ABOUT ME
Melisa Quintero
Supported by
ABOUT ME
The “Ojo Sideral”
My name is Melisa. I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and studied Graphic Design at the most prestigious university in my country (and one of the top in Latin America). After some major life changes—which I share in my upcoming book FRACTALES—I started traveling across Argentina and completely fell in love with every landscape I encountered along the way.
During those journeys, I discovered photography, especially night photography under star-filled skies. I also became passionate about teaching the magic of the stars, the darkness, and nature itself.
I started running workshops and training in astronomy and cultural astronomy. In 2022, I decided to make a long-time dream come true: becoming an Environmental Interpreter Guide.
I moved to Patagonia, where I spent several months working as a tour guide in the province of Santa Cruz—a land of glaciers, canyons, and the world-famous Cueva de las Manos.
Ojo Sideral is a project I’ve been running for over 15 years: it’s the brand under which all my work comes together—astrotourism, graphic design, photography, and education.
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
I’m passionate about creating and organizing projects. In 2015, together with a friend, we organized a tribute to Gustavo Cerati and Luis Alberto Spinetta. I handled the event’s graphic identity, name, and visual concept (Cristales de Amor Amarillo), as well as the logistics: securing venues, sponsors, and even live streaming—back when it was still something new. It was a big challenge and an incredibly enriching experience, especially since we collaborated with a community kitchen and a foundation supporting people with visual impairments.
In recent years, I’ve organized night photography workshops across various provinces in Argentina, along with photography trips to Ibicuy (Entre Ríos), Epecuén (Buenos Aires), and Santa Cruz (Patagonia). For each project, I managed everything end-to-end: logistics, promotion, meals, and overall coordination.
In 2020, I developed astrotourism experiences in the northwest of Santa Cruz, an innovative concept at the time. My goal was to bring people closer to the night sky and the ancestral knowledge of the indigenous peoples, complementing each outing with interpretive materials, activities for children, and readings that sparked emotion and connection—experiences that stay in memory.
Additionally, I worked as a guide at a tourism agency, leading excursions to Cueva de las Manos, the Marble Chapels (Chile), and the Scenic Route 41.
. Digital Guide of Services
and Products in the NW
of Santa Cruz (Arg).
In 2021, I came up with the idea of creating a website where entrepreneurs from the northwest of Santa Cruz could showcase their projects and also help tourists find what they were looking for. It was a project aimed at valuing the natural and cultural heritage of this land, which has so much to share. I handled the visual side, the original concept, maps, photography, and site structure, while Guido Vittone, a local consultant, wrote the texts about the region, towns, and more.
Printed materials, posters, flyers, and products were created under the brand Corazón de la Patagonia to help promote the project, which was managed privately, for private initiatives, and without profit.
TRAINING
Courses and Conferences
I Participated In
2015
Nocturnal photography and lightpainting
with Rodrigo Terrén Alejandro Montel.
2017
Hyperlapse
con Alejandro Corvalán.
2020
Filmmaking.
con Gastón Luna y Gabo Cárdenas.
Filmmaking with cellphone
con Martín De Iulis.
Graphic design
2008
Graphic design degree
UBA (Universidad de Buenos Aires) FADU.
2015
TRIMARCHI congress
Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires. Argentina.
2017
Script Lettering
con Ximena Jiménez.
2022
Brand typologies
Luciano Cassisi y Norberto Chávez.
Natural and cultural heritage
2020
Workshop travels throught Patagonia
con Marina Lema “Mapa Geotours”.
2021
Geologic places
con Marina Lema “Mapa Geotours”.
Geologic Roads
con Marina Lema “Mapa Geotours”.
Environmental Interpretative Guide
Instituto Perito Moreno.
2022
National Parks Introduction
Administración de Parques Nacionales.
Cartographic production 1
con Oscar Vives de PIRKA. Prusik
Fitomedicina con plantas nativas
con Antonella Oliva.
Aves de la Patagonia: bosque y estepa
con Aves Argentinas.
2024
Patrimonio geológico, geoparques y geodiversidad en América Latina
Instituciones de geología de Ecuador.
2024
Producción de cartas topográficas y 3D
Instituto ELEVAR
Astronomy
2020
Astronomía básica
con Observatorio Ampimpa, Tucuman. Argentina.
2022
Astronomía para naturalistas
con Diego Hernández, planetario Galileo Galilei
de Buenos Aires. Vía Aves Argentinas.
2023
Congreso Binacional de Astronomía.
Trelew, Chubut. Argentina.
2024
Mitología para Astroturismo.
Instituto Latinoamericano de Astroturismo.
Astroturismo para emprendedores
Fundación Starlight (España)
Writing
2022
Escritura Experimental
Jimena Sánchez.
Haiku Do
Escuela de Haiku Makoto (España)
2025
Taller de mejorar historias
Escuela Orsai, Hernán Casciari
PRESS AND MEDIA
Journalistic articles,
interviews and more
Relevant Coverage in National and International Media
PULSO TURÍSTICO
“Argentina Lovers: enamorada de la Patagonia”
Melisa Quintero, fotógrafa y diseñadora, es la nueva protagonista de Argentina Lovers en las redes de Visit Argentina, compartiendo su pasión por la flora, fauna y paisajes de la Patagonia.
Nota aquí
REVISTA AIRE
“Astrofotografía: La premonición de lo infinito”
Se define como fotógrafa, diseñadora gráfica, naturalista y guía intérprete ambiental. Y como astrofotógrafa, Melisa explora algo más que el diurno paisaje patagónico.
Ver entrevista aquí
PHOTOGRAPHY CONTESTS
2017
Club Andino de Buenos Aires
Primer puesto con fotografía de El Chaltén
2018
Canon
Primer puesto con fotografía de El Bolsón en otoño (Capturá el Momento).
Ver video aquí
2021
Secretaría de Género y Ambiente Santa Cruz
Segundo puesto fotografía nocturna “Lumbre Lunar”
Instituto Geográfico Nacional y Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino
Una de las 12 fotos elegidas para el calendario 2022 sobre Montañas y Cerros de Argentina.
Guarer video aquí
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS AND MASTERCLASSES DELIVERED
Inspiring and Traveling
Across Argentina
