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Whale photography tricks of the trade

Whale photography tricks of the trade

Whale photography: tricks of the trade with Scott Portelli ??? Part 1

Everyone wants to take that elusive breach shot or capture a perfect tail fluke just before a humpback dives, but it can sometimes take a little patience and know how to help you achieve those special moments. Here are some technique tips to make your quest a little easier.

Scott Portelli is an award-winning professional wildlife and underwater photographer. With a passion for the ocean and an affinity with cetaceans including whales, Scott has spent the last decade working with humpbacks, photographing and filming their behaviour both above and below the waves.
In Part 1 Scott shares with the Wild About Whales community his top technique tips for capturing the perfect whale image.

Be poised and ready

Right place, right time

Keep focused

A glaring issue

Each of these topics are explained at Whale photography: tricks of the trade with Scott Portelli ??? Part 1
In the next edition of this two part series, Scott shares his top tips when it comes to your equipment, lenses, settings, filters and more.

Whale photography: tricks of the trade with Scott Portelli ??? Part 1

Whale News Events Currently on our Sonar 8


Whale News Events Currently on our Sonar at Whales Without Borders.

  • SeaWorld Scientist:??Whale??Captivity Is No Longer Educational
  • Bolivia: Mysterious??Whales??Unearthed 3800 Meters Above Sea Level
  • Whales??Invade New York!
  • Massive Donation to Help Sea Shepherd Create Perfect Anti-Whaling??Ship
  • South Carolina waters proposed as right??whale??calving critical habitat
  • NOAA tweaks gear marking requirement

    • SeaWorld Scientist:??Whale??Captivity Is No Longer EducationalSeaWorld Scientist:??Whale??Captivity Is No Longer Educational
    The clip is from the 2011 documentary “A Fall From Freedom” about the captive??whale and dolphin industry that was just unearthed by The Earth Island Institute’s Dolphin Project.

     
    Bolivia: Mysterious??Whales??Unearthed 3800 Meters Above Sea LevelBolivia: Mysterious??Whales??Unearthed 3800 Meters Above Sea Level
    LaPaz | Dozens of whale carcasses have been unearthed under Pre-Columbian earth mounds near the city of LaPaz at an altitude of more than 3,800 meters above sea level, a baffling discovery admit archaeologists from LaPaz University.

     
    Whales??Invade New York! Whales??Invade New York
    An unusually large number of humpback??whales??have been spotted in the waters around New York City. For the past few years, more and more humpback whales have been spotted near the city???s shores.

     
    Massive Donation to Help Sea Shepherd Create Perfect Anti-Whaling??ShipMassive Donation to Help Sea Shepherd Create Perfect Anti-Whaling??Ship
    With an unprecedented donation now secure, the conservation group Sea Shepherd looks to invest in a powerful piece of machinery to patrol the ocean. The maritime activist organization was been awarded $11.8 million at the Good Money Gala in Amsterdam via the Dutch Postcode Lottery??

     
    South Carolina waters proposed as right??whale??calving critical habitatSouth Carolina waters proposed as right??whale??calving critical habitat
    The number of calves born to imperiled right whales appears to be dropping in recent years, just as conservation efforts appeared to be turning the corner for the species. Right whales are the rarest of the large whales, 40-ton creatures

     
    NOAA tweaks Gear Marking RequirementNOAA tweaks gear marking requirement
    New rules for fishing gear intended to protect whales, set to go into effect June 1, include adding special marks to buoy lines on gear set outside a Maine exemption line. Any lobster gear set outside that line must have vertical lines marked at the top, middle and bottom with 12-inch red marks. HOWEVER, Most of Maine state waters are inside the exemption line designated in the rule

     

    Whale News Events Currently on our Sonar 7


    Whale News Events Currently on our Sonar at Whales Without Borders.


