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Diving Sperm Whale


Diving Sperm Whale
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1297 W: 0 N: 5080] (15138)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-07-26
Categories: Mammals
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-03-10 11:44
Viewed: 972
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I photographed this Sperm Whale in the waters off Andenes, where an Ocean Trench is located close to shore. This makes the area ideal for Sperm Whales which dive to great depths after their food. The geography of the area is very similar to the other famous Sperm Whale site at Kaikoura in New Zealand. I had been trying to get a 'classic' shot of a whale diving for years. To take this I was clinging to the ships side half-way down some steps - but who cares!

The Sperm whale has a mouth full of conical teeth located only in the lower jaw. They fit into sockets in the roof of the mouth. They look pretty mean, but probably aren't all that important in feeding. Most of the items recovered from Sperm whale stomachs are not even chewed, but swallowed whole. An intact 40 foot-long giant squid weighing 440 pounds was recovered from a Sperm whale. Sperm whales with severely mangled jaws have been seen in perfect health, apparently catching food just fine without the complete use of their teeth. This doesn't mean that the squid doesn't fight back. Many Sperm whales have scars from encounters with squid, including big sucker marks on their head and snout. The sucker disks on giant squid contain sharp hooks to dig into prey. They also dig into Sperm whales, leaving lifelong scars.

Taken with a Canon 10D
stevkds, peter_stoeckl, JoseMiguel, Adanac, Olof_O, pablominto, bobcat08, yasin has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello James.

Excellent picture, nice composition and colors.

Regards.
Jose Luis.

hi james,
nice capture,
the water falling back in the ocean looks beautiful,
good timing, well composed shot,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hi James,

interesting and rare shot. Full of energy.. Well done. tfs.Stev

Hello James,
and eye catching image od dynamic action captured at the very right moment, coming with interesting notes. Thank you!
Best regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • trinko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 610 W: 83 N: 324] (4310)
  • [2007-03-10 13:08]

nice view could use some sharpening

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-03-10 13:21]

Hello James

WOW What a beautiful photo.I am hoping to go whale watching this year in the Gaspe region.I think the timing is excellent ,and the water pouring off the tail is wonderful.The focus is spot on,and the colours are well saturated.Glad to see you did not go "overboard" trying to get this shot.LOL.A brilliant post.TFS

Rob

Hello James
What a great pos of this Whale,
Perfect moment to shoot,Fantastic
lighting,Welldone.

Regards
Fartash

Hi james,
Great moment captured here!
I like how the massive tail splash all that water when going down.
Their weight is visible in the way it curves the tail downwards.
You made a good choice for the composition.
Congratulations and thanks for share.
My best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15128)
  • [2007-03-10 15:59]

Hello James,
Excellent capture, love the water shedding off that powerful tail. Thanks for sharing.
Rick

Hello James,
Action is well captured, excellent image!
Freeze is perfect, and the framing works well here...
Attractive colours and details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

An excellent shot! This is super fantastic James, I wish this one were mine. Perfect exposure. I love how the water is rolling off the fin. :)

brilliant moment, colors and composition.
TFS
JM

You have so many varied shots from so many places! I really like this one. The sharpness and action are super. I love the graceful lines of this great tail. My husband and I have boated, in our own Zodiac, with killer whales, orcas, but I never got a good shot of a whale's tail like this. I always wanted to. Nice work.

Evelynn : )

Hi James :)

WOW! What an Awesome capture, I love all of the water flowing back off into the sea. Great sharpness, Amazing POV, perfect colour saturation. I love this photograph!

Ange

Hello James,

Thanks again for your E-mail. You see I find im. Indeed this better work (-: What a beautiful shot, a specially the water falling back in the ocean. Attractive colours and details. I have never thought (and seen) that their skin was a little brown. Nice work. Best wishes and TFS BOB

  • Great 
  • yasin Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 31 W: 1 N: 43] (129)
  • [2008-06-09 0:18]

Halo James,
Beautiful captured of the Sperm Whale. Great composition with the waters that fallen from the huge tail.
TFS!
Best regards from Indonesia
Yasin

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