Celebrating the...

Gallery: WildlifePosted January 15, 2013395 views10 comments

Celebrating the Wild Life 2

As the image title hints at, this is the second image in a series of shots I captured back in 2011. I posted the first over a year ago...and there's seven in the series. So...at this rate I'll wrap it up early in 2018...when our digital cameras are obsolete and we're all shooting with Magnetic Resonating Devices (MRD's)!

During seminars, slideshows, lectures, or even casual conversations with other photographers I'm often asked which of my images is my all-time favourite. I usually reply with something like..."the next one". And there's some truth to this - one of the great things about wildlife photography is that there's always strong anticipation and enthusiasm about that "next" image! It's also equally true that while I normally do have ONE favourite image at any one instant in time, but it changes ALL the time. But I have less trouble giving a definitive and non-varying answer to the question "Which is your all-time favourite sequence of images?" Well...you're looking at one of the shots in that sequence right now! I hope that sometime in the future I can say I have a sequence I like better than this one, but if I don't...well...I could live with that.

So...while this whole sequence captures less than a second of my total lifetime and life experiences, it's indelibly imprinted in my mind and seeing the full sequence of images never fails to bring a smile to my face.

For those of you who aren't patient enough to wait until 2018, the first shot in the series can be seen here, with the remaining 6 shots in sequence here. The "gory details" of the shooting situation (and all the processing details too) are best explained on the first shot in the sequence (which, if you're not already confused enough, is this one!).

Subject: Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeagnliae) in full breach
Location: Johnston's Strait region of north Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Camera: Nikon D3s
Lens: Nikkor 600mm f4 VRII lens supported on carbon fibre Gitzo 1348 tripod with Wimberley head
Exposure: 1/2000s @ f5; ISO 1600. +0.67 stop compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.
Crop: Very minor - this is about 95% of the full-frame image

Comments and critiques welcomed!

Cheers...

Brad

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on January 15, 2013 at 9:14 PM

Love the way the water streams off the whale. I am amazed that a creature this size can almost fly. Awesome shot.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Bob&Charly Nelson on January 15, 2013 at 10:22 PM

Superb capture Brad! This is just wonderful in my opinion.
Bob

Registered on October 27, 2005, 289 Posts, 4202 Comments

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on January 15, 2013 at 11:07 PM

Brad ..thats an outstanding frame... awe struck ...I havent got too many words to express ...love this one ...a cracker of an image ..

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by Chet Dowell on January 16, 2013 at 8:44 AM

This is an awesome image, Brad.. I love the power and grace of the whale displayed in a gorgeous setting. Great work!!!! Chet

Registered on December 3, 2012, 237 Posts, 1171 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on January 16, 2013 at 10:17 AM

Hmmm, I wish for a bit more eye-contact here Brad. Just pulling your leg of course

; this is a super image! The larger post is a must see. Nothing else to add.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on January 16, 2013 at 10:39 AM

Hey Vincent,

I was SURE it would be Jerry who would comment on the lack of eye contact, not you!

Note to Jerry: I was going to add a line in the commentary apologizing for the lack of eye contact in this shot but forgot. So consider this my apology!!

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on January 16, 2013 at 3:16 PM

I viewed the series and although others could be considered equal, I decided I liked this one the best for a couple of reasons. First, the "ripping" from the water is beautifully shown by the churning surface and the amount of water streaming off the body. I also liked this as the most upright/vertical presentation. The subtle shapes of the distant background and the fog over the water make for a composition elevating this to "exquisite."

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by James Allen on January 16, 2013 at 4:15 PM

I really like the water streaming off the whale's body in the large version as well as the anticipation of an impending enormous splash. Really nicely done!

Registered on December 10, 2012, 14 Posts, 232 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Clinch on January 16, 2013 at 6:47 PM

Amazing shot! I really like how the environmental colors and patterns work with those of the whale. I can only imagine what it sounded like when it landed.

Registered on January 5, 2013, 37 Posts, 261 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Runco on January 18, 2013 at 11:56 PM

Great shot Brad, I love the water beading off of the whale, not to mention the action captured. What an incredible experience.

Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments