Friday, April 04, 2008

Illustration Friday-Save


Click image for larger view.

This is my entry for IF's "save" topic. Save the whales!!!

Some of you saw a few whale photos on a different blog last week. Well, the FULL SET of Baja pictures are here:

scottcuzzo.com/baja

I think you will be amazed.

Whales were nearly brought to extinction. By the 1970s, many whale populations were severely diminished due to whaling. Blues had been decimated to about 1% of their original population! They are making a good comeback, but are still endangered.

In my hand I'm holding a little baby gray whale. Actually, they are about 15 feet long when they are born in the lagoons in Mexico! If you haven't seen my pictures, go there NOW! Gray whales have made an excellent comeback. And were, in fact, removed from the endangered species list! Yea! Gray whales were once killed in great numbers too. Gray whales were called "devilfish" as they would fight back and try to attack the fishing boats that were trying to kill them. NOW gray whales may come up to a boat and seek interaction from humans in the boats in the Baja. Many of these whales are old enough to remember times when they were attacked by humans, and now they REACH OUT. I hope you see my photos of this, as it was an amazing experience.

While things are rarely black and white, there are still cultures that place a high value on killing whales, like Japan.

If you have the chance to go whale watching, let me encourage you to follow through! Let me know if you have questions about whales!

86 Comments:

Blogger Roberta said...

What an amazing experience to get that close to such a magnificent animal!
Great post!

April 04, 2008 3:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

great illustration! and great concept, too

April 04, 2008 3:52 PM  
Blogger Elizabeth Parsons said...

wonderful illustration! I went whale watching off Nova Scotia and saw Minke Whales- it was terrific!

eBeth

April 04, 2008 4:21 PM  
Blogger Candace Trew Camling said...

whales are one of my favorite animals. They are such gentle giants, especially the humpback whales. Love your illustration, it puts in perspective how fragile such a large animal can be.

April 04, 2008 4:27 PM  
Blogger Brine Blank said...

Nice...I really think it is great that you are getting some of the opportunities that you are and look for to seeing the photos...As always, enjoying the background effects that you place...gives them a great feel!

April 04, 2008 4:40 PM  
Blogger Tina Poe said...

Beautiful and delicate, love your line work.

April 04, 2008 5:15 PM  
Blogger Stilos said...

Beautiful illustration Scott!!
I really like the concept and how you portray it through that scale.

Thank you for all you comments on my blog!

April 04, 2008 5:35 PM  
Blogger valerie walsh said...

Really amazing Scott! Great tribute to saving the whales and i love your illo!!!

April 04, 2008 5:42 PM  
Blogger Doug said...

excellent hands there, scott! nice work!

April 04, 2008 5:56 PM  
Blogger NANCY LEFKO said...

wonderful illustration....I went whale watching about 20 years ago when we lived in San Diego...saw a whale breach....what a sight....

April 04, 2008 6:12 PM  
Blogger Aspa said...

Wonderful illustration Scott. Whales are beautiful animals.

April 04, 2008 6:12 PM  
Blogger Sorrel Sparks said...

Luscious!

April 04, 2008 6:14 PM  
Blogger Teri said...

There is something so special about those human hands holding that baby whale that says more than any words. Beautiful illo!

April 04, 2008 6:51 PM  
Blogger Michelle Lana said...

awesome work scott!

April 04, 2008 7:32 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Hi Scott...great work this week...your illustration really sends the message home...even though these mammals are so large we have to take care of them and stop all the people that will do anything for money...

great work and great photos! how amazing to be this close to these majestic creatures....

Cheers,
Diana

April 04, 2008 8:46 PM  
Blogger Dot said...

hehe, the Save The Whales thing was something i thought about doing too! but obviously i went a different way :)
nice!

April 04, 2008 9:21 PM  
Blogger Teresa said...

this is a really great illustration -- the hands are so well drawn, and of course the theme is well captured too!

April 04, 2008 9:32 PM  
Blogger studio lolo said...

