Wildlife / Animals nominee

“See how elastic our stiff prejudices grow when love once comes to bend them.”

Herman Melville’s mid-19th century novel immortalized the figure of the sperm whale. And while interpretations of a story can vary, the “antagonist” generally signified the power and ferocity of nature. Growing up with little knowledge of the whales themselves, I would distinctly envision the jagged teeth and aggressive nature of the animal based on the story alone.

When joining these animals in the water, the “man versus beast” narrative is quashed. When you see the whales sleeping or socializing at the surface, you can’t help but draw a connection to them. They rub heads as they twirl amongst each other – the most graceful 40-ton ballet dancers that you will come across. They “click” you inside-out, but only to make sense of their visitors. They are curious but never threatening.

It is in these moments in the seemingly endless expanses of the sea, watching the animals spend time with one another, that you begin to understand that their comfort comes from closeness, not distance; from touch, not personal space. You start to realize that we might just be more similar to these giants than we thought.

Eric Kanigan is a Canadian-American photographer and storyteller who is driven to visit remote corners of the globe to highlight commonalities where others might initially perceive differences.

A degree in Biology solidified his affinity for wildlife and the natural world. However, it was a specific focus in ecology that left the largest impression. The core premise that organisms and species are intertwined, no matter how disparate in form and function, inspires much of his work today.

Eric brings his audience with him above and below the surface to bear witness to some of the world’s most striking scenes and beings. He seeks images with the intent to bring them to life as physical prints—a permanence and longevity he creates with the finished piece, but more importantly, wants to observe in the subjects through conservation and action. Through his artwork and writing, Eric ventures beyond a simple image—not to lecture, but to inspire individuals to develop their own thoughts on the environmental, social, and ethical questions that we face today.

He hopes that others might recognize some of themselves in the people and the animals with whom we are fortunate to share our planet.