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Hey You!


Hey You!
Photo Information
Copyright: Cathy Hampton (luvsdogs3) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 108 W: 0 N: 184] (586)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon Powershot S1-IS
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/100 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Whales, Orca's, Sharks and Dolphins!, World of Wales [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-09-05 20:22
Viewed: 2638
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
During our visit to SeaWorld, we had the chance to get close to the orcas. So close we became soaked. See the photo in the workshop for my HUGE photo mistake ( a camera soaked with saltwater). This particular young male kept coming up near us looking for a snack. I thought this shot was worth posting because of the teeth detail.

I have been fortunate to see this beautiful creatures in the wild up in Alaska and outside of the San Juan Islands. Unfortunately all those shots are from such a distance all you can see is black spots.

Orca
Orcinus orca
Orcas are easily recognized by their large size and striking black and white coloration. The dorsal surface and pectoral flippers are black except for a grayish patch (saddle) that lies behind the dorsal fin and a white eyespot located just above and slightly behind each eye. The ventral surface, lower jaw and undersides of the flukes are predominately bright white.

Range: Oceans worldwide; most abundant in the Arctic and Antarctic and in areas of cold-water upwelling.

FUN FACTS
1. Orcas are toothed whales and are the largest member of the dolphin family, Delphinidae.

2. The distinctive coloration of orcas is a type of camouflage known as disruptive coloration in which the color pattern of an animal contradicts the animal's body shape. In the flickering, filtered sunlight of the sea, other animals may not recognize a killer whale as a potential predator.

3. Orcas live in groups called pods. A pod may have less than 5 to about 30 individuals: a mix of males, females, and calves of varying ages. Sometimes, several smaller pods join together to form larger herds of 50 or more whales.

4. A female-dominant social hierarchy exists within a group of orcas. The animals may rank and establish themselves within the hierarchy by behaviors such as tail-slapping, head-butting, jaw-snapping, biting, tooth-raking and various other postures and gestures.

5. Orcas, or killer whales, are apex or top predators in the ocean. Known as "wolves of the sea", killer whales often hunt cooperatively in pods for food; working together to encircle and herd prey into a small area before attacking. When hunting a large whale, a pod of killer whales may attack the whale from several angles. They may also slide out onto sandbars or ice floes in pursuit of prey and are capable of hitting ice floes from below to knock prey into the water.

6. A recent survey of orcas off the coast of New Zealand documented that 23% of males had bent dorsal fins.

7. Orcas are among the fastest swimming marine mammals. They can swim as fast as 48 kph (30 mph), but they usually cruise at much slower speeds, about 3-10 kph (2-6 mph).

Source
annagrace, Janice, greghume, chiliu, TAZ, carper, Runnerduck, dew77, sAner, wallhalla15, liquidsunshine, hummingbird24, magiqa has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To livios: You are rightluvsdogs3 1 09-06 22:02
To sAner: Thanksluvsdogs3 1 09-06 21:55
To greghume: Think soluvsdogs3 1 09-06 21:52
To zakiwi: Camera Okluvsdogs3 1 09-06 21:50
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • optic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 322 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-09-05 22:12]

Hello Cathy,
You did a very nice portrait, i like the clear details & colours, note and composition are great,

J'ai vu votre image dans le workshop je préfère celle-ci!

Thanks for sharing,
Regards,
Christian

LOL at your big faux pas! The workshop was hilarious. Maybe a throw away camera next time you go to Sea World, LOL!

Great post, he looks like he's smiling at you.

Alli

Hey Cathy,

Lovely shot !!! You've handled the exposure really really well. Black and white animals are difficult to shoot. Well done. I also really like the reflexions on the Orca's skin. I trust that your camera is ok.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2005-09-05 23:19]

Ah Cathy, what a super shot of the Orca. And you are nice and close to him too. Very sharp and clear, it is a good shot, well done.

Hi Cathy
Very clear, sharp shot of this beautiful creature. Can I see your reflection on the tip of his nose?

Great shot, Cathy.
Very good timing, great details and colour.
TFS!

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-09-06 2:35]

What a nice portrait you did well. In my mountains I never see this kind of animals. I like the clear details, the beautiful colors and reflection on its head. Interesting note. Thanks for sharing Cathy.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6166] (21070)
  • [2005-09-06 2:58]

Wow, Cathy. That one is a winner. You did a great job with the exposure and the focus, despite your water-soaked debacle. I like the shiny parts on top of his head. Thanks for bringing us such a sharp close-up of this magnificent animal. Congratulations and TFS. : )

Free Willy....

nice shot, beautiful, just beautiful.

it's a nice on Cathy,
fantastic that shining on the whale, very good composition, good in pov and beautiful dof, very good job,
gr. Jaap

Hi Cathy,
Good picture of this orca !
I think that it wasn't easy to take this shot with the refleect of the light on the water.
TFS.
Nico.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-09-06 4:49]

Hello Carhy!
Lovely capture.Lighting,POV,colors,clear details,framing and composition are wonderful.
TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-09-06 6:55]
  • [+]

This is a very nice picture Cathy. Composition is perfect. Exposure is very good and the POV is great. It's also nice and sharp. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Ps-I've added this picture to a theme I've created in the past.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-09-06 12:57]
  • [+]

Cathy, this is nice, very nice.

I've never seen a whale all over my life, and I guess I'll never see one. I live far from the sea, I don't travel a lot...

Back to the shot: I do enjoy colors, composition and sharpness. A question: did you use the best resolution of the camera? I guess so, for I have the feeling the quality of the image is really excellent.

Best regards.

Lívio

Hi Cathy, it's not a shark but he had could play in "Jaws".
Very nice shot
Guy

Cathy, a nice capture. Composition is great and good colours too. A good one, very well done.

  • Great 
  • Vicky Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 53 W: 0 N: 94] (468)
  • [2005-09-06 16:49]

Hi Cathy,
He looks like he's laughing at the mess he made of your camera!
Excellent exposure and detail. It couldn't have been easy, but you really managed it well. It was worth getting soaked for....
Good job.
Best wishes, Vicky

Very nice shot Cathy,
Very good exposure, nicely composed and well detailed.
Very well captured, thanks for posting.
I like the WS post too.

Cathy,
Fine picture. great focus and wonderful colors. The teeth have great detail!
Good work.
Scott

Hello Cathy,

I love these guys and have never seen one this close before.

Rule of thumb: when going to an aquatic or comedy show, never get too close to the front. This way you aren't the target...

Great ws, even with the water, thank you so much for sharing them with us.

This excellent picture reminds me of my visits to Sea World in Florida. The killer whale show is amazing - but must be a dangerous game for the people involved. I remember we were recommended to sit high up, not to get wet. TFS!
Monica

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