MODELS posed in their swimwear and accessories next to the world’s biggest fish in the Philippines to raise awareness about poaching of whale sharks. In a one-of-a-kind photo shoot, models Hannah Fraser and Roberta Mancino swam underwater with 30-foot-long whale sharks in Oslob in the Philippines. Photographer Kristian Schmidt followed the models under the sea to capture the images, which had been four months in the planning. As well as capturing extraordinary photographs, the shoot also aimed to raise awareness about the plight of the whale sharks which are often the victims of poaching. The photographers tracked the whale sharks down by tapping the knowledge of locals in the Philippines, who have developed a bond with the whale sharks.                             –TG