Australian photographer shares stunning photos of whales

Sydney photographer Jem Cresswell's new exhibition at Michael Reid Gallery is a stunning example of our own insignificance in the face of mother nature.

The seven images here have been selected from over 10,000 photographs taken across three individual expeditions.

"In 2014, I set out to spend time with humpback whales during their annual migration to the breeding grounds of Tonga," Cresswell explains. "I was initially drawn to the whales’ gentle nature, sheer size and the feeling of insignificance in their presence. Over the past 3 years returning to Tonga, I have sought to capture intimate portraits of these complex and conscious animals, bringing the viewer into the world of these mystical giants.

People may not be aware - but in 2006, the discovery of spindle cells, previously known only to be in humans and great apes; were found to exist in the brains of humpback whales. These cells, linked to social organisation, empathy, intuition and rapid gut reactions were found to the amount of almost three times that which is present in humans.

These works raise questions of anthropomorphism, awe, humaneness, and the importance of other life on this planet."

You can watch a behind the scenes video of the making of the series below, and see more of Jem's work on instagram and his website.

The exhibition is running now. For more information, michaelreid.com.au.