Humpback Whales

[emydura]

The family was up at Port Macquarie the week before last to escape the Canberra cold. I was amazed how many whales I could see marching up the coast on their migration from Antartica. It was the first time I had ever seen a whale in the flesh. On one day I saw six different pods and I wasn't even trying. The Humpback Whale numbers are actually growing rapidly. At the end of the 1960's their numbers were down to 200-300 individuals along the coast of Australia. Since the whaling ban, their numbers have increased to currently around 33,000 (close to pre-whaling days). Their population is doubling every seven years - an incredible rate of increase and there is no sign this is declining.

My daughter and I took a tour out to see them where I snapped these photos.

 

[kiwi]

Wow. You are so lucky to witness something as awesome as that

 

[kiwi]

Great photos by the way

 

[troy]

I thought aussies hated whales

 

[Ozpaph]

I thought aussies hated whales

Only on the 'barbie' (BBQ)

 

[Ozpaph]

Great photos David.
Any tech details?

 

[chris20]

Awesome. Glad they are increasing.

 

[troy]

Whales are wonderful mammals, they make the same sound as our planetary electromagnetic sound waves in the outer atmosphere, the aussie statement I made was just fecetious...lol..

 

[Ozpaph]

so was mine.........

 

[suzyquec]

Awesome, I love humpbacks. When I was on an Alaska cruise years ago was the only time I have seen them in the wild. Thank you for these wonderful photos!
Suzy

 

[NYEric]

Nice, thanks for sharing. Don't let Trump hear they are coming back or he will make it legal to hunt them!

 

[kiwi]

Fake whales

 

[abax]

Wonderful photos and fandamntastic news that the humpbacks are increasing.
I've only seen whales from a distance and it thrilled me. To get up so close
must have been overwhelming!

 

[emydura]

Great photos David.

Any tech details?

I shot with a 200 mm lens. I probably could have done with a bit more reach - maybe 300 mm would have been good. I just set the camera on auto ISO at 1/2000 of a second to freeze the movement. There was a professional photographer and they were using 1/2000 of a second as well. F 6.3. ISO 140. When the whale jumped I just pressed the shutter in continuous mode.

 

[Ozpaph]

thanks.
Always good to get pro tips - very fast shutter

 

[Phragper]

what an awesome experience. Thanks for the photos

 

[Tom-DE]

Awesome photos!