Breaching Humpback

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 5, 2011113 views9 comments

I just got back from a wonderful trip based out of Petersburg, AK. We had fantastic weather, great people, incredible food and awesome photo opportunities. The main focus for me was to just witness and get some images of breaching humpback whales, up close and personal. It wasn't hard witnessing it, but capturing it took some practice and some luck, especially with a long primary lens. Oh and the up close and personal??? We got close enaough a couple of times that I found out that whale breath is really bad!! Thanks for looking, C&C welcome.

Canon7D with EF500mm f/4.L IS USM
1/2000s @f/7.0
ISO 400

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on August 5, 2011 at 3:02 PM

Must have been an exciting time! Like your whale photo. The larger image shows good detail in the darker areas, nice stopping of the action also. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Chris O'Donoghue on August 5, 2011 at 3:13 PM

In my experience a breach happens so quickly that I might just see the whale hit the water on the way down if I'm lucky. I've never gotten a picture of a breach. You got this just as the whale is starting to emerge. Incredible! You were really on the ball here. Technically good, great composition and a unique perspective. I'm in awe.

Registered on January 1, 2011, 11 Posts, 37 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 6, 2011 at 12:46 AM

Nice image! Sounds like a wonderful trip!
Great exposure of both dark and lighter areas - hard to do.
Quite tight in the frame on the bottom, but maybe this is the best he gave you. A vertical comp would be ideal - but tough to change camera orientation so quickly.
Hope you took bursts of action - in my experience, that's the only way to get good shots of moving things.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on August 6, 2011 at 1:53 AM

Sounds like you had a whale of a time!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on August 6, 2011 at 1:57 AM

Excellent detail on the dark body of the whale. Way to go capturing the eye, even has a catchlight! I do agree with Sandy that a vertical would work perhaps a bit better for the vertical body shape and to get a bit more room at the bottom for the ripples/wave.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Clinton Bauder on August 6, 2011 at 2:10 AM

Nice shot. Just got back from Alaska myself. Saw lots and lots of whales including quite a few breaches but while we got thousands of whale shots nobody managed a shot of a whale fully out of the water. On one excursion the skiff was just slowing down as we arrived at a site with steller sea lions feeding when a whale unexpectedly breached only about 40 yards from the boat. Not so much as a click from the cameras as nobody was ready. Oh well, awesome memory. Did this whale come all the way out of the water or was it spy-hopping? (and yes, whale breath is really, really bad!

)

Clinton

Registered on December 8, 2009, 31 Posts, 231 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 6, 2011 at 11:52 AM

I can imagine the difficulties in capturing a breach like this Mark as it is probably quite unpredictable where they will surface exactly. In that respect: very well done! What would have improved this is a bit more room at the bottom, vertical framing and a visible eye. That;s your challenge for next time.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on August 6, 2011 at 1:57 PM

Mark, I had a similar experience with that breath in Hawaii several years ago (before I was a photographer)...but the experience more than makes up for it! I like the techs on this and colors look good. Also agree about the vertical, but not too late. I would probably crop his a bit to move it off center comp (if it were mine I would crop form the left), but still a pleasing shot.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on August 7, 2011 at 10:37 PM

Very nice! Like the nice details in the head.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments