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JohnSmall

Whale acrobatics

40 ton of adult humpback whale in full breach

40 ton of adult humpback whale in full breach
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Canon EOS 90D

settings

Aperture 10/1 ISO 400 Shutter 1/2500 Focal Length 234/1

location

Bermagui, New South Wales, AU

upload_date

Oct, 2023

Views

2203

Likes

+523

Awards

People's Choice in Wildlife Love Photo Contest

Runner Up in VIEWBUG Photography Awards 2023

People's Choice in The Fourth QUARTER of 2023 Collection Photo Challenge

Winner in Your the most awarded photo Photo Challenge

Runner Up in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 98

Contest Finalist in Wildlife Love Photo Contest

People's Choice in Show In Motion No birds Photo Challenge

Peer Award

+331

Absolute Masterpiece

+148

Top Choice

+73

Superb Composition

+33

Outstanding Creativity

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 20 rank

Top 20 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 20 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 20 rank

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 2

Top 20 rank week 1

Top 10 rank week 2

Top 10 rank week 1

Categories

PRO+

Wow!! Awesome photo!

Platinum

The patch underneath it's jaw, makes it appear to be saying WHOOOOOOOOOO as it splashes around

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Absolutely magnificent!

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Thank you Sue

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Magnificent capture.

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Thank you Joviaal

Awesome capture. Wow!

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Thank you

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😯just...wow!!!

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Thank you Bob

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Awesome in all of whale awesomeness!

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Thank you James, much appreciated mate.

Ultimate

Congratulations as the PC in my Show in Motion challenge. Another of your great whale captures!

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Thank you Kathy, much appreciated.

Ultimate

Masterpiece. Congratulations on your PC award.

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Thank you Jayne

Congratulations John!

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Thank you Sophie

Ultimate

Wow - what an amazing image, John!! Congratulations on your challenge PC award!! Kurt 😀👍👍👍

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Thank you Kurt

Platinum

Magnificent capture!

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Thank you Priscilla

Platinum

Congratulations on your people's choice award - well deserved!

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Thank you Robert

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Congratulations, John, on your PC Award!

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Thank you Carol

this has to be one of the best whale photos ive seen - absolutely superb!!!

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Thank you so much John, greatly appreciated

Platinum

Congratulations on your 2nd place finish! 👍

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Thank you Eddie, much appreciated mate.

Congratulations on runner up in Image of the Month. 😊

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Thank you Robyn

Wow that’s so amazing just wow

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Thank you Annelise

Ultimate

John, Fantastic photo. Congratulations on your win! Well deserved!

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Thank you Fred, greatly appreciated

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Great Photo! Congratulations on your win.

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Thank you BluebirdsPhotographyLLC, much sppreciated

amazing shot

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Thank you Ben

Platinum

😀

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Thank you Mario

Amazing photo!

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Thank you photography2023, much appreciated.

Platinum

Happy Christmas 😎

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Thank you Paul and a Merry Xmas and a happy, safe and prosperous New Year to you and your family

Platinum

Great capture

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Thank you Joseph

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I'm stunned. Amazing!

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Thank you Marta

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I'm stunned. Amazing!

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amazing captures...

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Thank you Stacey

Platinum

Nice shot

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Thank you John

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BEAUTIFUL PHOTO. GRACEFUL AND ENERGETIC.

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Thank you Carl

Excelent!!!

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Thank you Joe

Brilliant image perfect timing

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Thank you Liz, much appreciated

Stunning!

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Thank you Elia

Get David attenborough in here for explanations what a shot!

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Thank you Fergal, much appreciated mate.

Platinum

Magnificent

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Thank you Lee

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Great shot of a magnificent being !!!

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Thank you Ricardo, much appreciated

PRO

Congratulations on you finalist and runner up positions. I hope once to make a photo like that. 😉

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C'est superbe

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Thank you Dom

Super capture.

Thank you for your contribution to - The Fourth Quarter 2023 Collection - challenge. To determine the winner of the people's choice, I'm asking you - as ever, and in case you already haven't - to vote.
Voting is open!! Good luck.

PRO

Congratulations 🎉

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Thank you Natulya

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GREAT CAPTURE!! Congratulations on your win.

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Thank you Jerry

Platinum

Astounding well deserved picture for your win of "most awarded photo" challenge.

