Help with Whales

[dtrotter]

Again this year, we will go grey whale watching in the lagunas of Baja, Mexico, but this is the first year I started to try and become more serious about photography as a hobby and have better equipment (not all the equipment I want, but this hobby is getting REAL expensive).

Equipment---Canon40D with 70-200l f/2.8 on order along with an extender, maybe. The whales are close and very big. Husband has the back-up Rebel with a 18-200 Tamron for closer shots.

So I am requesting some advice for obtaining the best images---if the whales cooperate.

We go out in a small boat, a typical Mexican fishing panga. Often there is quite a bit of wind and the water is rough---makes keeping the equipment dry a challenge.

If we are lucky, it is cloudy, but may not be so.

The whales are usually quite close---in fact at times, they are close enough to touch and under the boat. The mother whales will bring the new babies up to see the boat and the strange humans. :D

I have been told that when shooting during the day with water, one should use a polarizer. However, I have practiced some with a polarizer and it seems to be needing constant adjusting. When shooting whales from one side of the boat to the other, there is not time to make adjustments.


Questions:

1. Would you try to use a polarizer?
2. Would like suggestions for ISO, AV, TV etc for if there are clouds or if it is sunny. We cannot control the time of day----first boat out is usually about 9AM and late afternoon is not possible.

Just for illustration purposes---these are the two best shots I got last year with the Rebel---only a UV filter---and I want to improve

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/jdtrotter/WhalesinSanIgnacio11.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/jdtrotter/BestWhale.jpg

And just to show the size of the boat and the conditions. The Panguero is drying his socks and there is water on my filter-

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b192/jdtrotter/WindSock.jpg

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

[narlus]

i was in Todos Santos last year and there's a beach where the whales come in close enough to shoot from the beach. we went towards sunset. here's a shot w/ my 5D and 70-200

http://narlus.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p341896650-4.jpg

[gmacmt]

I think a polarizer is a fine idea if water is involved.

[The_Camera_Poser]

I'd go without the polarizer if you are on a moving/rocking boat- I'd think you'd want the absolute fastest shutter speed you could get, and loosing two stops to a CP would make it too slow, IMHO.

Also, if you do get a CP, spenc BIG money on it- the cheapies, even Hoya cheapies, are terrible.

[dtrotter]

I'd go without the polarizer if you are on a moving/rocking boat- I'd think you'd want the absolute fastest shutter speed you could get, and loosing two stops to a CP would make it too slow, IMHO.

Also, if you do get a CP, spenc BIG money on it- the cheapies, even Hoya cheapies, are terrible.

Thanks---besides needing to adjust the polarizer from one side of the boat to the other, those are very thoughts.

Yes, besides the usually somewhat rough water, the boat is rocking a lot just from the people---guess I will have to play with the shutter speed and maybe the ISO????

[The_Camera_Poser]

I'd be thinking ISO 400 or even 800, with the camera in AV setting at f/5.6 or even f/11 and the spot meter for settings. I'd actually start on ISO 200 and work your way up- see how low you can keep it and get decent shutter speeds.

I'm no ace wildlife photog though.

[dtrotter]

I'd be thinking ISO 400 or even 800, with the camera in AV setting at f/5.6 or even f/11 and the spot meter for settings. I'd actually start on ISO 200 and work your way up- see how low you can keep it and get decent shutter speeds.

I'm no ace wildlife photog though.

Since I am really very new to all of the this, I really appreciate your suggestions.

Diane

[The_Camera_Poser]

My pleasure Diane :-)

[Zoodles]

Looks like your shots are already superb.
Keep the UV, and try to keep to ISO200 and under and f5.6 and higher if at all possible.

Have fun!!

[dtrotter]

Looks like your shots are already superb.
Keep the UV, and try to keep to ISO200 and under and f5.6 and higher if at all possible.

Have fun!!

Thanks---I hope to be able to take some much better pictures---better technicals, but I was so happy to get the eye on the one pix.

I look forward to trying all the suggestions here and hope I will have something to post here.

Zoodles, I see you are from British Columbia and we thought that they turned off the lights in British Columbia in the winter as everyone goes to Baja. :D

Diane

[Zoodles]

Haha - no we're still here...
But i'm already planning my own trip to MEX in early Feb.

[mjc_ma]

Diane I always use a good circular polarizer on a boat, All Captains and mates wear polarized sunglasses because they have to see the fish. Some of your shots will be that much better because you will be able to see deeper and clearer into the water and capture more of the whale.
You are shooting in the late morning and all afternoon don't worry about having too little light. I would not try to shoot from the bow, stay towards the stern if you can, 1 less spray, 2 less movement.
Kata has a good cover that allows you to cover the body an still have good access.
Remember not all lenses are weather resistant and saltwater and salt air is a killer on equipment, so make sure to wipe it all down to get the salt off.
Hope this helps

[Rich S]

Shoot RAW+small jpeg and AV center spot with partial metering. If the whales are moving , or tail shots(ISO with 5D 200-400, 40/50D ISO 160-320. You can change the light and other things in DPP, but speed is the essential element due to the boat moving and the whales too . I shot with my 70-2300 because the boat was rocking even with my 300 f/4L IS , I found the 70-200 f/4L IS was working better. I took bungee cords to fasten my photo backpack for quick changes. I am off to Maui in 3 weeks to get the real thing...this was a Gray Whale Tail.... http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc150/blackies_owner/IMG_7862_edited-1copy.jpg