Wildlife / Animals nominee

You might think that at over 70 feet in length and 50 tons it would be difficult to photobomb. This whale proved that size is just a number.

After a few minutes observing orcas feeding on a bait ball of herring, I spotted a giant figure emerge from the black waters below. Focused on this one animal and with my mask limiting my peripheral vision, I was completely oblivious to the second whale heading directly towards me. My camera caught the moment before my eyes did.

It wasn’t until a flash of gray appeared beneath me that I looked down. I was greeted by the top of a fin whale—the second largest species on the planet—just a few feet under my fins.

One of the questions I receive most often is whether being in the water with these animals is intimidating. I’ve found that having a camera in front of me provides a greater sense of security. When I’m focused on trying to capture something impactful, I often become numb to the absurdity of what is taking place around me.

There are a few moments, however, when the absurdity becomes crystal clear.

This was one of those moments.

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.