it would’ve scared the fuck out of me holy shit that’s big
So for anybody who doesn’t know, that ring of bubbles you see coming up before the humpback does is a “net” that the whale creates by swimming in a circle and blowing the bubbles from its blowhole. The bubble net disorients the krill/small fish/whatever and corrals them into one spot so that the whale can lunge up and feed as you see it doing. It’s most often done cooperatively in groups, and a whole bunch of whales will lunge up at once.
This image, which was taken by Magnus Lundgren, opens us up to the world of cetacean neuroscience. Up until only a few years ago (2008), marine biologists presumed that sperm whales behaved liked other cetaceans and utilised uni-hemispheric sleep; allowing one side of their brain to rest at a time. You can imagine the advantages of only allowing one side of your brain to rest, it certainly facilitates awareness of predators and going to the surface for air- but these sperm whales don’t seem to need that security.
Behind the Shot: After spending an entire day searching for whales, our boat was gifted with a magical encounter with a curious and interactive mother and calf. As the mother hovered at 30 feet, her inquisitive calf would make its way to the surface to breathe, coming in close to inspect each of us. Some of my favorite photos of marine life are shot from behind; here I attempted to create a unique perspective by flipping the image upside down so the whale appears to be floating just above the surface in full breach. Storytelling isn’t always about the reality of what was seen — I hope the image shares with others my take on the mystical world I find myself in each time I dip below the surface.
2nd Place, Wide-Angle: Karen Smith
Behind the Shot: Near Tulum lie numerous underwater cave systems known as cenotes. The Pit is the deepest of these and is sought out by divers because of its beautiful rock formations and filtered light. Our dive started with the sun directly above. We descended into a hydrogen sulfide layer of decomposing trees at 100 feet, which can be seen below, and then up through a shallow halocline. As I ascended, I noticed freedivers practicing; within 15 seconds and three shots, the two lined up perfectly.
1st Place, Macro: Cai Songda
Behind the Shot: This shot reminds me how a seemingly boring night dive became one of my most memorable ones. Ascending from nearly 100 feet with nothing to show, I was doing my safety stop when I spotted this blanket octopus. At the time, it amazed me that all the necessary elements for a wonderful shot seemed to come together: Colors were vibrant, the reflections alluring, and the octopus very cooperative, as if striking a pose.
wrennette 