Remove the predators, and the whole ecosystem begins to crash like a house of cards. As the sharks disappear, the predator-prey balance dramatically shifts, and the health of our oceans declines. Brian Skerry Read Quote
Since the majority of the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean, not to mention much of the world’s protein, it is not an exaggeration to say that when our oceans’ health declines, our very survival is at risk. Brian Skerry Read Quote
Photography can be a powerful instrument for change, and photojournalists can tell stories that make a difference. Brian Skerry Read Quote
I’ve been diving for about 30 years, and I can honestly say that I’ve had some amazing encounters with sharks, squids, and other whales. But the encounter with the right whales in the Auckland Islands was probably the best thing I’ve ever done. It was just that amazing. Brian Skerry Read Quote
For a photographer, sharks are a stirring subject, possessing a perfect blend of grace and power. They have been sculpted by evolution and are ideally suited for whichever ecosystem they inhabit, from coral reefs to the open ocean. Brian Skerry Read Quote
I think that most people would associate big schools of fish with healthy coral reefs. At Kingman, the predators keep the herd thin, so there aren’t a lot of big fish schools. Brian Skerry Read Quote
For where Kingman is located, the coral cover is unique in the world. I refer to it as a universe of hard corals. You are not going to find soft corals like in the western Pacific – places like Indonesia, Palau, or Fiji. Brian Skerry Read Quote
I think that going to the beach as a child, being in the water and smelling that salt air and hearing the seagulls, it had a real calming effect. But also, it was a mysterious thing – I remember wondering what was under those dark New England seas. Brian Skerry Read Quote
Most whale photos you see show whales in this beautiful blue water – it’s almost like space. Brian Skerry Read Quote