Prince of Blue

Photographer

RINTARO UKON

Category

France Photography - Wildlife

Company

UKPHOTOGRAPHY

Submission Group

Professional

Year

2025

Country / Region:

Japan

In Tonga, I encountered a mother whale and her calf. With no diving gear—only breath and stillness—I waited underwater. The calf approached me curiously, and we shared a gaze. In its eyes, I saw the vast ocean and felt completely embraced. I used a fisheye lens; without it, they were simply too close to capture. It was like a martial artist sensing the line between contact and no contact. I passed beneath the giant fin, feeling calm rather than fear. I knew—they saw me not as a threat, but as a friend. Then they drifted away, leaving only silence behind.