The winning shot: November 2018
Behind a Humpback Whale by François Baelen
Location
Reunion Island, Saint-Gilles
Equipment
- Sony A7III
- Sony-Zeiss 16-35 mm Lens
- Nauticam Housing
- Ambient light
Dive Centre
This shot was actually taken before a dive, while free diving with friends, we rented a boat to shoot whales which are here during the winter season (from July to October).
The Shot
François said “Shooting humpback whales can be challenging but this one was unbelievably calm. The mother would stay at the bottom, about 15 meters down, while the calf was going up and down to breathe and to play with us. After taking pictures of the calf for something like 15 minutes, I told a friend I wanted to take a picture from behind while he was free diving. So I went down, and very slowly, approached the tail, until I was centimeters away from it (the tail is huge and one single movement could be dangerous.. but this whale was so peaceful and accepted us). Little did I know when I took the picture, that not only my friend was in the right position, but the calf decided to be part of the picture. It was a amazing instant.”
To see more from François please visit his website by clicking here, or visit his Facebook page by clicking here.
If you want to enter the next Scubaverse.com Underwater Photography Competition, click here.
