Photographer Tobias Baumgaertner captured a poignant moment: two penguins comforting each other after one had lost its spouse, against the backdrop of the Melbourne skyline.
“The fortunate few will be able to spend this difficult time with those they care about the most. Nearly twelve months ago, I managed to snap this photo. Standing there, flipper in flipper, for hours, these two fairy penguins watched the dazzling lights of the Melbourne skyline and ocean from a rock overlooking the cityscape. The white one, an elderly penguin woman who had evidently lost her partner, and the younger man to his left had too. According to a volunteer who approached me, we were both bereaved. After that, they started going to one other’s houses on a regular basis to cry and stand for hours to watch the lights of the neighboring city dance. I stayed with this penguin colony for three nights straight to acquire this shot. It was incredibly difficult to get a good image because we couldn’t use any lighting and the little penguins were constantly on the move, cleaning each other, and rubbing their flippers against each other. However, I was fortunate enough to capture a really lovely moment. Taking this moment in is something I really enjoyed, too,” Tobias posted on Instagram.
What set this couple apart in the colony was their genuine care for each other. While other penguins slept or hurried about, these two stood together, holding each other’s flippers and chatting quietly.
Their shared pain brought them together; love can strike unexpectedly. It’s a privilege to deeply love someone who loves you back, the photographer noted.
