Marine Mammals
I've been fascinated by whales since I was a kid - six years old to be exact. That was when my grandfather gave me a book titled "Wild Animals of North America." Of all the gorgeous, amazing photos in those pages I was most mesmerized by the large whales at the end of the book. Those images planted a seed in my little brain that grew into a life-long passion to learn as much as possible about these animals and advocate for their protection. I am blessed to have gotten this opportunity for nearly a decade, though most of that work is done within the confines of four walls and a computer screen. The few times I have gotten the opportunity to see these animals in the wild has renewed my sense of purpose in research, and I hope my images can inspire someone else the way those initial images I saw as a kid in that book inspired me.
The images of whales here were taken opportunistically and not part of any research. I don't make boating excursions a frequent habit, these animals are extremely sensitive to noise and human impact. I've transitioned to using a kayak whenever possible, and as of 2020 use a laser range finder to ensure I am abiding by the distance guidelines. The occasional instance where animals have approached closer on their terms is always a thrill.
The images of whales here were taken opportunistically and not part of any research. I don't make boating excursions a frequent habit, these animals are extremely sensitive to noise and human impact. I've transitioned to using a kayak whenever possible, and as of 2020 use a laser range finder to ensure I am abiding by the distance guidelines. The occasional instance where animals have approached closer on their terms is always a thrill.
