The Courtship Vortex
Hundreds of mobula rays swoop in and out of a rare mating vortex. Thousands of these rays come to Baja in the late spring to breed.
The Courtship Vortex
Hundreds of mobula rays swoop in and out of a rare mating vortex. Thousands of these rays come to Baja in the late spring to breed.
Awards
World Photo Annual
2025Nominee
Underwater
Professional
The Courtship Vortex
Hundreds of mobula rays swoop in and out of a rare mating vortex. Thousands of these rays come to Baja in the late spring to breed.
About Artist
Brittany Ilardi
Brittany is an underwater photographer based in Mexico. After starting off her career building spaceships in the California desert as an aerospace engineer, Brittany decided to shift her focus from outside the Earth’s atmosphere to under her seas. A scuba instructor and lifetime lover of the ocean, she is always smiling when in, near, or around water. After working and diving all around the world, from Mozambique to Indonesia and beyond, she decided to settle near her favorite body of water - the Sea of Cortez. She holds a deep love for nature and adventure, and is a passionate advocate for the environment and sustainability. Through photography, her goal is to create awareness of what’s going on beneath the waves and promote conservation.
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