Prince of Blue

*"Prince of Blue" captures the exact moment when a young humpback whale emerged from the depths of the Pacific, circling around me in a graceful dance. Shot while free diving in the pristine waters of Tonga on August 10, 2023, this image reflects the silent, sacred encounter between human and whale. Without scuba tanks or artificial lighting, I immersed myself completely into their world, respecting their space and rhythm. As trust grew, this gentle prince swam beside me as if inviting me to dance. I used a Sony α1 (ILCE-1) with a 28mm F2 lens, set at f/8.0 to maintain clarity across the deep blue expanse, and ISO 320 to complement the filtered sunlight penetrating the water’s surface. The shutter speed was 1/500 sec to capture the grace of movement without disturbing the natural flow. My approach was to remain as unobtrusive as possible, letting the whales determine the nature of our interaction. The juvenile whale, emerging from his mother’s side, circled me with curiosity and ease—his gestures fluid and free, as though inviting me into his world. This fleeting moment was brief yet eternal. I released all tension, surrendered to the rhythm of the ocean, and became part of nature once again. This photograph is a tribute to that ephemeral harmony between species—a miracle born not from control, but from trust.*