I almost did this topic because it's so important. I'm so glad you did it. The whale in your hands in very powerful Scott. Great job in showing them in such a gentle, fragile state. Awesome!

April 04, 2008 9:37 PM  
Blogger Kathleen Rietz said...

Aaaarrrrggghhhhh!!!!!!! I keep forgetting to email you my hand photos! :( Okay, making a post-it note to myself...

I love your post, and your whale blog is awesome!! The photos are amazing, especially the whale whiskers! Who knew???!!

April 04, 2008 9:39 PM  
Blogger steve said...

Awesome job Scott! Those pics are pretty spectacular too--especially the close ups.

April 04, 2008 10:57 PM  
Blogger constanthing said...

Your hand series is very inspiring, the ideas behind are 2-thumbs-up :) My only encounter with whales was a little sperm whale sighting at Kaikoura NZ, spectacular creatures.

April 05, 2008 4:07 AM  
Blogger Roberto Aceves said...

Thanks for your post!
I also went to see them last year in Kaikura, NZ, we saw five of them, amazing animals! it's very sad that anyone would want to kill them.

April 05, 2008 7:50 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very touching!

April 05, 2008 8:53 AM  
Blogger Kevin Spear said...

You're giving this Midwesterner an urge to do some west coast sightseeing.

Nice work. The size difference makes me think how fragile their species really are. Sometimes, we think if it's big, then it shouldn't have a problem surviving. Thanks for emphasizing the point.

April 05, 2008 2:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is awesome, I absolutely love the illo and the post. I want a poster of it!

April 05, 2008 3:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not only is your concept and style great, this illustration is really meaningful and it sends a message out there.

Great job Scott!

April 05, 2008 5:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your illustrations are always really nice. Seems as if this week's topic was custom-made for you, given your interest in whales.

I've seen a few whales here in Southern California as well, mostly while hiking the cliff at Point Dume in Malibu. They're really terrific animals.

Really great work again, Scott.

April 05, 2008 8:19 PM  
Blogger josh pincus is crying said...

I love the way you draw hands. They are AWESOME!

JPiC

April 05, 2008 9:10 PM  
Blogger soulbrush said...

i knew you'd like this theme. great work, and i saw your photos, awesome, hugs xx

April 06, 2008 3:03 AM  
Blogger Amy Zaleski said...

Fascinating stuff! That's definitely an adventure!

April 06, 2008 7:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Excellent Scott!!! So well done!

April 06, 2008 10:42 AM  
Blogger tusen said...

I like the concept. The whale looks so fragile in your hands.
Great photos two - I'm sure it must have been a great experience.

April 06, 2008 12:01 PM  
Blogger laurent the laurent said...

Great concept and exceptional color scheme!

April 06, 2008 12:06 PM  
Blogger Mable said...

Cool! Great minds think alike! ;)

April 06, 2008 12:16 PM  
Blogger bluerose said...

The photos are awsome, and so is the illo, but what's really so amazing is how forgiving they are! Thanks for sharing that story!

April 06, 2008 1:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

wonderfully informative and a worthwhile topic for 'save' - beautiful image

April 06, 2008 3:05 PM  
Blogger Cara Carmina said...

such a nice topic!!!! I'm pro saving the whales!!!!!

thanks for sharing all these information, it's really good!

I came to thank you for stopping by my IF blog. Come visit my children illustration one, you might like it!

www.caracarmina.blogspot.com

thanks again and good luck!

April 06, 2008 8:49 PM  
Blogger Bobo said...

This is impressed, very caring hands.

April 06, 2008 9:38 PM  
Blogger motywacja said...

Thank You Scott :)

April 06, 2008 10:44 PM  
Blogger IamOSI said...

awesome illo! nicely done.

April 06, 2008 11:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wonderful illustration! You had one amazing trip! Great Job!


www.indigeneartforms.blogspot.com

April 07, 2008 1:05 AM  
Blogger sandy said...

