The Soul-Stirring Moment: When I Made Eye Contact With a Dwarf Minke Whale

A Gaze That Pierced the Soul: My Unforgettable Whale Encounter

Imagine being suspended in the ocean, a rope your only anchor, when an enormous creature, the size of a large van, fixes its gaze directly upon you. Its eye, as vast as your own head, seems to peer into the very depths of your being. This profound, almost spiritual connection is exactly what Brazilian photographer Marcia Riederer experienced in June 2023 when she made eye contact with a dwarf minke whale in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

“It felt like time slowed down… like it was looking into my soul,” Riederer recalls ofthe moment I made eye contact with a whale. This intense encounter left her with goosebumps and tears, a feeling she describes as being “chosen” as the whale approached her directly.

Capturing Harmony: An Award-Winning Image

Riederer’s powerful black-and-white photograph, a testament to this unique interaction, transcends typical photography. With its delicate details and fluid lines, it evokes the artistry of a drawing or a watercolor painting. This striking image earned Riederer the prestigious title of Best Fine Art Photographer at the Ocean Photographer of the Year awards in London in September 2025.

At the ceremony, deep-ocean photographer and judge Laurent Ballesta lauded the photograph, describing it with one word: “harmony.” He echoed Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s sentiment that “a work of art is perfect not when there is nothing else to add, but it is perfect when there is nothing to remove.” Ballesta added, “There is a kind of gentleness. When I see it, I would just like to sink with it.”

The Enigmatic Dwarf Minke Whales of the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is a unique sanctuary, the only place globally where dwarf minke whales reliably gather each year during June and July. Despite their predictable presence, much remains unknown about these elusive creatures. Alastair Birtles, a marine biology professor at James Cook University in Australia, has dedicated over three decades to studying them, yet their behaviors and migration patterns largely remain a mystery.

“Nobody knew they were in the Great Barrier Reef until the 1980s,” Birtles explains. He hypothesizes that these whales convene along the reef’s outer edge annually for courtship and mating rituals.

Curiosity and Courtship: The 'Belly Presentation'

Observers often witness “belly presentations” – a distinctive behavior where a whale turns on its side, exposing its white belly to another whale, or even to a human or object like a dinghy. While serving as a courtship display, this movement also allows whales to utilize their binocular vision for an enhanced view of their surroundings. When interacting with humans, Birtles believes these whales are actively trying “to get a really good look at you.”

Marcia Riederer’s experience confirmed this innate curiosity. “They are so curious; they want to look at us just like we are looking at them,” she observes. “They come and they really stop to look at you.”

A Dance of Respect and Wonder

Riederer spent several unforgettable days immersed with approximately 40 inquisitive whales. At one point, eight whales encircled her simultaneously, one coming within arm’s length. Yet, despite the proximity, she refrained from touching them. In Australia, it’s illegal to touch a dwarf minke whale, a crucial regulation designed to protect both the marine life and human swimmers from potential harm, entanglement, or disease transmission.

“The whales came to us, which made it even more special,” Riederer shares. Their movements were a masterclass in aquatic grace. “They never touched anyone and were very aware of what was going on in their surroundings,” she notes. “They are very gracious in the way they move. It was definitely not intimidating.”

Birtles describes these encounters as “the most intense animal-human interactions that you can possibly think of, because they are so curious about us.” He recounts stories of people breaking into tears when recounting their five-hour interactions, calling it a “life-changing, very powerful experience.”

Miniature Giants: Migration and Mystery

Growing up to around 8 meters (26 feet), the dwarf minke whale holds the distinction of being the world's second-smallest whale species. They possess a distinctive vocalization, famously dubbed the “Star Wars vocalization” for its resemblance to the iconic lightsaber sound.

Despite their seasonal appearance, dwarf minke whales remain an incredibly elusive species with no accurate global population estimates. “We have no idea of their total abundance… we know so little about them,” Birtles emphasizes. It wasn't until 2013 that scientists at James Cook University began tagging these whales, finally shedding light on their incredible migratory feats. One tagged whale, named Spot, journeyed over 7,000 km (4,350 miles) down the Australian East Coast, around Tasmania, and into sub-Antarctica, mirroring the vast migrations of humpbacks despite being significantly smaller (4-5 tonnes compared to 40 tonnes).

These majestic travelers feed on krill and lanternfish in the Southern Ocean, but changing ocean currents and temperatures pose a significant threat. “The dwarf minke whales are likely to be much closer to their biological limits of their energy reserves because they’re a small whale doing a huge migration,” Birtles cautions.

Photography: A Bridge to Understanding and Connection

Birtles praises Riederer’s photographs as “technically wonderful.” He highlights details like the whale's sharp snout (reflected in its scientific name,Balaenoptera acutorostrata, meaning 'sharp-snouted whale'), the clearly visible staring eye, dark throat patches, and the beautiful contrasts of black, white, and grey—likening them to delicate watercolor brush strokes.

Photographers like Riederer play a crucial role in scientific research, acting as invaluable eyes and lenses in the water. “I’m only one person in the water, and I will not see all of the whales and I may not get good enough shots to identify them,” Birtles explains. “We could not do this research without the help of the dive industry, and the photographers on board.”

Through her work, Riederer hopes to foster a deeper connection between humans and nature. “When you look in his eye, you see he’s a creature just like us,” she reflects. “These whales also feel afraid, curious and hungry. They have places to go, they do their best to look after their offspring. I think we should give them all the respect and opportunities that we wish for ourselves.”