Humpback Encounter
Sep 23, 2016 07:47:40 #
Last Saturday, we joined a whale watch tour from Petit Passage on the Digby Neck of western Nova Scotia. The weather was beautiful and the seas calm. Earlier in the day we had overheard someone say they had taken a whale watch and had not seen a whale at all. The kind woman who gave us our tickets said the whales had begun to move down the coast of Long Island headed south for the winter, so we were apprehensive.
For the first 20 minutes, we scanned the horizon and saw no blows or breaches or other evidence of whales.
Then the captain quickly slowed to a crawl and pointed to the port. Two humpbacks! Probably mother and calf.
I had my 300mm lens on...and it was helpful...for a short time...until the whales came up next to the boat and put on a 40 minute performance right underneath us.
I quickly and wisely decided to change lenses.
The whales came within touching distance, nudging the boat and moving from side-to-side.
One of the challenges was to keep "blow" off the lens.
The other was shooting with 45 people racing quickly from one side to the other. I got the spyhop sequence because I anticipated and moved to the starboard side while everyone was crowding the port side.
After whale watching in Maui, Alaska, and Gansbei South Africa, I consider this the best.
For the first 20 minutes, we scanned the horizon and saw no blows or breaches or other evidence of whales.
Then the captain quickly slowed to a crawl and pointed to the port. Two humpbacks! Probably mother and calf.
I had my 300mm lens on...and it was helpful...for a short time...until the whales came up next to the boat and put on a 40 minute performance right underneath us.
I quickly and wisely decided to change lenses.
The whales came within touching distance, nudging the boat and moving from side-to-side.
One of the challenges was to keep "blow" off the lens.
The other was shooting with 45 people racing quickly from one side to the other. I got the spyhop sequence because I anticipated and moved to the starboard side while everyone was crowding the port side.
After whale watching in Maui, Alaska, and Gansbei South Africa, I consider this the best.
Humpback Ahoy
(Download)
Only a Mom Could Love that Mug
(Download)
Spyhop Blow
(Download)
Spyhop on the Starboard Bow
(Download)
Every Tail is Unique
(Download)
(Download)
Sep 23, 2016 07:55:21 #
Sep 23, 2016 07:56:18 #
Sep 23, 2016 07:56:38 #
Sep 23, 2016 07:57:51 #
Sep 23, 2016 07:59:14 #
Sep 23, 2016 08:01:48 #
Many thanks, Chase. The PP was interesting with all the water reflections when shooting to the port side.
Sep 23, 2016 08:02:22 #
Sep 23, 2016 08:03:20 #
Gitchigumi wrote:
What fun! 👍😎👍
The joy of the crowd (interestingly mostly young Chinese working in Halifax) was palpable. Thanks.
Sep 23, 2016 08:04:14 #
nikonbug wrote:
Incredible.
Our feeling too. This was our friends' first whale watch and it is hard to imagine how they will improve on this one.
Sep 23, 2016 08:05:19 #
Cotondog wrote:
And some great whale photos! 
Much better than I ever expected the chance to shoot. Thanks.
Sep 23, 2016 08:07:54 #
Sep 23, 2016 08:12:40 #
Sep 23, 2016 08:13:31 #
Brilliant set Dave, what an amazing experience,
Geoff
Geoff
davefales wrote:
Last Saturday, we joined a whale watch tour from P... (show quote)
Sep 23, 2016 08:32:01 #
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