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US Lensman Captures Life-Size Whale Pics

Photog praises 'gentle, friendly' beasts

By Mary Papenfuss, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 6, 2009 2:35 AM CDT

(Newser) – A US lensman who has opened an exhibit of life-size whale photographs in Norway calls the great beasts "the most friendly and inquisitive carnivores on the planet." Bryant Austin spent five years, including days diving with "exceptional individual" whales he could touch, to collect enough photos to create his composite images, the first ever to show the mammals' actual size. Whale species, which boast the planet's largest brains, have existed as long as 33 million years. "That's a long time to evolve," said Bryant.

[Images (2)]

[Videos (1)]

A real whale sighting!!! (©goldberg)

This photo provided by Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Safari shows a Blue Whale surfacing in the Pacific Ocean near Dana Point,Ca. (AP Photo/Marc Carpenter,Capt. Dave's Dolphin & Whale Safari)

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A view of whales beneath the sea. (randys1s)

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US Lensman Captures Life-Size Whale Pics