Weddell seal

Gallery: WildlifePosted May 14, 2014558 views11 comments

I was inspired to post this after seeing Ken Watkins' lolling lion. This was one of the many species of seal that we saw on our almost month-long visit to the Antarctica with the Van Os Safaris on the MV Ushuaia.
This species is apparently widespread and prefers shore-fast ice over free-floating pack ice. Apart from fish, squid and krill, it also feeds on penguins.
Species: Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii)
Location: Antarctica
Date: Nov 2013
Equip: Canon 1Dx, Canon 70-200 f2.8 at 195mm
Specs: ISO 1000, f9.0, 1/2500s, hand-held from a moving Zodiac in chilly conditions

Thank you for taking the time out to look, and for your comments/critiques.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on May 14, 2014 at 2:39 PM

Ajit.
Nice to think I could inspire you, I am glad I did.
This is a great pose and obviously a good position for sleeping, something that you generally find Lions doing

Remarkable from a Zodiac, I presume it was fairly calm?

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on May 14, 2014 at 3:13 PM

I really like this. It is endearing and a quality image. It does seem to have a bluish tint on my monitor. Will be interesting to see if anyone else has that perception. Oh, and the expression on his face is great!

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on May 14, 2014 at 3:24 PM

What a fun pose. Looking at the thumbnail, I thought I was viewing a rabbit from behind.

Max

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on May 14, 2014 at 6:26 PM

Wonderful pose and a precious look on the seal's face. The blue cast is definitely there; although, considering the location, the blue seems appropriate to me.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on May 15, 2014 at 1:02 PM

Hi Ajit,

When viewing the thumbnail I thought the same as Max - that this was a rabbit or hare photographed from behind!

I like this one a lot - great pose/posture and that face is so peaceful! I know that snow is rarely pure white, but to my eye it appears a tad too blue/gray in this shot - if this were mine I'd experiment with both brightening it slightly and removing some of the blue cast.

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on May 16, 2014 at 10:21 AM

Like Phil Hodgkins said, I thought the blue was appropriate here, just to show the cold conditions. However, I am reposting the image after correcting for the blue cast and also brightening up the image. Hope you like it.

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on May 16, 2014 at 12:37 PM

Ajit,
The re-post works even better

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on May 16, 2014 at 9:00 PM

Super job with the repost, Ajit! Neat capture.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 18, 2014 at 10:55 AM

Really nice poise you captured Ajit. I like the re-post better.

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on May 18, 2014 at 4:09 PM

Hello Ajit

The repost is great to view, thanks for sharing

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 18, 2014 at 10:00 PM

A really fun image Ajit, super pose and I do like the repost better, I was thinking the original was a bit dark.

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