The “A Conversation with…” series is inspired by our popular blog series, “A Conversation with Izzy (Szczepaniak)”, a beloved marine biologist and ACS San Francisco Bay Chapter board member who regularly graced us with reports of cetacean activity near and far, before passing in November 2021. In this conversation, board member Susan Hopp interviews renowned marine mammal photographer and native Californian, Jodi Frediani.

SH: Jodi, You have been one of our most popular speakers at our monthly events - your photos and the stories behind them are so captivating. And with your new talk coming up on May 23, it is great to have this opportunity to learn more about you. Let me start - how did you get started in marine wildlife photography? Did you discover your skills early on? What has been your journey?

JF: My father gave me my first camera, a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye when I was 12. I used it to photograph my German Shepherd dog, my tortoise, and other animals and people. I grew up as an only child, but both my parents loved animals, so we always had a menagerie of sorts in the house. A variety of dogs over time, a cat when I was really young, parakeets, chameleons, tortoises, etc. So my love of animals started quite early, as did my interest in photography.

I then graduated to using an SLR (single lens reflex) camera and continued my photographic hobby. While I took a darkroom class in high school, I didn’t really get into photography seriously until I was an adult and took photography classes at the local community college. I realized my photos were pretty decent, and if I actually learned more about photography, they would improve. After my marriage of 20 years ended, I went back to university and changed my major from biology to art/photography. That was in the early 1990s. I had already taken lots of art history classes while studying biology and took more which were required for my new major. After I finally graduated with a BA from UC Santa Cruz and got a Fifth Year Certificate in Art, I started leading safaris in southern Africa where I photographed wildlife. I also participated in a few Earthwatch projects during the 90s, one with Ken Balcomb in the Bahamas focused on beaked whales, and another under Adam Pack with humpbacks in Maui. On that latter project, I got into taking photos of humpback flukes and matching them - hard work as we were still using film! I began swimming with humpback whales in 2002 on the Silver Bank. That’s when I got really excited about photographing whales. Not long after, I was given access to Monterey Bay Whale Watch boats, by owner Nancy Black, and the rest is history.

SH: It is so inspiring, a passion seeded as a child, found pollination in your adulthood and took on a life of its own. I am sure there were a lot of serendipitous connections along the way that took you around the world on land and sea!

JF: Yes, I had shown some of my best wildlife images to a local world-renowned wildlife photographer who had advised me to specialize. I realized he was right, in that there are so many special skills to photographing different wildlife species, plus knowing their behaviors.

SH: Speaking of wildlife behavior - are there any interactions that stand out for you in big or small significant ways?

JF: The first time I went to the Silver Bank [Domincan Republic] was back in 2002. Friends had encouraged me to go. I wasn’t quite sure what the experience would be like. I had been leading wildlife photography safaris in Southern Africa, where we were always in a vehicle when viewing animals. Now there would be nothing between us. In those days we did not have a guide in the water with us, so people often swam too fast or too noisily towards the whales, and they would swim off. By our third day, we had only glimpsed mothers and calves slowly swimming away in poor visibility. After two unsuccessful attempts that morning, several people decided to stay in the boat. Three of us quietly entered the water and swam slowly towards the mother and calf resting below. Within minutes, the calf rose to the surface to breathe, then made a pass swimming closely past us before heading back down to mom. Wow! What a thrill! When I got back into the tender, the others who had stayed behind expressed their delight on our behalf, instead of jealousy. That was touching in itself. And then I realized that the mother whale had trusted us enough to allow her calf, her baby, to come to check us out, even though we humans had hunted whales for centuries and were still killing whales in that very population. I cried all the way back to our mother ship.

SH: What an experience – truly sharing emotions that are universal across species! In the midst of the myriad of deleterious impacts humans are having on our oceans, wildlife, and ecosystems, what continues to inspire you? 

JF: Being able to experience the beauty and intelligence of marine mammals firsthand continues to nourish my soul. And the ability to share my experiences through my photography, to help educate and inspire others, keeps me inspired. There are amazing people in the whale community, and it is a pleasure to be able to work and play among them. I’ve also been able to begin participating in scientific research projects, which is very exciting. This now brings my biology and art together in the service of whales in particular, and marine species in general.

SH: Given your ability to communicate and be a go-between humans and this wondrous marine life, what is your mission - or better - “in your dreams” - what impact do you want to have?

JF: I only play a small role, but I think collectively if we all, in our own ways, with our own skill sets, continue to educate and motivate others, we can help improve the lives of whales, protect our oceans and our planet. 

SH: Any words of wisdom to share with avid emerging marine photographers or citizen scientists observing wildlife off our shores?

JF: For budding photographers, get out as often as you can. You don’t need to be on a boat, there are opportunities from shore. Become totally familiar with your equipment and the behavior of the species you want to photograph. Hone your powers of observation and your timing!  Ask questions. Take a workshop and/or watch YouTube videos. And practice, practice, and practice.

SH: And lastly for the camera geeks in our community, what is your go-to equipment?

JF: Currently using the Canon EOS R5 with the RF 100-500mm IS lens. For years I’ve been using the Canon EOS 7D Mark II with the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II for topside. I’m still using the Canon 5D Mark III and the  Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens in an Aquatica Housing for underwater. I also have DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone which I fly whenever I get the chance. I’m also finding my iPhone 13 Pro has some pretty amazing cameras, which come in handy, when a larger body/lens combo is not practical.

SH: Jodi, this conversation has been so fun, hopeful, and a great prelude to your talk on May 23. Thank you and see you soon!