Good drawing Scott, and so relevant. Did you see all the stuff going on recently in Australia, with Greenpeace haulting a Japanese fishing boat whaling? Scary and heroic stuff. Keep it all up! :)

April 07, 2008 1:16 AM  
Blogger Nicola said...

Truly wonderful image!

April 07, 2008 5:25 AM  
Blogger Nicky Linzey said...

Beautiful illustration, I'd love to see a whale. The biggest thing I've seen was a basking shark & that was pretty amazing.

April 07, 2008 6:28 AM  
Blogger Little Red Pony said...

I love all of your illustrations, I notice a theme here is hands. I like your color choices, and the fact that you love and watch whales is WAY Awesome. Headed over to check out your whale images.

April 07, 2008 6:36 AM  
Blogger Little Red Pony said...

Hi Scott, Just wanted to say that I checked out your whale pictures..and want to say thanks for sharing with us. It makes me cry when I see how beautiful the whales are, they are precious. I am glad that you are looking after them and taking pictures of them.

April 07, 2008 6:45 AM  
Blogger Josh (musarter) said...

I appreciate your hands but I must say that whale is amazing too. I also a like the write up about whales; a good read. Whales are truelly amazing animals.

April 07, 2008 7:16 AM  
Blogger Jay said...

Scott- Great Illustration as always. The whale pics blew me away. I always think of whale watching as me in a big boat and someone says hey look over there- did you see that splash? That was a whale. Unbelievable- I'm reconsidering whale watching if that is what it's like. WOW. Great stuff.

April 07, 2008 8:48 AM  
Blogger rebecca christiansen said...

I always love your illustrations but my favorites are those that incorporate whales. When I see the whales in the Fort Bragg/Mendocino waters, am I seeing the same whales that you see in the south? Love those whales, just can't help it...

April 07, 2008 8:51 AM  
Blogger Bee said...

Super illustration and very moving. Am really interested in your whale experiences, nice to see them in your work.

April 07, 2008 9:11 AM  
Blogger Random York said...

Excellent Scott!

April 07, 2008 10:11 AM  
Blogger Shano said...

What a great illo and lovely sentiment. Good for you!!

April 07, 2008 11:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes, a very important issue! I am glad people are concerned about this issue. The way you show the whale makes it even more potent and urgent. Excellent job!

April 07, 2008 2:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Scott - this is beautiful. The nads look so gentle; the whale so fragile. What a great conceptual piece.

April 07, 2008 4:04 PM  
Blogger *Jene said...

this whale that fits in the hands produces a fragility sensation to me… I believe that it was the intention
(espero que se entienda :))

April 07, 2008 8:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

what a touching scene, those hands holding a fragile whale. that says a lot

April 07, 2008 8:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Scott by making the whales so small you have really captured the vulnerability of the whales. Wonderful work! I love whales. . .

April 07, 2008 8:59 PM  
Blogger ed said...

I love the way you show this deep and intense message, absolutely great and touching work!

April 08, 2008 1:48 AM  
Blogger neil said...

Hi Scott

What can I say that the other guys have not covered? Very touching, very well done.

April 08, 2008 4:17 AM  
Blogger shaky mouse said...

fantastic illustration.. and the photos are amazing as well.. great post

April 08, 2008 4:32 AM  
Blogger Liz Jones said...

How incredibly cool! Thanks for sharing that story-- it's nice to hear something positive in the endangered animals world!

April 08, 2008 6:17 AM  
Blogger Nina Seven N7 said...

lovely illo and great topic! thanks so much for your comment, I really appreciate it!

April 08, 2008 4:00 PM  
Blogger Ginger*:) said...

Incredible illustration and amazing, for sure, photos.

Now I have found out that gray whales have WHISKERS! Who knew?

Thank you so much for the website and all the images in the various gallerys!

April 08, 2008 4:01 PM  
Blogger b13 said...

