Underwater photographers love capturing stunning images of marine life, people, and all sorts of treasures they find waiting for them beneath the water’s surface. And, as the movement of water and the characteristics of various fabrics combine to create visually compelling effects, underwater fashion shoots are becoming increasingly popular. What happens when a creative photographer combines whale sharks and beautiful models wearing flowing garments? Let’s take a look – the results are pure magic.
Why Involve Whale Sharks?
If you’ve never had the opportunity to encounter whale sharks while diving, there’s a good likelihood that meeting the biggest fish on the planet is somewhere near the top of your bucket list. But what prompted the world’s first fashion shoot involving these massive creatures?
Photographers Kristian Schmidt and Shawn Heinrichs teamed up with Taro Smith, who specializes in underwater lighting, and models Hannah Fraser and Fazili Krasniqui, plus renowned wingsuit flyer and skydiver Roberta Mancino to create a series of stunning images featuring the models posing in mid-water flight with whale sharks by their sides. The results are astounding, with the women looking much like we might imagine fairies or mermaids to appear, and with the whale sharks appearing wonderfully graceful; something that’s always just a bit unexpected, and unfailingly incredible to witness.
The goal of the fashion shoot though, was not to promote a new line of designer clothing. Instead, the team set out to increase awareness regarding whale sharks and the challenges to survival these docile plankton-eating fish face. As divers, most of us are well aware of the presence of whale sharks in the world’s oceans. We know quite a bit about their behaviors, and we know how important they are to the ecosystem as a whole. Many people, however, have never seen or heard of whale sharks – and that’s why the team came together.
Said Heinrhichs of the shoot, which took place off the remote Philippine village of Oslob, the challenge was to “turn models into mermaids and create mesmerizing imagery that captured the unique connection between humans and the largest fish in the ocean, the whale shark.” In addition, he said the team’s goal was to “highlight the magnificence of these creatures, and to bring their beauty to a global audience.”
In the waters off Oslob, local fishermen befriended whale sharks by feeding them handfuls of tiny shrimp. Over time, a close relationship developed between the fishermen and the whale sharks, which measure about forty feet long and weigh in at as much as twenty tons. In some parts of the world, including the Philippines, the vulnerable species is hunted; so, the friendship between the fishermen and the sharks is surprising and encouraging.
The photo shoot took a week of underwater camera work, with elemental challenges, fatigue, and many technical obstacles popping up along the way. The images acquired are stunning, and are certain to make the desired impact on viewers – particularly people who have yet to learn about whale sharks. Thanks to people like this dedicated team, these animals now have a better chance at survival.