Wildlife/Animals nominee

Bullsharks are catalogued as one of the most aggressive sharks, but this is not what I have experienced. In my many years diving with bull sharks I have observed their beauty and learned how intelligent they are. Not once I have felt threatened by them, it amazes me how tolerant they are to human presence in their home.

This photo was taken during a shark dive at Playa del Carmen, Mexico while these two ladies danced their way following their prey.

Lawyer, underwater photographer, and shark ambassador.

The Ocean is his shelter and there is where he found his passion for sharks. Mizael found in photography a powerful tool to help give sharks a voice and showing their true nature. Picturing them as they are, just sharks, not evil killing machines. His work has contributed to change shark´s perception in his community, with time many people have fallen in love with these magnificent animals, or at the very least, ackowledge they are not monsters.

Ba´alche is the mayan word used to say "animal". Mayans believed in the power of nature and storytelling to preserve their traditions. Today we know data by itself is not enough to create the change we need to save our oceans, this is why we need photography, because an image is more powerful than a thousand words, we need to tell the stories of the ocean in order to save it. This is why the project is called Ba´alche Photography. Mizael and his wife started this organization to use photography as an educational tool, so that people can learn and understand about the creatures that live in the Ocean, and change the bad reputation that sharks have.