Feb.25th - March 6th

The long van ride from La Paz to Laguna Ojo de Liebre was the perfect chance for the group to get acquainted, as many of us didn’t know each other. Quickly we all realized we were there for the same reason: Loving, sharing and communicating and important message; The Preservation, restoration and respect of all others living beings.

When we entered the extensive desserts of Baja California we camped for five nights. Each day the interaction with the whales was very different.

It was at the end of the first day, after witnessing the first encounter with the whales that the story of the place really hit me. We had been sailing in the very same lagoon where only a couple hundred years ago the biggest and most cruel slaughter of whales of all times took place, and humans being responsible of it.

Sailors believed that they had brought them to extinction, but a small group escaped and that’s the only reason why they’re not extinct today. After this event, the place become a “sanctuary” for all living species where the hunt was prohibited. So after a while that small group of whales that could escape returned forgiving humans and started to keep reproducing and raising their children to go to Alaska in order to feed themselves. This really moved me, i couldn’t believe the story and the message behind it so i needed to see it with my own eyes. How can an incredible majestic being could survive to a event like that and still come back? When i met them, all my doubts went away. In that moment i found the reason why i travel to that specific place.

Why does Captain Nemo read poems and sings to the whales?

He believes that by reading poems and singing to the whales we can create a special emotional connection with them.

Whales are incredibly intelligent, sensitive and aware of human and other animals emotions. When reading a poem or singing they react different to the human voice, to the energy within the vibrations. The emotional alienation of strength or serenity he expresses through the words and meaning of the poem have an effect.

In this way he can get to know them better, how they communicate and ways in which he can create a link with them.

The surprising thing is that, as far as we know, gray whales are the only species of cetaceans that don’t communicate through underwater sounds like other kinds of whales or dolphins.

Are the Whales in danger? What’s the importance of protecting the species?

The gray whales were in extreme danger because of the massive slaughter that took place in the mid nineteen century. Today their numbers are rising. We can’t call it a complete success yet but we can see they are reproducing and their numbers are growing. That’s why its extremely important to take care of them and their ecosystem, as well to try to prevent any other future ecological atrocity.

How did you get into this line of work?

This expedition was a special type of project for me. When I got the opportunity to experience and witness this interaction with the gray whales I understood why I wanted to be a photographer in the first place. Photography can be a great tool to communicate and give a voice to those who doesn’t have one.

Tell us about which was the moment(s) in your life where you felt “the call to take action to help”.

A few years ago I had a dream where I was swimming with a gam of whales. In the dream I remember I was listening to their voices. When I woke up I felt very excited and was sweating all over but at the same time I felt complete peace.

I didn’t get the message at that moment but the dream got stuck in my head. A few months later I shared the dream with my uncle Martin while hiking and drinking yerba mate in the mountains of San Miguel de Allende, after he heard my story he said: “Lets do it”, thats when we started organizing the expedition.

When I finally got to experience being close to these whales its when I finally understood the meaning of my dream: That I needed and wanted to learn more about the natural world.

Tell us about your personal awakening.

Five years ago, when I arrived in Mexico for the first time, I had an accident that took me right out of my comfort zone. That helped me analyze my life and to realize how many “lies” we can create to keep living a certain way.

From that experience I started to learn and listen to myself. To heal from the inside out. I started to connect more with my heart and with nature.

Since then I kept on learning how to walk on a better path, that of self knowledge. By always trying to be aware of my actions, words and the present moment.

What are your personal goals?

I want to travel the world and be able to document stories that need to be seen and heard. My dream is to get published one day in magazines such as National Geographic or Nature. Also I would like to create a photo exhibition to raise funds and support causes I believe in.

If you could give one advice to someone that wants to start “helping” but doesn’t know where to start what would it be?

Listen to your heart, look for the signs in your dreams or your daily lives. As yourself where or how can I help and use that intention to empower that movement. There are thousands of ways to get there. The most important think is to never give up on your calling.

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