FIRST PLACE WINNER - Nature: Wildlife (AMATEUR)
Humpbacks in Monochrome
Photo © Wai Hoe Mok
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Humpback whales migrate from their feeding grounds in Antarctica to the Kindom of Tonga where they stay from July through September to court, mate and calve. So named for the bump in front of their small dorsal fin, humpbacks are among the most energetic and inquisitive of the baleen whales. For the lucky observers, the humpback may display spectacular behaviours, such as breaching, spyhopping, fin slapping and as captured in this series of monochromes, the rare and dramatic, peduncle throw.
This series was created having spent 7 hours each day at sea from Vava'u, over 8 days finding and interacting with the humpback whales. Showcasing the whales against a black backdrop, I hope to be able to present the sheer elegance and magnificence of these gentle giants.
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Humpback whales migrate from their feeding grounds in Antarctica to the Kindom of Tonga where they stay from July through September to court, mate and calve. So named for the bump in front of their small dorsal fin, humpbacks are among the most energetic and inquisitive of the baleen whales. For the lucky observers, the humpback may display spectacular behaviours, such as breaching, spyhopping, fin slapping and as captured in this series of monochromes, the rare and dramatic, peduncle throw.
This series was created having spent 7 hours each day at sea from Vava'u, over 8 days finding and interacting with the humpback whales. Showcasing the whales against a black backdrop, I hope to be able to present the sheer elegance and magnificence of these gentle giants.
About author:
Mok Wai Hoe is a photo enthusiast with a special interest in underwater photography and marine life. He has been placed in photography competitions, such as Ocean Geographic Photos of the Year and Our World Underwater, with his most notable accolade being the Master of Ocean Geographic Competition Wyland Award. His images have appeared in several issues of Ocean Geographic, with a special feature of "OGX Emerging Pro Wildlife Photographer" in issue 35/16. In 2015, Mok was inducted into the Ocean Artists Society.BACK TO GALLERY
