Astonishing Images of Southern Right Whales

The Southern Right Whale is one of the rarest animals on Earth. They got their name because early hunters marked them as the "right" whale to kill. Southern right whales are native to the temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere. They migrate toward Valdes Peninsula annually around this time to raise their offspring. (Read "Right Whales"" in National Geographic magazine.) Being a right whale, however, has not been easy as of late. The animals have suffered a mysterious spate of deaths in recent years, with calves accounting for almost 90 percent of fatalities. Hypotheses about the deaths range from food shortages to toxins that may be in the food calves ingest. There's hope yet for the whales: Conservation efforts have been strong, and studies show that right whales are on the rebound. In this photo, Max Westman, a chef aboard the National Geographic Explorer and Hofman's friend and fellow diver, is shown approaching a right whale. "He was a little freaked out to dive with whales," Hofman recalled. "But I told him to trust me and follow my lead. [He] did really well."

Hofman has followed Right Whales for years now, but the marine giants continue to surprise him. "At one point, we were on SCUBA [self-contained underwater breathing apparatus], sitting on the bottom next to the mother whale. She was like a blubbery tripod on the sandy bottom," Hofman said. "We sat there and watched for several minutes to be sure she wasn't disturbed, then swam closer for photographs," he continued. "Because the visibility wasn't very good, we were very close. "Just feet away, I was sitting on the bottom staring a huge mother whale right in the eye. And she was looking right back. "Then, she closed her eye," he said. "She shut us out. I couldn't believe that a mother with a calf would be so trusting as to take a little catnap."

Hofman is not a trained photographer, but he has developed a knack for composition. Combined with a love for travel and wildlife, he has been able to transcend standard wildlife images to produce work that is thought provoking and stunning. This trip provided Hofman the opportunity to hone his skills and get in touch with the right whales he cares so much about. "I know how to interact with wildlife, as I've been doing it professionally all my life," he said. "But this was my first chance to really photograph whales." Hofman's passion for Right Whales stems from traveling with the Lindblad Expeditions fleet. "On almost every itinerary we encounter whales," he said. "It's safe to say that a love affair has evolved, and I take every opportunity to photograph these charismatic creatures, most often from the bow of the ship." One of these photos is above, showing a mother Southern Right Whale resting upside down on the surface of the ocean while Dominican gulls fly overhead. The gulls may seem harmless, but they attack the whales by pecking at their skin, leaving gaping wounds that can kill calves.