The Necropsy
Category
Documentary
Location
Raasay, Skye, Scotland
Gear
Canon EOS R5, sigma 24mm f/1.4 ART
Description
An exceptionally rare visitor to Scottish waters, a sperm whale, beaches on the west coast of Raasay and takes its final breath. Its mouth, bound shut by creel rope, is obvious witness to the cause - starvation. Marine biologists and volunteers from SMASS - the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme - attend to take scientific data to add to our understanding of these amazing creatures, and the human-made threats that they face in our coastal waters. The process of a necropsy is a pretty brutal one - tissue samples needed from many different parts of the animal to get a clear picture. A wild spring storm didn't make it any easier. Documenting this process made for powerfully emotional images - I wanted to capture photographs that showed the reality of the brutal scene but also the beauty of the surroundings, the conditions, and the human impact on those attending who have a deep care for protecting these animals
Photographer
James Appleton
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