Skip to content

Cart

Your cart is empty

Aiko's Caudale

50 tons of elegance.

Format:

Format

Paper:

Paper

Management:

Management

Sale price€49,00

Quantity:

Aiko's Caudale
Aiko's Caudale Sale price€49,00

The story behind the image

"The tail you see in this photograph belongs to Aïko, a female sperm whale that I regularly encounter in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Mauritius. She is part of a clan of females with whom I have dived dozens of times, alongside my friends François Sarano and René Eusé.

To paraphrase François, "the sperm whale is fifty tons of tenderness." And I would gladly add: fifty tons of elegance. Aiko embodies this perfectly.

That day, René and I went down to about twenty meters, where the females were resting motionless, in a vertical position. They were finishing their nap when we arrived, and the group slowly began to leave.

Aiko then heads straight towards me. She brushes against me, so close that even a wide-angle lens isn't enough to capture her completely. Then, in a perfectly controlled movement, she spreads her tail to avoid me with incredible delicacy, before positioning herself horizontally, right in front of me.

I only have a few seconds. Just enough time to adjust my settings, compose my frame, press the shutter… and Aiko already disappears into the vastness of the blue.
From this dazzling encounter, I retain this image which means so much to me: a suspended moment, of great intensity, offered by the trust of a clan. A second of grace, at the heart of the world of giants…

Stéphane Granzotto

Why is this image unique?

This photograph is unique because it captures a rare moment of close encounter with a sperm whale in a pose of exceptional purity. Aiko's tail unfurls with an almost abstract elegance, perfectly highlighted by the deep blue that surrounds it.

It is the result of years of patience, respect, and silent immersion with a clan of female sperm whales. This relationship of trust, built over time, allows for encounters of great delicacy that cannot be achieved otherwise.

The image captures both the strength and gentleness of the sperm whale: an animal weighing several tons capable of moving with extraordinary precision and attention.
No staging. No artifice. Just a real moment, experienced in total immersion, where the wild world reveals itself as it is.

It is a photograph charged with emotion, inviting the viewer to feel the beauty, depth, and vibrant calm of the underwater world.

Art print

Printed on Canson Infinity paper, each artwork is crafted with professional care, certified, and signed by the artist. Prints are available in various sizes, framed or unframed. Each piece captures the richness of golden hues and the depth of the Arctic sea.

The photographer's recommendation

Cette image d’Aiko — sa caudale suspendue dans un bleu profond — apporte une présence silencieuse et puissante dans un intérieur. Elle fonctionne particulièrement bien dans des espaces où le calme, la matière et la profondeur visuelle sont déjà là, et où l’on cherche à créer une respiration dans la pièce.

Où l’installer :
• Dans un salon feutré aux tons bleu nuit, vert profond, charbon ou chocolat.
• Dans un bureau élégant, une bibliothèque, un salon de lecture.
• Dans un chalet contemporain mêlant bois brut, cuir patiné, métal noir.
• Dans une suite parentale où l’on veut inviter une ambiance apaisante et contemplative.

Styles d’intérieurs qui lui vont parfaitement :
• Dark & Moody : murs sombres, boiseries, lumière tamisée — idéal pour révéler le bleu océan sans qu’il domine l’espace.
• Chic contemporain : lignes épurées, textures riches (laine, velours, cuir), palette neutre.
• Chalet moderne : poutres, bois bruni, tapis épais, lampes à lumière chaude — Aiko y devient une fenêtre sur l’ailleurs.
• Art gallery minimaliste : fond sombre ou gris anthracite, cadre fin et net pour un rendu muséal.

Format et présentation :
• Un format large (3:2) permet de conserver l’élan naturel de la caudale.
• Une caisse américaine noire renforce la profondeur et modernise l’ensemble.

L’effet dans la pièce :
Cette œuvre crée une sensation de suspension, comme un instant prélevé juste avant un plongeon. Elle apaise, structure l’espace, et attire naturellement le regard sans jamais écraser la pièce.

The artist

Stéphane Granzotto is a photographer, filmmaker, and diver, as well as a Canon Europe and Canson ambassador. His work explores the intimate connections between marine animals and light, in an approach that is both artistic and naturalistic. Discover his complete world on the Biography page.

Place

Indian Ocean
off the coast of Mauritius.

Species

Sperm whale
(Physeter macrocephalus)

Device

To be defined

The latest photos viewed