In the depths of the Indian Ocean and off the coast of Mexico, sperm whales reveal a world of intelligence, family bonds, and gentleness. For years, Stéphane Granzotto has dived into the heart of their clans: females, calves, and subadults welcome him with curiosity and kindness. His images tell the story of the tenderness of these giants, the power of their encounters, the most highly developed social life in the animal kingdom—and that unique graphic beauty that only an underwater photographer can capture.
THE WORLD OF SPERM WHALES, GIANTS OF THE ABYSS
Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales on the planet, exceptional divers capable of descending to depths of over two kilometers. Despite their colossal power, they live in peaceful matriarchal societies, founded on cooperation, knowledge sharing, and exceptionally strong family bonds. Their cliques—those powerful sounds used for communication and exploration—resonate in the darkness of the abyss like the acoustic signature of an unseen world.
Photographing sperm whales requires patience, respect and total immersion. Their curious and often playful behavior sometimes allows for encounters of great gentleness: graphic tails rising towards the light, young ones approaching to observe, entire clans resting vertically, motionless as if suspended in the water.
Stéphane Granzotto's images reveal this unexpected elegance: a blend of power, grace, and serenity that few marine animals embody with such force. Each photograph is a window onto a profound, silent universe of essential beauty.
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