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Behind The Lens: Eye to Eye with a Leopard Seal in Antarctica – Photos and text by Amos Nachoum, Big Animals Global Expeditions
In Antarctica, surprises often come from beneath the surface. It was 2001, and my team was film- ing an iceberg from our skiff when a sudden blow by the side of the boat caught us off guard. I turned toward the sound and saw a massive gray head break the sur-
The idea was to appear larger and less vulnerable. When the seal approached again, we stood our ground. It swam to- ward us at full speed, stopping just inches away, its jaws wide open, as if trying to intimidate us. In the picture I took, the seal’s mouth — filled with sharp canines — hovered men- acingly just inches above Jiri’s camera dome, which meas- ured a daunting 10” (25 cm) across. We were frozen in place, both by the icy water and the raw intensity of the moment, unsure what would happen next. Then, just as suddenly as the seal had been aggressive, its demeanor changed. It began to circle us slowly, gliding with an elegance that felt almost
face — pulsing nostrils, bulging eyes — staring right at me. Leopard seals are among the most unpredictable and in-
timidating creatures I’ve encountered in 45 years of diving. They are massive creatures, weighing up to 1,300 pounds (600 kg) and measuring over 11 feet (3.3 m) long. They are powerful, curious, and incredibly agile. Their powerful jaws, ca- pable of crushing prey, are lined with sharp teeth, but they also have the ability to filter-feed on krill. Their dual nature — predator and filter-feeder — reflects their adaptability and dominance in the icy waters they call home. They exhibit a playful yet challenging nature, much like a young boy testing his strength and control over his surroundings. Over the course of numerous expeditions to Antarctica, I’ve observed this duality in their behavior — territorial and aggres-
peaceful. What had been a display of power and intimidation now trans- formed into a graceful underwater ballet. The seal moved fluidly around us, in- specting us from every angle, its large eyes glinting in the cold Antarctic light. After we surfaced and reviewed the footage, we speculated that the seal might have been reacting to its reflection in the camera dome. Perhaps it mistook its own image for a rival seal. The expe- rience was a stark reminder of how little we truly understand about the behavior of these majestic creatures. Scientists de- scribe leopard seals as solitary and terri- torial, but in that moment, the seal’s curiosity and acceptance of our presence
Leopard Seal in Antarctica – © Amos Nachoum.
sive, but also curious about intruders in their domain. We entered the freezing waters expecting to encounter seals, but nothing could have prepared us for the intensity of this close encounter. As we descended, the seal we’d seen from the surface vanished. Moments later, it reappeared, moving at lightning speed between us, jaws wide open, showing off its sharp teeth before disappearing again. Each time it darted through the water, it turned with incredible precision, like a torpedo that could stop on a dime and change direction. The combination of its raw power and agility was awe-inspiring, but its proximity and razor-sharp teeth were enough to make our hearts race. After several intense encounters, I decided on a tactical approach. I paired up with Jiri, a Slovak photographer, and we resolved to stay still, side by side, to present a united front while we photographed the seals moving around us.
felt profound. This encounter wasn’t just about documenting an apex predator. It was about connecting with a creature on its terms, in its environment. The tension between fear and fas- cination drove me to dive deeper into the wild, to under- stand these animals not just through the lens of my camera, but as fellow beings navigating a shared world. As I left Antarctica that season, the memory of the leop- ard seal stayed with me — a reminder of nature’s unpre- dictability, power, and the delicate balance between awe and respect. Encounters like this are what keep me coming back
to these remote corners of the world, where the line between observer and participant in the natural world becomes beautifully blurred. Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III. 16 - 35mm lens, 1/250 sec, f-8, 400 ISO.
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