California Gray Whale

Gallery: WildlifePosted January 26, 201332,767 views4 comments

It pays to have your camera ready at all times, ideally with the settings such that if something amazing happens you will be ready.

My buddies Rob and Allison and I were just finishing a very nice dive at Point Lobos State Reserve in Carmel this morning when I started thinking I was hallucinating the giant gray submarine right in front of us. Fortunately I hadn't put my camera away and even more fortunately the exposure was right. I mashed the shutter and hoped the AF was up to the task. Certainly I didn't have time to think about anything! Seeing such an amazing beast up close like this was amazing enough but to get a decent picture out of the deal really has made my week!

This is pretty much as is from the camera with a slight bump in contrast and nothing else. I was too excited to bother much with post processing before sharing.

Nikon D200, ISO 200, f/5, 1/50th
Tokina 10-17 at 10mm, Subal Housing

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on January 26, 2013 at 8:46 PM

Wow, what an amazing encounter. I've pretty much given up on the idea of trying underwater photography again, but I'd do it for something like this.

Max

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

Comment posted by Benjamin Olson on January 27, 2013 at 10:58 AM

I agree with Max, what an amazing encounter! I can't imagine how it must feel to share the same water with such a graceful creature! I like the wide perspective that properly shows the whale in its environment. Well done.

Registered on April 7, 2007, 169 Posts, 725 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 27, 2013 at 8:27 PM

Have your camera ready, with appropriate settings at all times! Everyone taking notes on that!!! Technical aspects and composition of the image look good. If you are going to take this back into your image editing software, I might push the contrast and vibrancy a little bit to adjust for the natural murkiness of the setting. A really cool photo Clinton, one you can show your grand kid and say "I was there son"!

(I should add that my internet is on the fritz at home this weekend and I'm viewing this on a little dell monitor at my workplace, so I may not be seeing these images to their full glory)

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on January 28, 2013 at 2:03 PM

A quick web search told me these whales range from 16' at birth to 50', so I am assuming this is an adult, very large subject! Big wow! I would want to maximize detail in post processing to better define the head region, all without making it look unnatural. The bits of underwater plants and suspended small fish are great bonus to add context and interest to the negative portions of the frame. Shape of the whale makes a good composition, too! Excellent encounter and congratulations on being prepared to capture and share!

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