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Double Spout


Double Spout
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-09-10
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds MkII, Canon 400mm 2.8 IS
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2010-01-14 8:44
Viewed: 4465
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I am downloading my West Africa images today, so I am uploading a shot from a trip to Alaska in September. We saw many whales - I like this shot as it shows two spouts and the bad weather (one sunny day the entire trip) seems to add atmosphere.

The Icy Strait is a strait in the Alexander Archipelago in southeastern Alaska, at about 58°14′N 135°30′W / 58.233°N 135.5°W / 58.233; -135.5. The strait separates Chichagof Island to the south and the Alaska mainland to the north. The strait is 64 km (40 miles) from its west side at the intersection of the Cross Sound and Glacier Bay to its east side at Chatham Strait and the Lynn Canal. The two largest islands in the strait are Pleasant Island and Lemesurier Island.

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 metres (39–52 ft) and weigh approximately 36,000 kilograms (79,000 lb). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the water. Males produce a complex whale song, which lasts for 10 to 20 minutes and is repeated for hours at a time. The purpose of the song is not yet clear, although it appears to have a role in mating.

Found in oceans and seas around the world, humpback whales typically migrate up to 25,000 kilometres each year. Humpbacks feed only in summer, in polar waters, and migrate to tropical or sub-tropical waters to breed and give birth in the winter. During the winter, humpbacks fast and live off their fat reserves. The species' diet consists mostly of krill and small fish. Humpbacks have a diverse repertoire of feeding methods, including the bubble net feeding technique.

Like other large whales, the humpback was and is a target for the whaling industry. Due to over-hunting, its population fell by an estimated 90% before a whaling moratorium was introduced in 1966. Stocks have since partially recovered; however, entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships, and noise pollution also remain concerns. There are at least 80,000 humpback whales worldwide. Once hunted to the brink of extinction, humpbacks are now sought by whale-watchers (i.e. me), particularly off parts of Australia, Canada, and the United States.
nasokoun, zulfu, nglen, Dis. Ac., CeltickRanger, siggi, boreocypriensis, jaycee, Eileen, tuslaw, Maged, eng55, anel, rousettus has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

hello James,
very interesting and beautiful moment, I like the clouded over atmosphere, fine photo!
keep photographing! TFS
Nasos

great capture, TFS Ori

Hi James,

This is a nice photo and a well captured moment of these two spurts of water. The gloomy weather creates a good atmosphere.
Good capture and TFS

Sion

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 685 W: 0 N: 2] (43)
  • [2010-01-14 10:20]

Hello James, wonderful shot of humpback whales's spouts.
Great composition and scene.
TFS and G's,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2010-01-14 10:47]

Hi James. This is a fantastic picture of the two whales. A fine shot with the water spouts against the dark incoming clouds. Well seen and taken. All with interesting notes. TFS.
Nick..

Hello James,

what an very good shot from this wales with spouts.
Good pov.
Well done.

Gert

Hola coleccionista de Países!!

Nos presentas un magnífico trabajo de gran riqueza cromática, hábil composición y gran dinamismo.
Original, ya que sin ver al animal puedes imaginarlo.
Buena profundidad de campo y un ambiente que recreas de manera fantástica: enhorabuena.

Un abrazo: Josep Ignasi.

hello James

a very beautiful moment you lived and photographed
of these whales with spouts, fine POV, DOF, fine focus
sharpness and details, excellent focus between the
highlights an the shadows, the 2 birds in-flight
it is a beautiful plus to the photo, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2010-01-14 13:27]

Hallo James.
Graceful capture of two whales.What a privelage to have experienced that wonderful moment.Great shot and TFS.
Best regards Siggi

H Bro James,

Awesome and great timely scene capture! You frozed the double spout of Megapteran whale very nicely.
TFS and Have a grat night!
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2010-01-14 14:41]

Hi James,this is not truely a spectacle of everyday....ehehe...you was lucky to meet this wonderful moment and a great photographer to take that so perfeclty whit great quality and a very nice composition too.My doubles compliments today..have a nice time,Luciano

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2010-01-14 14:48]

Hello James,
A exciting and unique moment you got here. Two spouts at the same time. And that all against a splendid dark BG makes this photo to something special. Great atmosphere. Very good composition.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2010-01-14 15:27]

Hi James,

Do you ever stay home???? These whales are marvelous and I love the water spouts. You were quick on the trigger to capture these. Sorry about the weather you had in Alaska. We were there in an August and I guess the one month makes a huge difference.

Jane

Wow! Very special timing to have your camera ready and capture this moment with the two whales spouting. Good job. I believe the darkened sky really gives a better background for your picture. TFS
Eileen

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2010-01-14 18:28]

This IS a very cool picture, James.
The spray really stands out against the dark sky.
Since different kinds of whales have differently shaped spouts,
this is a very interesting shot.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2010-01-14 19:16]

Hello James,
Perfectly timed shot!! Love the way the sprays seemed to be illuminated from behind. Your photo seems to create a mood of both wonder and solitude. Very nice and pleasant to view!!!
Ron

  • Great 
  • Maged (218)
  • [2010-01-15 0:10]

Hello James
Such a great capture, the sunlight gave this Spouts a magic looking while the BG is dark.
Fantastic timing.


Best Regards
Maged

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1256 W: 42 N: 1976] (5892)
  • [2010-01-15 0:30]

Hi James,
Lovely moment.Well caught,framed and composed.Exposure is spot on,details are crisp clear.I liked visual impact a lot.
Thanks for posting..

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2010-01-15 1:54]

Hello James,
What an original posting. Very funny to see this two simultaneous spouts. I was also interested to read your note about the Humpack wales. Amazing the way they live between migrations and that they fast in winter. Their wight must reduce considerably in this time!
Kind regards
Anne

Hello James
I will wait your downloaded post for another day, but this is great shot for famous Humpback Whale with double spout against dark of BG. splendid scene, superb colors and composition.
nice to read your informative notes. thanks for sharing and my special thanks to you for your e-post. I am very pleasure learning your experinces and your news.
have a nice weekend
Ahmet

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