2008: Animal Portraits - Runner-up
Jordi Chias (Spain)
Curious calf
'Sailing one calm day, between the Canary Islands and Madeira, the mother at first kept between me and the infant, but after a while lost interest. The calf came straight up to me and stayed motionless just a metre away. I took a few shots, but then I lowered my camera and simply looked the calf in the eye - a moment I will never forget.' Pilot whale families stick together. Unlike most whales, pilot whale calves stay with their mother's pod for life. The attentive mothers spend so long caring for each calf they only breed every seven or eight years.
Nikon D70s + Nikon 12-24mm lens at 18mm; 1/80 sec at f5.6; ISO 200; Hugyfot housing; no strobes.
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