Queer Nature Photography Awards

"Surfing A Velvet Sea"

Andrea Izzotti

"Surfing A Velvet Sea"

This image reminded me of what I had read about studies done on a group of dolphins in Australia. The scholars showed that males of these animals more often experience male-male relationships than heterosexual partnerships. Scientists assume that the main reason for this is not primarily sex, but rather intimate social relationships. These dolphins exhibit a unique social structure where all males are bisexual. Homosexual bonds play a crucial role in their community. Male dolphins often form lifelong partnerships, traveling together, protecting each other, and even sharing hunting duties. These same-sex relationships endure even after mating with females.

For this reason this image, I took during a whalewatching excursion off Genoa, Italy, where two striped dolphins swim together, represents the possibility of relationships that do not depend on the strict male-female connection or other mechanisms structured by us humans.

About the Photographer

Name: Andrea Izzotti

Age: 58

Nationality: Italian

How does your identity influence your work?

I am cissexual male and in the past this has greatly affected the way I view the world and nature, with preconceptions related to masculinity. Only recently am I adopting a much more open and inclusive attitude even with reference to the way I photograph.

What message do you hope to convey with your work about the intersection of queerness and biodiversity in nature?

Approaching nature consciously means abandoning the preconceptions typical of the human race in order to receive and embrace nature totally freely, thus broadening one's perspectives to grasp elements that are offered to us, precisely, in a totally “natural” way. What made many people smile years ago must become a point of departure and reflection.

What do you think is the importance of highlighting diversity in both nature and society, and how can photography play a role in this?

Since I began to learn more about animal behavior, I have experienced various situations that cannot be traced back to the simple male-female relationship. Animals do not have the constructs attached to human doctrines, but they behave naturally: each is an individual with its own character and characteristics. Showing these “naturally different” attitudes can be a way to channel human discussion and attract more people to understanding.

What is your favorite example of queerness in nature?

My favorite example is dolphins. Only recently it has been discovered that these marine mammals go through various periods of homosexuality, solitude, bisexuality and promiscuity. Anatomically The reproductive organs of dolphins are located inside the body, with genital slits on the ventral side so only a very experienced eye can understand their gender, but in the open sea when they jump into the waves they have no gender difference.

A note from the Narwhal Rainbow Alliance

Male dolphins choose partners with whom they sometimes stay together for the rest of their lives. Female dolphins also exhibit homosexual behavior, but this is often less well-documented than in male dolphins. It is clear that homosexual relationships are not solely based on reproduction but also contribute to the social cohesion and well-being of the groups. The biodiversity status of dolphins is vulnerable and varies greatly by species. While some species are thriving, others are threatened by various human and natural factors.