Nobody freak out, okay? Yes, this is a
shark...a whaleshark,
to be specific. And while whale sharks do sound like the scariest
sharks of all, they aren't actually. They don't eat people. And
like most creatures that don't eat people, this makes them great
dance partners.
Which is the idea behind this photo shoot by Heinrichs and
Schmidt,
two photographers who captured the whale sharks in their habitat as
two models mimicked their poses. While there certainly weren't any
designer goods on show, the billowing fabric helped create a dreamy
atmosphere, and the photographers claim that — aside from regular
color and image editing — the photos weren't altered in any
way.
The duo caught the gentle giants (which are often poached) by
setting up at a spot where local fishermen feed handfuls of shrimp
to the massive sharks and let the models interact with the fish
while they had a snack. Each model dove underwater and posed while
the photo was taken, and the photographers said they worked closely
with the village to get the best, most natural, and least
disruptive shots.
Heinrichs and Schmidt hope to raise awareness of the plight of
these gorgeous animals.
