store, but supporting someone’s craft holds much more meaning. My parents taught me this early on, and to this day, I enjoy supporting artists across various disciplines!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The goal of my work will always be to showcase the beauty that surrounds us, whether it’s the wildlife of Alaska, the crumbling infrastructure of Havana, or the vastness of a Western landscape. Beauty is everywhere; it’s just up to us to choose to see it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.annatripp.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truetripp
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annatripp/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@truetripp
• Other: https://linktr.ee/annatripp

Image Credits

Personal: Self Portrait (Anna Tripp)

1. Sandra Tripp
2. Anna Tripp
3. Eileen Henry
4. Anna Tripp
5. Anna Tripp
6. Anna Tripp
7. Bianca Wong-Rodriguez