2010: The Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Species - Highly Commended
Tony Wu (United States of America)
Giant encounter
Scar, a ten-year-old sperm whale, loves playing with people as much as he does with the other sperm whales in his group. Injured as a calf off Dominica, where he was born, possibly by a pod of pilot whales, he has since bonded with people and invites contact. Scar came right up to Tony when he was snorkelling, resulting in an unusual perspective of the world's largest predator. His massive head is a third of his body length, and he may well grow to be up to 18 metres (59 feet) long. Says Tony, 'It's a bit unnerving when you're in the water and a nearly full-grown whale charges at you at high speed - and you're not 100 per cent sure it's Scar.'
Canon 5D Mark II + 17-40mm f4 lens; 1/200 sec at f7.1; ISO 200; Zillion housing; Pro One optical dome port.
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