  • “Rare Longman???s Beaked Whale freed from nets;”
  • “Sperm whales target fishing boats off Alaska;”
  • “Whale Tales 2015: February 13-16 Learn more about Whales;”
  • “Baleen Whale Skulls have acoustic properties;”
  • “Gray??Whales??breeding off San Diego coast;”
  • “Whale??Walk makes mark and is now tradition;”
  • “The Big Alaska Show Radio Interviews Whales Without Borders;”


    • Fishermen catch rare Longman???s Beaked Whale off Thatta’s coast
    KARACHI: The Longman’s Beaked Whale released back to the Arabian Sea. Fishermen ensnared a rare Longman???s Beaked Whale off Thatta???s coast, Pakistan. A rescue operation successfully untangled the whale after a 30 minute struggle.

     Sperm whales target fishing boats for an easy mealA Priceless Museum Artifact, But in the Ocean
    Sperm whales, the ocean’s largest predators, have been targeting the boats of black cod fishermen and swiping their catch off their lines.

     
    Whales Without Borders Featured PostWhale Tales 2015: February 13-16Whale Tales 2015: February 13-16
    Whale Tales is a unique opportunity to meet some of the world???s leading researchers and photographers and hear their latest findings.??????Hosted by Whale Trust Maui

     
    Gray??whales??breeding off San Diego’s coastlineGray??whales??breeding off San Diego's coastline
    Gray whales are switching up their breeding habits off San Diego’s coastline. The animals typically pass during their migration pattern, but some incredible new video suggests something unusual is going on.

     
    Whales Without Borders Featured PostBaleen??Whales??Can Feel it in Their BonesBaleen??Whales??Can Feel it in Their Bones
    A first of its kind study sheds light on the elusive subject of whale noises. Researchers have discovered that the skulls of baleen whales have acoustic properties that allow them to detect low frequency waves. In other words, they hear with their bones.

     
    Whale??Walk makes mark at Doheny Whale??Walk makes mark at Doheny
    DANA POINT ??? Artists zip from whale to whale on a skateboard, cans of spray paint in hand, making sure massive mammals come to life on the boardwalk.

     
    Whales Without Borders Featured PostWhales Without Borders radio interview on The Big Alaska Show.Whales Without Borders www.whaleswithoutborders.info
    Listen to my recent Whales Without Borders radio interview on The Big Alaska Show. We chat about many things including recent whale news and events and technology advances.

    Whale News Events Currently on our Sonar at Whales Without Borders

    Whales Flying Across the Ocean and It Looks Like a Movie Scene

    Whales Flying Across the Ocean

    Whales Flying Across the Ocean and very creative videos.

    A Drone Caught These Whales Flying Across the Ocean and It Looks Like a Movie Scene


    From the footage the scientists were able to differentiate the whales that were sickly and the whales that were pregnant. They have already discovered several pregnancies that were previously undetectable.
    Cool thing about the drone is that from 10 meters above water level its noise is undetectable, which means that it???s able to catch footage of the whales??? natural behavior. In some cases it almost looks like a scene out of ???Fantasia 2000.???

    Whales Flying Across the Ocean and It Looks Like a Movie Scene is very creative set of videos.
    Watch them here…

    Adopt Killer Whale program Oceana

    Adopt Killer Whale program Oceana

    Killer whales are susceptible to toxins in the water, such as oil and other pollution


    Adopt Killer Whale program Oceana

    Intelligent, vocal and highly sociable, killer whales are the largest hunters of warm-blooded prey. Their diet includes fish, squid, birds, seals and other whales. Their hunting strategy is remarkably varied: they deliberately upend ice floes to tip seals into the sea and they even lunge onto beaches to catch seals lying near the waterline.
    How Your Adoption Helps Protect Killer Whales: Killer whales and other marine creatures are susceptible to toxins in the water, such as oil and other pollution. Oceana works to protect marine mammals such as the killer whale from harm by advocating for clean, safe energy solutions. All donations go towards making our world’s oceans healthier and safer, for generations to come.

    Why Make an Adoption – Adopt Killer Whale program Oceana?
    Many of the world???s most iconic creatures rely on the ocean for their habitat and food – but our oceans are in trouble, and we need your help to save them. Adopting a sea creature is the perfect gift for friends and family, and supports Oceana???s critical work protecting the oceans and the endangered animals that call them home.

