112
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FALL 2011
By Brandon Cole
CAmera:
Canon 1Ds Mark III in Seacam housing with
Superdome, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 lens
SEttings:
Available light, 1/200 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 400
Location:
Dominica, Caribbean Sea
I
slipped into the
deep abyss,
pulled the camera
to my eye and
tracked the pod as it
approached. Seven
sleek shapes pressed
tightly together
were soon revealed
as six false killer
whales (Pseudorca
crassidens) and one
bottlenose dolphin
(Tursiops truncates).
I’d read the whales
occasionally
associate with other
small cetaceans, but
this was the first
time I’d seen it in the
flesh.
False killer whales
have been known
to attack and eat
dolphins, but they’ve
also been known
to mate, creating a
hybrid “wholphin”
mix. Was this dolphin
the object of desire
or dinner? Or was
this something else
entirely?
I remain captivated
by the question. In the
few moments I kept
up with the pod, I saw
neither aggression nor
amorous advances
toward the dolphin.
But what happened
just after my
encounter? It’s these
mysteries that keep
me coming back.
AD
PARTING SHOT
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9/28/11