Julia Nance, Mother & Calf (Animal 2020)

In the warm waters of French Polynesia, humpback whales mate, birth and nurse their young. In a week of extraordinary encounters, my experiences with mother and calf pairings were nothing short of humbling. The grace, poise and gentle nature of humpbacks is astounding to witness and photograph. Their slow movements mimic the slow-beating of my heart when I'm underwater. And all I can think in these moments is: "aren't they magnificent". The bonds between a mother humpback whale and her calf are uncomparable. Often, she rests below us while her calf rises to take a breath and dance in front of us. Occasionally the two will rise together in synchronisation, putting on an impressive wildlife display that is always unique. It's not every day that a miracle of nature stops me in my tracks, slows me down, and leaves me breathless. Humpback whales manage to leave me awe-stricken with every single encounter. It is lifechanging to be able to witness these gentle giants in the water.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.