Wildlife / Animals nominee

Two new-born sperm whale calves swim a little awkwardly with their mothers and family members in mid-Atlantic off the Azores (the second calf is deeper and in the background, suckling from its mother). Until their flukes stiffen and their muscles develop, the calves do not have the strength and control to propel themselves with vertical strokes of their flukes. They swim sinuously and flexibly, more like fish than mammals at this stage of their lives.

Sperm whales live in a matrilineal society, similarly to elephants, in which females live in life-long close-knit family groups, caring for the young. As males mature, they embark on solitary lives roaming the waters of the globe in pursuit of food and mating opportunities. When they encounter groups of females, there is likely more than one that is ready to mate and so, 14 to 16 months later the family is presented with multiple, calves, born almost simultaneously.

NB: This photograph was taken under permit issued by the Secretaria Regional do Mar, Ciência e Tecnologia with precautions taken to avoid disturbance to the animals. Swimming with whales is forbidden in the Azores without written permission of the Secretaria.

I'm a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in the UK, and a Member of the Explorers Club of New York.

The book, "Wakatobi: Conservation. In depth" written by me and co-illustrated with my wife, Robyn earned the Underwater Photography Book of the Year at the international UPY Awards in 2021.

Our book, Looking for Whales, was published by Halstead Press in 2019 and endorsed by Australian Geographic.

• I have repeatedly been an Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year finalist, and earned the 2016 award for the year’s best animal portrait.

• Natural History Museum (UK): Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2007:
Fin whale Runner-up: Endangered species category

• Travel Photographer of the Year 2015; Finalist: Highly Commended

• Monochrome Photography Awards 2015 Honourable Mention 2015

• Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2017
Humpback and calf. Finalist: Animal Behaviour Category

• Windland Smith Rice International Awards 2017. Highly Honoured

• Natural History Museum (UK): Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017
'The look of a whale'. Finalist: Animal Portraits. This image was selected amongst the 100 best images of the Year by the Museum and toured the world in the Museum's travelling exhibition.