    More…

    Please volunteer to help save Whales and Dolphins as a Naturalist

    Please volunteer 2 help save Whales and dolphins as a Naturalist! (Cabrillo Aquarium San Pedro CA.)

    Please volunteer 2 help save Whales and dolphins as a Naturalist! (Cabrillo Aquarium San Pedro CA.)


    Please volunteer 2 help save Whales and dolphins as a Naturalist!

    (Cabrillo Aquarium San Pedro CA.)
    October 7, 2014 @ 7:00pm; is your chance to embark on a cetacean-al/educational expedition this Gray Whale-Watch season! Learn the essentials then share by speaking aboard Whale-watch vessels, and lecturing in classrooms, or wherever invited by interested students, people, congregations and organizations.
    Any body near or in Los Angeles County are welcome; we meet in San Pedro, California; the program is FREE and parking is validated.
    This is a wonderful program to join knowledgeable and compassionate people who watch the friendly gray whales while they migrate south to Baja California to enjoy the winter frolicking and birthing in warm waters. The program ends with the final migrations north in April; then enjoy a banquet to celebrate our service preserving Earth.
    During Whale-watch programs’ 25 years of socializing and educating people: there have been many enduring friendships and many merry marriages united by a Love for the magnificence of Mother Nature.
    Could you please possibly; help us help save the whales through ecological and educational volunteering!
    !!!BECOME A WHALEWATCH NATURALIST!!!

    Please volunteer 2 help save Whales and dolphins as a Naturalist

    We enjoy a FREE orientation trip on Dec. 26th after our final exam.
    Happy whale watching and I am appreciative of helpful input.
    Venture out and join us on Tuesday October 7th at 7:00 pm
    Enjoy refreshments and meet content people helping save our Oceans!

    Cabrillo Marine Aquarium at 3720 Stephen White Drive; San Pedro CA.

    Our winter will be incredible this year as we help Earth’s tranquility.
    Whale-Watching is a wonderful way to share knowledge and experience the beauty of nature; so please show up and learn more about socializing intelligently with people who preserve our planet by saving whales; dolphins, and all sea creatures.
    No reservations required; all over 18 are welcome.
    Mahalo; Sea you then!
    IF: you need more information call, text or e-mail.
    mr-funsun

    OR Our Whale-watch Coordinator at
    (31zero) 548-777 zero

    Draw Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises

    How to Draw Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises – tutorial is fun set of instructions


    Whales are so similar to fish, especially to the shark family, that it’s very easy to confuse their body traits when drawing. That’s why we need to know them better to draw Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises properly. Follow me in a journey through the world of giant, intelligent, marine mammals???and learn to distinguish them from fish once and for all!
    How to Draw Whales, Dolphins and Porpoisese

    How to Draw Whales, Dolphins and Porpoisese


    Whale Body Features
    Skeleton
    Let’s look at a skeleton of a dolphin. It’s going to be similar for all the whales. What can we say about it?

    The skull has elongated jaws and a distinctive braincase.
    The dorsal fin doesn’t have any bones or rays inside (some dolphins don’t develop this fin).
    The spine is similar to other mammals.
    The tail is horizontal.
    The pectoral fin (flipper) is actually a modified arm, with the same bones as in yours.
    The chest with ribs is present.
    There’s a remnant of a pelvis, called vestigial pelvis.

    Let’s see how a dolphin (1) looks in comparison to a shark (2) and a typical fish (3). A good way to remember it is to imagine dolphins are mammals modified to look more like a fish. So you can see a skeleton of a human, a dog or a cat in your mind, and change it to be more fish-like in look.
    What’s also important, whales don’t have gills. They need to breath air, and that’s why they have a blowhole at the top of their heads, in the neck area.

    Eyes
    The eyes of whales are very simple and we don’t need to draw them in detail. You can draw them as small dark ellipses with other ellipses as the ridges around.

    Tail and Flippers
    Both flukes (tail fins) and flippers (arm fins) can be drawn with the same method:

    Movement
    Let’s see how whales move. Since their tail is horizontal, not vertical, they move in a different way than fish.

    This tutorial continues with Meet the Whale Family