Jumping for...Joy?

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 21, 2012517 views19 comments

Jumping for...Joy?

I decided to wait until late in the day on the 21st before posting this one - didn't want to bother doing it if the world was coming to an end today!

I'm not really sure why this Pacific White-sided Dolphin has decided to leap out of the water. But for the sake of this commentary I'll go totally anthropomorphic and assume that it was for the pure pleasure of it - the joy of it...

And that's my wish to all of you - that this festive season and 2013 will bring you joy and wonder. And, I guess of all of us have a bit of an advantage over most of the rest of humanity - we have discovered the wonder of the natural world and its inhabitants, and the enjoyment that capturing images of them brings...

For those of you who celebrate Christmas - have a great one! And for those of you who don't...well...have a great Tuesday!

Subject:Pacific White-sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) jumping for...some reason!
Location: Northern Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Camera: Nikon D4
Lens: Nikkor 400mm f2.8 VRII lens - hand-held from sailboat. VR on and in "Normal" mode.
Exposure: 1/2000s @ f8; ISO 800. +0.67 stop compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.
Crop: Very minor crop - this is about 90% of full-frame

Additional details (and a very different commentary) about the image available here:

http://www.naturalart.ca/galleries/latest/.

Comments and critiques welcomed - and this is one where I think it's worth it to view the larger version prior to doing so!

Cheers...and best of the season to everyone!

Brad

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 21, 2012 at 10:25 PM

This is by no means an easy shot to get - and anyone who has tried to get a bird in flight knows how difficult a moving object is. A moving object that can and will appear at any time, in a "general" area for a brief moment, is all the more difficult. Awesome photo and the harmonious colors (shades rather) really make the image and I can feel how cold and crisp the water is.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on December 21, 2012 at 10:33 PM

Hey Luke,

Thanks - and you're right this was a REALLY tough shot to pull off! In some respects it's a "stark" shot, but I do like how the dolphin is completely (but just) out of the water. Pacific-white sides are super energetic and like all dolphins, incredibly interesting to watch...so many different, complex, and fascinating behaviours (owing - to some extent at least I would assume - to their amazing intelligence).

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 21, 2012 at 11:09 PM

Beautiful photo Brad, really love the way the water slides off his body. All the best to you.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 22, 2012 at 4:37 AM

Whoa

This is freaking awesome Brad, you captured the perfect moment of this beautiful dolphin species. I see them almost every time I'm out on the water here in the Puget Sound (not out there as much as I would like to be). But, I have never seen one jump, I can't image being able to catch one taking flight like this one. Your timing was incredible.

Happy Holidays to you too.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on December 22, 2012 at 9:18 AM

Wow, Brad this is more than just a joyful image; it is a stunner! You are so right about the joy that nature photography brings to people so in to it. I wish you a very joyful an successful year. Cheers!

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 22, 2012 at 10:39 PM

Spectacular shot! Tack-sharp throughout, excellent position, and great water.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on December 22, 2012 at 11:54 PM

What's not to love about this image! Simply superb! And, a Merry Christmas to you, too!

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

Comment posted by Michael Bay on December 23, 2012 at 3:17 AM

Great shot! I was trying to take pictures of belugas this summer so i have an idea of how hard it is to predict where they will come out of the water and get a nice clear shot like this. This is inspiring.

Registered on December 22, 2012, 2 Posts, 10 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Runco on December 23, 2012 at 3:33 AM

Excellent work, as always Brad. Merry Christmas to you as well.

Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments

Comment posted by Joana Roncero on December 23, 2012 at 3:35 AM

That's the best picture of a dolphin I've never seen!. I love composition and every detail on it, specially the penetrating look. Merry Christmas also to you and thanks for sharing this beautiful shot.
Joana

Registered on August 27, 2012, 17 Posts, 70 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on December 23, 2012 at 3:38 AM

A terrific frame, neat capture with crystal clear eye !
Merry Christmas n Happy Holidays to you too!
Jagdeep Rajput
PS. Brad, I somehow feel, if you darken the blues or mid tones, the image will benefit.
Inspired by this image, I'm posting Jumping for joy(2).

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on December 23, 2012 at 12:09 PM

Wonderful image, Brad. Congrats!

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on December 23, 2012 at 1:18 PM

Excellent, Brad. Having worked with dolphins in New Zealand, I know the challenges you faced. You really did an exceptional job of capturing the white underbelly and a nice view of the eye. Really a perfect breach shot, as far as I'm concerned.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Roberts on December 23, 2012 at 2:29 PM

Now that's an awesome shot. And glad we're all still around to enjoy it.

Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments

Comment posted by Verdon on December 23, 2012 at 2:34 PM

your work has outstanding qualities, but this one is something else, three thumbs up, a-mazing shot!!!
Happy holidays!!!

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 26, 2012 at 9:41 PM

A spectacular image Brad, one of the best dolphin shots that I've seen, congrats

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on December 26, 2012 at 10:52 PM

Top notch image, Brad!

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on December 27, 2012 at 5:46 PM

the timing is immaculate here, Brad, and the image quality/clarity is crisp, ever so crisp

all the best to you in 2013 as well, and ditto on the joy this magnificent hobby-slash-passion brings

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Clinch on January 7, 2013 at 10:13 PM

Amazing! The sharpness, evn down to the water droplets in air. Very fine, inspirational work.

Registered on January 5, 2013, 37 Posts, 261 Comments