Considered the world’s leading whale and dolphin photographer, Nicklin’s career has taken him around the globe to photograph some of the world’s largest and most majestic mammals. The public event will feature a presentation and discussion of Nicklin’s memoir Among Giants: A Life With Whales, followed by a book signing.
Nicklin learned how to scuba dive when he was just a child from his father Chuck, a diver and underwater cinematographer. By the time he was 14, he was helping people learn how to dive off the coast of Southern California. Over the years, Nicklin’s ability to free dive to depths of up to 90 feet has allowed him to swim close enough to whales to record their behavior without interrupting it. Over the last few decades, he has photographed more than thirty species of whales including killer whales and humpbacks. His work has contributed significantly to the world’s understanding of marine mammal biology and conservation.
Nicklin’s career with the National Geographic Society began in 1976 when he signed on for a three-month photo shoot as a deckhand and diving assistant. Since then, he has photographed numerous articles for National Geographic and written a number of books, including Face to Face With Whales and Face to Face With Dolphins.
In 2011, Nicklin wrote Among Giants: A Life With Whales, a book that tells the story of his life and career through photographs. The book will be available for pre-sale at the HSU Bookstore beginning Oct. 12. Books will also be available for purchase at the Oct. 26 event with a book signing to follow.
Presentation tickets are available for $5 at the HSU Ticket Office on the second floor of the University Center. Two hundred free tickets will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis to HSU students (HSU ID required) beginning Oct. 12, with a two-ticket maximum per person.
A limited number of tickets will be available for a pre-event reception with the author. Reception tickets are $50 and will include admission to the presentation, hors d’oeuvres and a chance to visit with Flip Nicklin. Reception tickets may be reserved by calling (707) 826-5826.
Proceeds from the event will support the Whale Trust, a non-profit organization co-founded by Nicklin in 2001 that conducts scientific research and educational outreach on whales and HSU’s Marine Mammal Education and Research Program (MMERP) which conducts research on local marine mammals and provides educational outreach.
For more information on Whale Trust, visit www.whaletrust.org.