Biography - Julien Marchal

Julien Marchal was born in 1976 in Clamart, Haut-de-Seine (France). He was drawn to photography by a love of the ocean and dolphins, and a commitment to protecting the world's seabeds.

While in Strasbourg and Montpellier, Julien planned opportunities to meet the animals he sought to protect. During a trip to British Columbia, Canada, he encountered killer whales, and blue whales ( Balaenoptera musculus ) travelling in pairs. He was fortunate enough to come across a newborn sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) off the coast of the Azores.

Julien photographed eight sperm whales and spinner dolphins ( Stenella longirostris ) near Mauritius. He also took pictures of a number of long-finned pilot whales ( Globicephala melas ) in the Mediterranean Sea.

In addition to being a photographer, Julien Marchal is a member of various cetacean associations throughout the world. He is a nature guide specializing in cetaceans and is a strong critic of the practice of keeping dolphins and killer whales in captivity. He speaks at conferences, and publishes scientific and non-technical articles with the aim of “increasing public awareness, including that of future generations.” Julien currently works in Quebec, Canada, as a cetaceans nature guide, skipper and marketing representative for an ecotourism company.