Thanks for visiting and I am glad I found your blog(s)! First, I love nature and animals so I am enjoying your photoblog very much. Second, I am a graphic designer and love Illustration work. The human hand is tough to get right but you do a fantastic job. Your style is superb!

April 08, 2008 4:33 PM  
Blogger Dauphine Poole said...

Your style is wonderful! I love how everything is very bold. The wale is very sweet and I love the concept of saving the whales! :] They truly are beautiful creatures.

Always,
Dauphine Poole

April 08, 2008 4:57 PM  
Blogger Brian Cook said...

Thanks for the complement! I love your style. I want to see a whale, real bad.

April 08, 2008 7:00 PM  
Blogger Kev Levell said...

As always you have provoked thought in me - the whale photos are awesome - the concept here is a huge one... I'm going to go away and think about things for a bit!

Well done Scott!

ps. thanks for your continued encouragement!

April 09, 2008 4:59 AM  
Blogger rachael said...

great illustration! it's so important to highlight this issue still...thanks :)

April 09, 2008 8:23 AM  
Blogger Jannie aka Chickengirl said...

Cupping a baby whale in hands makes it even more precious.

April 09, 2008 8:26 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Great idea to change the scale

April 09, 2008 1:23 PM  
Blogger Patrick said...

I'm continually amazed at the sheer variety of concepts and ideas you can do with your hand pictures. Have you ever thought of collecting the best of them into a show? This one is just great. Love the textures.

April 09, 2008 9:53 PM  
Blogger Margins. said...

I LOVE whales! I am so glad that you created this post because some people out there just don't know.

This is really great. Thank you.

April 10, 2008 12:50 PM  
Blogger life without novacaine said...

Wow, great work! Love the tiny whale and the large hands. You really love whales, almost as much as I do! Kudos to you and your volunteer work.

April 10, 2008 9:53 PM  
Blogger Honor said...

Wow, those pics are amazing! I can't believe they came so close, and you guys on that little boat... wow. Nice illo again this week too. ;-)

April 11, 2008 1:00 AM  
Blogger Denise Gallagher said...

What a beautiful illustration...
the concept...
the colors...
the lines!
Wonderful!

Have a great day
and thanks so much for your comment.

Denise

April 11, 2008 2:39 PM  
Blogger Denise Gallagher said...

...and wow...
to actually touch a whale! How very lucky you are!

-d

April 11, 2008 2:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

wonderful concept and touching illo!
and very istructive pics on the other blog...

April 14, 2008 5:01 AM  
Blogger trowbridge chronicles said...

Another great illustration,Scott. This would make a great poster.

April 17, 2008 7:00 AM  
Blogger Pickledog said...

Another great illustration Scott!

Thanks for the list of musicians! I've got a lot of rockin' out to do now. : )

April 17, 2008 5:05 PM  
Blogger Kim de Young said...

Gosh, this is my favorite drawing of yours. So simple and says so much.

April 20, 2008 8:56 AM  
Blogger atomicvelvetsigh said...

really amazing indeed! your illo is as captivating as your story.. i really do hope i the next generations to come will not be deprived of seeing and experiencing nature the way its supposed to be..

April 28, 2008 4:26 PM  
Blogger David said...

Great whale and concept. :)

April 29, 2008 5:37 PM  
Blogger alicia varela said...

ooh..really beautiful concept and drawing!!! congratulations

May 15, 2008 4:06 AM  
Blogger Lauren Kate said...

What a fantastic concept!! I love this illustration, I feel it is so important that others see it too.
I'm in Australia, and we hear endless horror stories of whalers off of our coasts, and it needs to be stopped! Thanks for another great post :)

May 22, 2008 9:56 PM  
Blogger Gina said...

I love it! It's simplicity makes it that much more powerful. It's so to the point and it's so pretty.

June 25, 2008 3:08 PM  
Blogger Tracy said...

We went whale watching this past Christmas in Hawaii! What a wonderful experience. :) They are beautiful creatures. Your illustration is just lovely!

July 10, 2008 10:01 AM  

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