Photos from the Galápagos Islands, by Ginger Oppenheimer

The Galápagos Islands are famed for their endemic species, unique to this archipelago of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean west of continental Ecuador, near the equator. Charles Darwin traveled there during the voyage of the Beagle, making observations and amassing collections that later contributed to his theory of evolution by natural selection.

Ginger Oppenheimer traveled there in 1999, inspired by a book she read about the settling of the island of Floreana by the German Wittmer family. She took a camera and began to discover a passion for photography, collecting images such as these of the species she encountered: blue-footed boobies, giant tortoise, lizards and sea lions. I think they are exquisite and humbling portraits of other divine life forms. All rights reserved: please contact the artist at her website if you'd like more information.