An Australian photographer struck gold when she was able to capture an entire pod of dolphins surfing a wave together in Manly, north of Sydney.
The incredible resulting shots were taken one early morning in May, when Jessica Blacklow, 46, was strolling along the beach, snapping photos of the surf. Spotting movement in an oncoming wave, she kept shooting as a large group of dolphins appeared in a lineup, surfing in sync.
“It all happened so fast and then they were gone,” Blacklow told The Epoch Times. “It’s rare to see so many dolphins in one wave like that. I just got lucky that day and captured an amazing moment.”
For Blacklow, who lives in Newcastle, New South Wales, the images encapsulate the joyful freedom of Australia’s beach lifestyle.
“I’m always inspired by the beauty of the Australian coastline,” she said. “Every day there is something different.”
“People love dolphins and are always intrigued by them,” Blacklow said. “It just went crazy.”
An experienced aerial photographer, Blacklow says her discovery of drones took her interest in the art to new levels. She bought her first drone five years ago as a present for her partner, “who wasn’t that keen on it at the time.”
With a background in graphic and textile design, it was Blacklow’s excitement at exploring the possibilities of drone photography that led her to obtain a remote pilot license. However, she soon became frustrated with being dependent on the right flying conditions, so got to grips with a decent “land camera,” too.
This opened up her world; she could take pictures all the time, focusing on active surf culture, and offering limited-edition art prints.
Being by the water is her “happy place”—a feeling she surely shares with the pod of dolphins she encountered on that beautifully mellow morning.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge said that even ancient Greeks had documented dolphins riding the waves created by boats. "They’ve been doing it for ages. They might just be having fun. They are deeply intelligent creatures, so why not just have some fun and hang out,” the scientists said, according to the surfing news outlet.
Whatever their motivation, it was a moment Blacklow will remember her whole life.
“I was not expecting there to be so many dolphins and to be catching the wave together like that, it really was one in a million,” she said.
