Kristian Schmidt - Whale Shark Vertical

Kristian Schmidt — Whale Shark Vertical, 2022

Fine art photography — 50 × 70 cm — Limited edition of 100 copies — Copy 7/100

A magnificent photograph by Kristian Schmidt, signed by the artist (bottom left in the margin of the sheet, as well as on the certificate of authenticity). Undoubtedly one of the finest in his "whale shark" series, pairing models with whale sharks.

Print in good condition, apart from slight defects in the margin including a small ink mark in the top left, but not on the image itself.
Sold as a print only, in a tube, to avoid the risk of damage during transport. Framing advice: mount with a mat (with museum glass to minimize reflections), a French cleat or flush-mounted frame with museum glass (anti-reflective) to remove the small margin defects, and to enhance the image without reflections.

Whale Shark Vertical is a fine art photograph taken in 2022 by photographer Kristian Schmidt, as part of his work devoted to the encounter between humans and wildlife.

Shot in Oslob, Philippines, the work portrays a whale shark in its marine environment, accompanied by human presence. The vertical composition emphasizes the animal’s scale and creates a striking contrast between the human silhouette and this ocean giant. The image thus offers a sense of exceptional proximity to the whale shark, while maintaining a particularly clean and graphic aesthetic.

The photograph was taken underwater, in Oslob, Philippines, as part of Kristian Schmidt’s shoots dedicated to whale sharks. Creating such images relies on substantial preparation and mastery of underwater photography, in order to manage the movements of the animal, the model, the photographer and the natural light and visibility conditions.

The choice of a vertical composition here serves to emphasize the difference in scale between the human being and the whale shark. The animal thus becomes the true monumental subject of the image, while the human presence adds a poetic dimension and helps measure its impressive size.

Through this work, Kristian Schmidt develops a distinctive approach to wildlife photography by combining contemporary aesthetics, human presence and observation of wildlife. The whale shark, despite its imposing appearance, is depicted in a calm and majestic atmosphere.

The work invites the viewer to contemplate the beauty of the marine world and to reflect on the particular relationship that unites humans with their natural environment.

Artwork specifications

- Artist: Kristian Schmidt
- Title: Whale Shark Vertical
- Year: 2022
- Location of capture: Oslob, Philippines
- Format: 50 × 70 cm
- Edition: limited to 100 copies
- Copy: 7/100
- Presentation: print only
- Authentication: certificate of authenticity signed by the artist