Southern Right Whale: Deep Dive

The spectacular moment when a whale’s enormous fluke breaks the surface is a truly awesome sight and a reward to those who are patient. The first time I saw this wonder was in 2006 in the town of Hermanus, South Africa, where around 100 southern right whales go to calve each winter. I remember the swirling ocean gradually erupting, and in remarkable slow motion, a huge tail breaking through the surface just before a whale prepared for a deep dive in search of food. In this piece, I have re-imagined that moment, with an ocean of gently folded curves, broken only by an enormous single tail.