Guardians of the Deep – Color Edition

The Story Behind the Image

Guardians of the Deep – Color Edition
Photographed by Caterina Barregar

I had been waiting for the announcement—the orcas were on the move. When it finally came, I raced down to the place they told us they’d be. But by the time I arrived, most people were already leaving. My heart sank.

Then I saw her—a young woman running toward her car. She looked like she knew something. I called out to her and told her how much I wanted to see the orcas. She smiled, opened her car door, and said,
“Follow me.”

Something told me to trust her. So I followed—adrenaline rushing, heart pounding—for a good half hour along winding roads toward a quieter stretch of coastline.

When we got there, it looked still. Silent. We thought maybe we had missed them.

And then, in a heartbeat—they came.

A pod of orcas surfaced together, their breath rising through the misty air. It was quiet, powerful, and completely magical. Everything else fell away in that moment.

That’s the feeling I hope this image carries forward—for you, or for someone you love.
A reminder that sometimes, the most sacred moments come when we stay open… and keep following the signs.

From my heart to yours,
Caterina Barregar