Description

A mother humpback whale remains perfectly still, hovering just above the reef as her baby blissfully plays around her on the surface. Behind them, their escort keeps a close watch knowing the extent of the mother's exhaustion and vulnerability after a long migration from Antarctica to Tahitian waters to give birth. She stared straight into me, allowing me into this intimate moment with them. The male escort circling us slowly, ready to protect them should trust be lost. Together, they are the guardians of the ocean's heir. /// 'Ocean Guardians' | May 2022 | Edition 1/1 NFT | Kori Burkhardt is an underwater photographer, expedition leader, & shark biologist based in French Polynesia. Capturing the ocean's wildlife by completely immersing with them, her goal is to show the ocean in a beautiful, yet still powerful, perspective. As co-founder of conservation and research organization Mao Mana Foundation, her mission commits to protecting sharks and all marine wildlife.