Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Fire breathing humpback
‹ PreviousWildlife GalleryNext ›

Fire breathing humpback

by Mark Turner

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 17, 2011374 views16 comments
Our group had been told about being able to catch some back light while the humpbacks were blowing and it can look like fire. I caught this one late into a sunset. I played with increasing the saturation and it gives a more dramatic effect, but I thought I'd post with just some minor levels and curves adjustments for a more realistic look.

Canon 5D MkII
EF70-200mm f2.8L IS USM @148mm
1/400s @f/6.3
ISO 800

Comments

16 comments
Comment posted by Max Waugh on August 17, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Mark, that's pretty cool. I assume the faint glowing areas to the right are more residual mist, or is this some sort of lens flare?

Max
Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments
Comment posted by Verdon on August 17, 2011 at 12:23 PM
AWESOME !!! :toast:
Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments
Comment posted by Clinton Bauder on August 17, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Wow, neat. I think it looks great and wouldn't want to do more post-processing on it unless maybe to darken the mountains in the background a bit or maybe doing some noise reduction. The light on the water and the spout is absolutely beautiful as presented. Well done. :toast:

Clinton
Registered on December 8, 2009, 31 Posts, 231 Comments
Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 17, 2011 at 1:44 PM
What, this is the realistic look!? Incredible, this really looks like fire. I would certainly not make it more dramatic than reality already is in this case Mark. All I would do is some noise reduction (the larger image clearly shows noise). Thanks for sharing this amazing phenomenon.
Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments
Comment posted by Carol Nichols on August 17, 2011 at 2:11 PM
Now that's an amazing photograph! :toast:
Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments
Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on August 17, 2011 at 2:20 PM
Bravo :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Turner on August 17, 2011 at 3:56 PM
Max, yes this was mist from the other whales. There were three and you can see a little of the wake of the one that created the mist to the right. Thanks for the comments.
Registered on December 3, 2005, 39 Posts, 109 Comments
Comment posted by Butch Lama on August 17, 2011 at 9:21 PM
Incredible shot... :toast:
Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on August 18, 2011 at 3:23 AM
That's nicely done Mark! Gives the impression of being a water dragon :biggrin:
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on August 18, 2011 at 5:22 PM
Super Cool :cool: Perfect timing Mark, sweet photo :toast:

Ken Archer
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments
Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on August 19, 2011 at 8:39 AM
This is unbelievable stuff! :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 19, 2011 at 10:26 AM
Cool! I would love to see this!
Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments
Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on August 19, 2011 at 2:49 PM
Wow ! never seen anything like this.
Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments
Comment posted by Joe James on August 19, 2011 at 9:45 PM
Really cool shot Mark. Never would have thought you could get that effect...well done!
Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments
Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on August 21, 2011 at 11:59 AM
A terrific frame, very well captured !!!
Jagdeep Rajput :toast:
Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments
Comment posted by Sandipan Dutta on August 22, 2011 at 1:56 PM
This is a breathtaking sight ...
Registered on March 9, 2009, 171 Posts, 493 Comments