Life aboard theAgape Nuihas brought her closer to the ocean and the creatures that inhabit it.
What spurred your love of the water, and how did this end up merging together with photography?
Even before I could speak, I would babble on for hours to the fish.
As I got older, I became obsessed with nature documentaries, particularly underwater films.
I fell in love with diving right away.
It was during this time that I discovered photography.
Im still proud of some of my early images.
What inspires you about photographing whales?
Humpback whales are my favorite creatures on Earth.
Being around them makes me feel small in the most humbling way.
Can you share the story behind this photo of a whale’s eye?
I was out on a full-day tour with one of my friends, a local captain and guide.
The interaction didnt last long, and she quickly moved on to another group in the area.
She seemed very curious, so we decided to get back in the water for one more swim.
I’m so glad we did!
That whale was Sweet Girl.
As soon as we got in, she approached us very closely.
Unlike the male we had swum with earlier, her movements were slow and controlled.
When the other group left, it was just the four of us left in the water.
When I stopped, she stopped.
She seemed to want to be eye-to-eye.
For 10 minutes, we stayed together at the surface.
She would sometimes pass me slightly, but then would immediately turn and come back toward me.
I had seen others take a stab at touch her, but she always moved away just before contact.
I dont think she understood my words, but I believe she understood my body language.
Those 10 minutes were the most beautiful and profound of my life.
I never took my eyes off hers.
I completely failed at capturing that moment, but luckily, my GoPro was rolling the entire time.
After 10 minutes, she slowly moved past me, and I could tell she was leaving.
I waved goodbye as she swam off into the sunset.
The next day, I decided not to go out, wanting to savor the experience.
After the best encounter of my life, it felt strange to go back out looking for more whales.
But fate had other plans.
I asked if it was the female, and he confirmed it was.
This time, I didnt swim away.
I knew I could trust her, and she could trust me.
I held her gaze and zoomed in with my 16-35mm lens, trusting the animal-eye tracking to work.
After that, other groups entered the water, and the weather quickly deteriorated.
She swam off into the channel, heading toward the island of Tahiti.
Just four days later, she was struck and killed by a fast-moving ship near the island.
We always begin by observing the whales from the surface.
If theyre moving quickly or moving away from the boat, we dont get in the water.
When we do enter, we always approach slowly and quietly to avoid startling them.
Even though neither poses a threat, the surprise causes us to react.
The same goes for whales.
If they come too close, we swim away to create distance.
Ive always felt comfortable around wildlife.
For this reason, Ive always enjoyed the company of animals more than humans.
Over the past eight years, Ive learned to let go of my fears in the ocean.
Ive also learned how my body language is perceived by animals the moment they see me.
In an instant, they decide whether I am a predator or prey, a threat or a curiosity.
Animals have taught me to live fully in the present.
Animals know where and when to go.
I feel that, as humans, weve lost the ability to trust our own instincts and intuition.
We travel based on the winds and tides, and let the weather dictate our daily activities.
By living this way, Ive found more peace and presence in my life.
What has been the most challenging and rewarding part of this journey?
The hardest part of my journey has been being away from family and friends for long stretches.
But, it can still be challenging to not have a consistent community.
What do you hope that people take away from your photos?
I hope my photos inspire a deeper respect and appreciation for whales and the ocean as a whole.
Whales are magnificent creatures, and I want people to see them as sentient beings that deserve our protection.
My goal is to raise awareness about the threats they facelike ship strikesand encourage action to protect marine life.
Ultimately, I want my photos to serve as a reminder that the ocean is a shared space.
