Mesmerising Portraits of Humpback Whales by Jem Cresswell

 Instagram | Vimeo

The gentle grace of the mysterious humpback whale is captured in a mesmerising new photo series.

Jem Cresswell spent three years following the marine mammals during their annual migration to Vava’a island in the Tonga to get the close-up shots.

One image shows a humpback gliding towards the camera with barnacles on its underside. Another shows a mother and calf hanging close to the surface side-by-side. Some of the aquatic giants feature scratches on their ridged skin from underwater tussles or encounters with boats. 

Looking up from below: The gentle grace of the mysterious humpback whale is captured in a mesmerising new photo series

In the eye of the beholder: One image shows a humpback gliding towards the camera with barnacles on its underside

Up close and personal: Cresswell, who is based in Sydney, told MailOnline Travel that he was ‘initially drawn to the whales’ gentle nature, sheer size and the feeling of insignificance in their presence’

h/t:Daily Mail