Authors: Ben Ruhe
Date Submitted: May 31, 2007
Article Type: Journal

An important Drachen Foundation grantee, Frey is using KAP to assist his research in identifying whales and documenting their behavior. A marine biologist and professional photograph by professions, Frey has been studying whales for 20 years in the San Ignacio Bay of Baja, Mexico, and elsewhere. Frey uses a state-of-the-art camera rig consisting of a Nikon D70 with wide angle and fisheye lenses so as to cover as many mammals in as much area of the water as possible. Under tutoring from Foundation staff, Frey has become KAP sufficient—-from setting up to taking down and everything in between. Among other aspects of his research, he focuses on the impact of humans on whales. Flying his kite downwind, Frey can put his camera right over a whale and document any intrusion on it by the large, careless tourist boats that come calling daily. These large vessels are not permitted to come closer than 100 meters, but often do. Using Frey’s images, the Foundation has worked with Mexican officials to save the California gray whales and humpbacks and other species from this potentially dangerous harassment. But note that the much smaller, responsibly piloted boats used for research actually attract whales who come up to the side to be scratched and petted by the scientists.

PDF Link: Journal Issue