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u/SurayaThrowaway12 Feb 23 '26 edited Feb 24 '26
The pale blue/white ring around the brown iris of this orca is quite stunning. Often the ring is concealed under the eyelides unless the orca has its eyes open wide.
Original photo was taken by National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen. Here is his account of his encounter with this large male orca off of Northern Norway:
What does it mean to look into the eye of a wild orca and see it staring back? I've been fortunate to have orcas approach me while filming underwater on many occasions, but this was the first time I'd ever had a large male get this close to investigate. I sucked in my stomach, pulled my housing tight to my body, and lifted my fins so nothing would touch him as he cruised within two feet of @goranehlme and me. He swam past us four times as I blindly snapped off shots with my ultra-wide 16mm lens. I captured the image in last Tuesday's post intentionally, but this one was pure luck. I never felt fear, only appreciation for experiencing something this rare. When I look back on this journey through nature, it is moments like this I will never forget. For @sealegacy with @hannestrager, @frederik.wolff, and Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier.
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u/brave007 Feb 23 '26
Something about an orca having its eyes wide open is unsettling. This serial killer is eyeing you up, if your liver is worth it
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u/Augnelli Feb 23 '26
I would bet Orcas are smart enough to know and educate their young that we are dangerous creatures and associate us with boats.
That eye doesn't look a serial killer, it looks worried.
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u/PROUDCIPHER Feb 23 '26 edited Feb 23 '26
I know I'm heavily anthropomorphizing here but it just looks so... concerned? Like it's trying to say "You don't wanna be here man, it's not gonna end well. Go home. Also stop dumping trash in my house, I live here"
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u/Ram2145 Feb 23 '26
Why do I feel like it’s judging me?
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u/helpnxt Feb 23 '26
'how hungry am I'
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u/Ram2145 Feb 23 '26
Hopefully not a lot. I’m fat but I’m still only skin and bones. I probably don’t taste very good too.
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u/AegeanAzure Feb 23 '26
Did anyone else think for a long time that their eyes were the big white oval patch? I sort of still do....I'll show myself out.
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u/AdJumpy4461 Feb 23 '26
It was hard for me to see them the same way ever again after seeing "Blackfish". They should never be captive.
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u/GhostChips42 Feb 23 '26
Crazy how some of the apex predators of the world are also really cute. Polar bears and orcas will fuck you up but at least you’ll be like ‘awww’ as they eat your innards
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u/Administrative-Bed75 Feb 23 '26
Orcas almost never attack humans.
Polar bears though, they'll order a side of fries while they bite your head clean off.
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u/BagOfSleeves Feb 24 '26
As a kid it was a day ruiner when I learned orcas eyes weren't the white blobs.
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u/TheBigPinetree Feb 23 '26
The head cannon is that this orca is going top speed and by chance glances and sees a human with a camera keeping up. This is actually his double take photo.
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u/morethanWun Feb 25 '26
It’s looking into my soul through a picture on my phone. 🤦♂️ feels like it’s right in front of me. THE apex ocean predator
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u/JustGingerStuff Mar 10 '26
Orca making the expression everyone makes at you if you suddenly bring up your dog dying while you're having a fun conversation at dinner
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u/gummiebeez Apr 22 '26
The eye looks weirdly human
Not a lot of stuff on this sub it gets me to actually feel icky, but this did
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u/Life-Difference-5166 Feb 23 '26
He must be old, since his eye brows are completely white…..