It's like seeing a bus in the water.

And she looks at you with those big eyes,

and she stares at you,

it feels beautiful.

And that's when you know that she's letting you in.

- [Female Narrator] That's Anuar Patjane.

He's a photographer.

And in 2015 he won the grand prize in

National Geographic's Traveler Photo contest

for his photo \"Whale Whisperer.\"

So we're talking about what it feels like to come

face to face with one of the largest mammals on our planet.

- [Anuar] The first time, it was in Roca Partida.

We knew we were gonna see the whales

because we were hearing them.

And when they are nearby, your whole body resonates.

It's so strong.

I love the sound of the whales.

It's as beautiful as seeing them.

- [Female Narrator] He's underwater.

And off in the distance...

- [Anuar] I saw the silhouette of the whale.

(whale noise) Big, big silhouette that looks

like a submarine without features.

It's like a big object.

- [Female Narrator] And as he got closer,

things became clearer.

- [Anuar] Oh, there's the eye, there's the fin.

Oh, that's a big whale. It's a very big whale.

- [Female Narrator] The most profound feeling he had

was a connection to the whale herself.

- [Anuar] She looks at you. Right into your eyes.

And you feel the connection.

It is a mammal connection.

You feel accepted.

- [Female Narrator] Anuar's been diving for 17 years.

And his photographs are more than just pictures.

- [Anuar] Most of the photos I make, I try to share them.

Because people that doesn't dive and doesn't know the ocean,

they might start to pay attention to the ocean.

And I like whales.

It's a reminder

that we share the world with

very, very wise and beautiful animals down there.

(Whale sounds)