2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer Of The Year

Curious Calf

“It’s somewhat impossible to describe what it was like being in the water with humpback whales. It felt like it was just a dream and there were times, like when this calf swam directly towards me, the time seemed to slow. I could have sworn we made eye contact, and the curiosity emitting from this beautiful being was palpable. Maybe he was trying to figure out what we were. He must have been thinking: ‘What could these tiny creatures be that just descended into the water with me and my mom?”

Photograph: Daina Buchner / 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year