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Thank you Ilmar, much appreciated.

Ultimate

COngratulations John on your challenge win! THat is an amazing image. Did his wake make your boat wobble?? Kurt 😀

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Thank you Kurt. The swell was big enough without more waves. Half the time when you thought you had a great shot all you got was sky or water.

Platinum

It's definitely a big WOW!!! Congratulations. 😀

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Thank you Patti

Congrats

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Thank you Ralph.

I would say a once in a lifetime capture, but.... the other entry is on par with one. A marvellous capture and a well deserved winner of th 4th Quarter 2023 challenge.

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Thank you Pierre, much appreciated mate.

Congratulations, John!

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Thank you Sophie

Ultimate

Congratulations John. A wonderful photo.

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Thank you Leo, much appreciated

Platinum

Utterly amazing!😃

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Thank you Lesabre1954, much appreciated.

Ultimate

WOW John - your amazing image is winning lots of awards! Congratulations on winning the 4th quarter 2023 Challenge award!! Quite an accomplishment for sure! Kurt 😀👍👍👍

Thank you for your contribution to the "The Year 2023 Collection" challenge.
Be so kind to vote, please!!!
Good luck with your entry.

Voting is open!!

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Thank you Pierre

PRO

Awesome!

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Thank you Savannah2360

Platinum

Seriously? Now that is an amazing shot!! LOVE LOVE LOVE

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Thank you Julie, very much appreciated

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Way to go! What an amazing shot!

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Thank you Toni

Amazing Shot!! wow thats close!

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Thank you so much Teena.

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Ultimate

Awesome

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Thank you Alfredo

Great photo!

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Thank you Jeff, much appreciated.

Stunning shot

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Thank you Ben.

Platinum

How can you love whales

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They are magnificent creature David, amazing how they throw themselves out of the water considering the size of them.

The power! Magnificent, and a bit scary

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Thanks Kymberley, they are magnificent creatures.

PRO

Congratulations on your PC win. Great action shot.

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Thanks Joviaal

wow! Great capture!

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Much appreciated Murray

PRO

Great photo 😃

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Thank you Lonnie

Platinum

Congratulations John! #5

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Thank you Edward, really happy with the result

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken off the coast of Bermagui, New South Wales whilst on a whale watching cruise. On this day there was a 2-3 metre swell running with the boat being tossed around in the water.

Time

The shot was taken in the morning between 10.30 and 11.00 am

Lighting

I was hoping on good weather but the day was overcast with a 2-3 metre swell running. There were a few breaks in the sky but mostly dull lighting with a few showers around.

Equipment

This shot was taken with a Canon 90D camera with a 100-400 EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM. No other equipment was used although I did cover the camera and lens with a waterproof cover.

Inspiration

We normally travel south from Sydney to Bermagui or Merimbula around September/October each year for the southern migration of the Humpback Whales. It is during this time we see the mothers bringing their new season calves back down the coast towards Antartica. We do a couple of whale watching cruises over a few days in the hope of photographing mother whales teaching their young calves how to breach, tail slap and become acrobats of the sea. To view these magnificent creatures often weighing up to 40 tonne throwing themselves into the air is an experience and one that you will remember for life.

Editing

The only post processing taken on this image was auto balance and auto sharpen.

In my camera bag

I normally carry two Canon camera bodies, both 90D's together with two telephoto Canon lenses a 100-400mm 1:4.5-5.6 L IS USM and 15-85mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS USM as well as a macro 100mm 1:2.8 L IS USM. When out on the water is also a great idea to have some sort of weatherproof covering to protect your equipment from salt spray.

Feedback

As these creatures are wild it is not guaranteed that you will see a whale breach, you have to be patient and hope for the best. You need to keep your cameras up and if possible have your camera set on burst and take as many shots as you can. On the day this shot was taken there was a large swell running and sometimes when you think you have a great shot you check your work only to find all you have is sky or water. As you do not have much time to get your shot it is also recommended to have your camera set with a high speed with auto ISO. Whilst it is desirable to get a great shot of the whales it is also a good idea to put the camera down for a few minutes and just sit back and enjoy the experience.

See more amazing photos, follow JohnSmall

JohnSmall

JohnSmall

Whale acrobatics

40 ton of adult humpback whale in full breach

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow JohnSmall

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