Getting the Eye!

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 29, 2012389 views16 comments

Getting the Eye!

It's almost a magical experience to lock eyes with several species of animals - it feels almost as though some form of ancestral bond is being revived or renewed. I've experienced it many times with wolves and bears and each time is as exhilarating as the first. But when this fully grown Humpback Whale emerged from the water and froze in place and gave me (or us?) the eye...well..it was simply an unforgettable moment! I won't say "...you haven't lived until you've looked into the eye of a whale..." - but I'm tempted to!

This behaviour - when a whale raises its head above water and remains motionless for a few seconds in a manner akin to treading water - is known as spyhopping. Spyhopping is not an uncommon behaviour with some species of whales or dolphins (such as Killer Whales) and has even been known to occur in Great White Sharks and Blacktip Reef Sharks. But this was the first time I had ever observed the behaviour in humpbacks. Its function? Pretty much as you'd guess - to have a look around. Why a humpback would care about what's going on above the water (especially given that everything it feeds on is under the water's surface) is anybody's guess, but I have to say I feel privileged that this whale deemed us worth a look!

For those who might be wondering - the "crusty-looking" orange mass on the underside of the whale's lower jaw are barnacles. And most of the birds visible on the surface of the water are Rhinoceros Auklets.

Subject: Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeagnliae) surveying its surroundings
Location: Johnstone Strait Region, northern Vancouver island, BC, Canada
Camera: Nikon D4
Lens: Nikkor 400mm f2.8 VRII lens - hand-held. VR on and in "Normal" mode.
Exposure: 1/2000s @ f6.3; ISO 900. No compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.
Crop: This is about 75% of full frame image.

Additional details about the image (including processing details) available here:

http://www.naturalart.ca/galleries/latest/.

Comments and critiques welcomed - probably best to view the larger version prior to doing so!

Cheers...

Brad

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Clinton Bauder on October 29, 2012 at 5:10 PM

Hi Brad,

Very nice. Not much to criticize here - maybe just a bit more room for the sky since the tree in the upper right reaches the boundary? Love this part of the world. Can't wait to get back.

Is the white spot near the eye a catchlight on the eye proper or is the eye actually the opening below that?

Clinton

Registered on December 8, 2009, 31 Posts, 231 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on October 29, 2012 at 5:26 PM

Hey Clinton,

You're looking at the "white" of the eye there (cornea, not iris)...in the full resolution file you can see the iris and where it ends quite clearly.

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on October 29, 2012 at 7:53 PM

Holy cow, this is impressive! Beautiful detail in the black body of the whale. The addition of the auklets is a nice bonus and helps to add depth. Really like the composition! I know that these inlets can be misty and there is quite a bit of distance to the far shore but I wonder if the vibrancy of the image could be enhanced a little to punch up the color and contrast. As an aside, there was an interesting discussion about a study on human caused whale mortality on CBC Radio Quirks and Quarks this weekend, hump backs are vulnerable to gill nets. They are small enough to get entangled and drown, not big enough to break free and drag the gear (and die slowly, as is the case with larger species).

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on October 29, 2012 at 9:35 PM

Very impressive!! Like it just as it is posted. Thanks for sharing this unique moment.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on October 30, 2012 at 11:08 AM

What a treat this has to be to experience this in person. Something I've got to get checked off my bucket list!!
Excellent image showing the whale with all the barnacles and accompanying auklets who seem to be used to the whale emerging from the water. Love the eye detail too!
Is it common to see these whales on your bear photography tours?

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on October 30, 2012 at 11:28 AM

Humpbacks were the surprise highlight during my last GBR trip (enjoyed them even more than the spirit bears), and I can appreciate the difficulty of achieving this. Nice job, Brad. I agree with Clinton about the top edge crop, though that's a very minor detail.

Max

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

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on October 30, 2012 at 12:45 PM

This photo really captures the feeling of the experience. If you want to heighten it a bit, get in the water with them. There's nothing quite like being underwater with a big animal. It makes you realize that we are all just guests in their world for a brief moment. Sometimes all you get is a few seconds. One of my favorite photographers of this realm is Paul Nicklen. http://paulnicklen.com/

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Hahn on October 30, 2012 at 1:12 PM

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It blows me away seeing this picture and just trying to see myself in your place. Has to be an incredible experience.

Rich Hahn

Registered on August 16, 2007, 14 Posts, 151 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 30, 2012 at 3:38 PM

I can only imagine what being there must have been like, sounds and looks like a once in a lifetime event.

An awesome photograph Brad!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on October 30, 2012 at 6:12 PM

Way to cool, there is something about eye contact that really draws you into the image to imagine what it must of been like to have been there to experience that moment. Wonderful timing to get this, excellent shot Brad.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on October 30, 2012 at 10:15 PM

Hi all,

Thanks for the feedback...definitely appreciated. A few specific responses:

1. Gary: Thanks for the great feedback. On your idea re: increasing contrast and saturation: I considered that, but then intentionally chose to keep the background subdued - both to mimic the original scene and to keep ALL the attention on the whale. Different strokes...

2. Richard: You asked: "Is it common to see these whales on your bear photography tours?"

One of my photo tours is dedicated to aquatic mammals of the northern Pacific Coast - and humpbacks are one of our primary target species (this shot came from this summer's aquatic mammals photo tour). And, Humpbacks are becoming very common in the area where we "chase" Spirit Bears in the Great Bear Rainforest and we have been seeing a lot of bubble-netting and breaching. They're quickly becoming "star attractions" of that tour too!

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on October 30, 2012 at 11:36 PM

After seeing this image, especially the larger photo, and not having looked into the eye of a whale, I must admit I haven't lived! Not yet, anyway! But, someday, I'll start living.... and living it up!

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

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on October 31, 2012 at 6:24 AM

The large version is superb (were the eye really shines!) and the position of the humpback in the frame is very nice. Great stuff as usual, must have been a wonderfull experience!

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Jamie Douglas on October 31, 2012 at 11:38 PM

Whoa I had a humpback spy hop almost an arms reach from a boat last month but I never knew they came so far out of the water. During mny encounter the whale raised his jaw and then went back under. The eye contact is superb and this must have been a special moment.

Registered on July 16, 2012, 10 Posts, 87 Comments

Comment posted by Cam Held on November 1, 2012 at 2:51 PM

Brad,
Never seen anything like it. Very nice image, and an amazing behavior! As far as your images go, it doesn't quite grab me and go WOW!!!! like some do (perhaps the vibrancy)- but at the same time, once you look everything is exactly how it should be. So absolutely no nits- I like it a lot, but perhaps its just isn't as eye catching as some of your shots! Really jealous you got to see a humpback spy-hop!
-Cam

Registered on November 12, 2009, 59 Posts, 398 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on November 3, 2012 at 1:37 PM

This is a shot to die for...excellent job, you must have been (and probably still are) chuffed to bits with yourself

Grt, Ingrid.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments