"Thar' she blows!" (56k warning)

[Parson]

Thought you might enjoy a few shots from a recent whale excursion we took out of Juneau Bay. We were very fortunate to see the number of whales we saw and were treated with the rare opportunity to witness several pods bubble feeding.

We came away with a new found respect and awe for these magnificent creatures.

C/C welcome.

Hope you enjoy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/dahat/whale001web.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/dahat/whale002web.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/dahat/whale005web.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/dahat/whale012WEB.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/dahat/whale015web.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/dahat/whale019web.jpg

Have a great day to all!

Dave H.

[Noni]

Great series. Whales are such magnificent and amazing animals. Thanks for sharing....and rest assured, I'm a tad green with envy - that's a trip I really want to go on.

Best-
Noni

[dancad]

Good shots...it looks like you had a great time! I'm surprised at how close to shore these are.

[tupe]

I've never seen anything like #2 before. Terrific shots!

[cfcRebel]

Nice whale series Dave! They are awesome.

[Parson]

Thanks, Noni! I'm always amazed when I see people on other forums ask, "I'm going to Alaska. Should I go on a whale watching tour?" DUH!! If you get to see even one of these great creatures it's worth the entire trip and expense!

Dancad, you're right -- we were very surprised to see so many of these so close to shore. What is somewhat misleading, though, is that, rather than being out in the open ocean, these were in a smaller inlet in Juneau Bay. Add to that the compression factor of a 400mm lens and you don't really get the full picture of just where they were located. Still, there were a tremendous number of whales (over 200 that we counted that morning) in a very small area.

Tupe, thanks for your comments. In #2 the whale came up within 15 feet of our boat. AWESOME experience to see this great behemoth so close. If I had been 12 years old instead of 50+ I think it would have made me want to dedicate my life to studying these beautiful creations!

Thanks to all!

Dave H.

[Noni]

Tupe, that whale is feeding. Notice the "fringe" on his top lip? Those are the strainers; they sift tons of water during each surge, and take the small fishes and plankton from the water with that fringe.

It's a great, unique angle, and very educational.

Bubble feeding is a team technique, where several whales blow a bubble net, forcing the food towards the center of their group. One whale comes up through the middle of the group, sifting as described above. They take turns, trading jobs and rotating. Bubble feeding is a significant colony event; and speaks to the societal structure of whale pods. I've seen underwater footage of it, and it's frankly rather fascinating and amazing.

And I want to go!!!!!!!! Dave, I did want to be a marine biologist, but HS chemistry foiled that grand plot.

Best-
Noni

[robertwgross]

That first shot... was that a well-planned shot, or was it just a fluke? :)

---Bob Gross---

[Reigh Higgins]

Beautiful Shots! Thanks for sharing.

[CyberDyneSystems]

That first shot... was that a well-planned shot, or was it just a fluke? :)

---Bob Gross---

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh......

Awesome photos.. these are georgous :)

[Parson]

That first shot... was that a well-planned shot, or was it just a fluke? :)

---Bob Gross---

I'm sorry, Bob, that was just gross! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Dave

[nitsch]

WOW!!! :eek: :cool:

These pictures are great Dave. Were you mainly at the 400 end of the 100-400 to get these shots? I'm going whale watching later in the year and hopefully we'll be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these marvellous creatures but the longest lens I'll have with me is 300mm.

It would be hoping too much for me to end up with anything like your first shot. Stunning.

[Stephen Stephen]

Great photos Dave. The baleen (strainers) really show up well on the second photo. Where most of the whales there Humpbacks?

Noni I was a marine biologist but I ended up studying squid and larvel fish not whales. :- )

[Parson]

Nitsch, actually when I took these I didn't have the 100-400L. I was using a Sigma 135-400. But, yes, most of these shots were at the 400 end. Only numbers 2 and 5 were at anything shorter (about 150-180 if I remember correctly -- I don't have the EXIF info in front of me at the moment).

I would love to go back and take this trip again with the 100-400L. I can't help but believe that the images would be sharper and with better color resolution.

Thanks for the comments.

Dave H.

[Parson]

Stephen -- Yes, all the whales we saw that day were humpbacks. We actually lost count of how many we saw that day. The guides on our tour told us that in all the tours they had been on, it was the first time they had actually lost count of the number of whales sighted. In addition, we were told that only 1% of 1% of the people who go on these excursions get to see bubble feeding, so we felt very fortunate to have been out on this particular morning!

Thanks!
Dave H.

[Becca]

Terrific pictures! Now I have to add a whale watch in Alaska to my "To do" list! Thanks for sharing!

[Noni]

Great photos Dave. The baleen (strainers) really show up well on the second photo. Where most of the whales there Humpbacks?

Noni I was a marine biologist but I ended up studying squid and larvel fish not whales. :- )

Well, but you knew the word for "strainers" and/or "fringe stuff" so I figured you knew more than me. LOL!!!! But larvel fish? Blech...not for me. Sea mammals would've been my goal; whales, dolohins, seals, and so on. They still hold a gigantic fascination for me. I'm heading out to SeaWorld next weekend, and will take my camera with me; but that's as close as I can get to them (sadly)...drat chemistry, anyway. ;)

Best-
Noni

[Scottes]

Geez, they're just fantastic. I've been on many whale watches and never saw action like this!

[Richard51]

Absolutely great photos!! I went whale watching off the Eastern coast, (Mass.) and we thought WE saw lots of whales. (8) We saw no action anywhere close to what your photos show. Again, GOOD work, and thanks for sharing.

[ssim]

Man I am sooo jealous. I've always wanted an opportunity like that.

Awesome shots.

[yakbut]

WOW!!! stunning shots thanks for sharing.

[Ron Lacey]

Damn I gotta get me back to Alaska one of these days. Excellent whale photos.

[jforj143]

Great shots now we will have to make plans to go whale watching next migrating season here in Perth.

[TundraBunny]

I use to live in Alaska. Of all the pictures I've seen of Hump Backs or any other of these great mammals, I've never seen a picture of the whale surfacing showing it's baleen. Definately great captures. You're making me second guess the Sigma 135-400. Nahhhh...I'll save up for the 100-400L.

[Persian-Rice]

I love these, but I can't help mentioning that I think they are heavily oversharpened
Personally, I would rather see them a little soft if it means not sharpening them so much.
Other then the sharpening, I think they are great.

[SolPics]

Great shots. I really like the second and fifth ones.

[ngannet]

Phenomenal shots!!! I love the second one, as you hardly ever see their faces in most shots. Great job! I'm going on a whale-watch in a couple weeks. I hope to see something that cool, at least I'll see some seabirds, which I'm really excited about.