2017-08-09 Wed

Almost 40,000 photographs are sent every year to the U.S. Postal Service, out of which only 25 are selected. A picture of a Great White Shark taken underwater by photographer Norbert Wu from a shark cage was an inspiration for a set of Forever Stamps crafted by artist Sam Weber.

The photo was taken in 2006 using a Nikon D200 and 16 mm lens from a Guadalupe Island in Mexico. It captured an angle that not only showed the shark’s teeth but also beautiful rays of evening sun through the water.

Colours and composition in the other stamps were based on this photograph. Weber also sketched a Mako shark, Thresher shark, Whale shark and a hammerhead for the stamp series after being guided by photographs like these. Detailing was done using graphics software.

The stamps were released with an aim to raise awareness about the conservation of these animals which maintain the ocean’s ecosystem.