国家地理:追逐抹香鲸的水下摄影师(3)
Scientists know sperm whales as the ocean's largest toothed predators. They have the biggest brains of any known animal, can weigh up to 45 tons, and have been observed displaying humanlike qualities, such as curiosity and playfulness. But despite their size and their expressiveness, sperm whales remain one of the ocean's biggest mysteries. Do they share complex ideas? What are the dynamics in their family groups? And what goes on in those giant brains?
科学家知道抹香鲸是海洋中最大的有齿掠食者。它们的脑部是所有已知动物中最大的，体重可达45公吨，而且被观察到显露出类似人类的特质，例如拥有好奇心和彼此嬉闹。但除了体型和善于表现的特质之外，抹香鲸仍是海洋中最大的谜团之一。它们会分享复杂的想法吗？它们家庭团体之间的状态为何？还有，他们巨大的大脑中还藏着什么秘密？
Almost all whales appear to be disturbed by loud sounds. A boat's motor or a scuba system's bubbles can interfere with the animal's click-based communication system. Free diving, the underwater equivalent of tiptoeing, is the best way for a professional like Skerry to approach them. Still, he says, "sometimes it's like chasing ghosts."
几乎所有的鲸鱼都会被巨大的声响干扰。船只的发动机或水肺系统的气泡，会干扰动物的点击式通信系统。而自由潜水，则像是在水底踮着脚尖走路，对于斯科利这种专业人士来说是接近抹香鲸最好的方式。然而斯科利表示：“有时就像在追逐飘忽不定的魅影。”
Skerry lives in Maine, where he practices free diving in cold Atlantic waters, slowing his breathing sometimes for up to three minutes. Holding one's breath is as much the work of the mind as it is the lungs. In addition to staying in good physical shape, Skerry, 56, does meditation exercises to condition himself not to panic when his blood pressure drops and his lungs scream out. It's often in those moments when photographic magic happens. Skerry is partway through a three-year story project on whales for National Geographic. It has taken him all over the world: to Alaska to photograph humpbacks, to Canada for belugas, and to Norway for orcas.
斯科利住在美国缅因州，他在冰冷的大西洋海水中练习自由潜水，学着放缓呼吸，有时可憋气达三分钟。憋气对心理和肺来说都是挑战。除了保持良好的体态，56岁的斯科利也练习冥想，让他能控制自己在血压降低、肺快爆炸时不要惊慌，摄影的魔力通常就在那些时刻发生。斯科利正在为《国家地理》杂志进行一项为期三年的鲸鱼拍摄计划。这项计划让他跑遍全世界：到阿拉斯加拍摄座头鲸、到加拿大拍摄白鲸、到挪威拍摄虎鲸。
