Our Team
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About Phototeva
Phototeva was founded in 2009 with a vision: to create an unforgettable organized travel experience — for people who don’t like organized tours.
That means offering the peace of mind, excellent logistics, and access to unique experiences that aren’t open to the general public, without compromising on independence, small intimate groups, and an itinerary that values depth, enjoyment, and cultural understanding over rushing from one place to another.
Today, we are one of the largest adventure and photography travel companies in the world.
With an incredible team of over thirty staff members, guides, and instructors from the worlds of biology, anthropology, photography, and zoology — we live and breathe the field, pouring our hearts into every expedition so that you return with the experience of a lifetime.
Office Team
Roie Galitz – Founder and CEO
Oded Wagenstein – Chief Operating Officer
Yarin Klein – VP of Business Development
Elinor Roizman – Operations Manager
Adi Krief – VP of Technology and Innovation
Iris Goldenstein – Travel Consultant
Tal Carmi – Travel Consultant
Grace Ofir – Travel Consultant
Yamit Barzilay – Travel Consultant
Meirav Caspi – Travel Consultant
Guiding Team
Roie Galitz
For over a decade, Roie has been recognized as one of the world’s leading wildlife photographers and expedition leaders. His award-winning work has been featured by National Geographic, BBC, Nikon Pro, and other major outlets. Roie serves as Greenpeace Ambassador to the Arctic and is a sought-after international speaker on nature photography and environmental conservation. In 2022, he was appointed Nikon Europe Ambassador.
Piet van den Bemd
Piet van den Bemd is a skilled expedition leader and photographer with a deep passion for the polar regions.
Growing up surrounded by nature, he picked up his first camera at 16 and has been capturing the natural world ever since. With a background in ecology and extensive field experience, Piet has led numerous expeditions across both the Arctic and Antarctic. He combines his scientific knowledge with storytelling through photography, creating images that inspire appreciation and conservation of these fragile environments.
Driven by a profound respect for the oceans and wilderness, Piet continues to guide, explore, and share his passion, offering guests an intimate and memorable connection to some of the last untouched places on Earth.
Miriam Vermeij
Miriam is a professional nature guide from the Netherlands with a lifelong passion for exploring and sharing the natural world.
Since first visiting the polar regions in 2006, she has become a full-time expedition guide in both the Arctic and Antarctic, with expertise in birds, plants, and marine mammals.
Miriam encourages guests to explore at their own pace, fostering meaningful connections with both people and the natural world.
Travelers often leave her trips with a renewed awareness and appreciation of the wildlife and plants around them.