close iframe icon
approved icon Retiree avatar
Retiree
Humpback Breech
Banner

Humpback Breech



behind the lens badge

I was on a small fishing boat when this humpback started jumping. I tried guessing where he would come up next, and got lucky with this shot. You can see it spr...
Read more

I was on a small fishing boat when this humpback started jumping. I tried guessing where he would come up next, and got lucky with this shot. You can see it spraying water on the right side of the pic. This is a feeding behavior forcing the water through their baleen which filters out it's food.
Read less
cameraKODAK Z712 IS ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA

settings Aperture f/5 ISO 64 Shutter 1/800 Focal Length 3980/100 

upload_dateFeb, 2018

Views

1015

Likes

Awards

Contest Finalist in Colossal Wildlife Photo Contest
Peer Award
pusim scouthunt2778 PABLO72 Structor Karl-Heinz manh skippy4280 +30
Absolute Masterpiece
gman176 photosue50 Dorje adambailey rshchoudhary tcphotographs_ karencowles +15
Top Choice
PRASUK joseconde PicMoments AELYTER mle555 jeffmichaelaguallo mikejonez5 +7
Superb Composition
JulieWendeleStudios emmafones MJMarkovitch dhaneshdas jackthatdowdkid dinwae rheageracealmoza +5
Magnificent Capture
RobertSGartnerPhotography jleosadauskas Macpwm ricklecompte chrisfarrington mcampi kiwidragonfly +1
Outstanding Creativity
laurentdelfabbro christelfernandez patrickpakin nickcummings gracearnold Dmulliga46 jenniferlynn_5476
Virtuoso
lorraineevanoff cmorisset
All Star
jamesjohnston_3471 mkriggins
Genius
Sheri_Stanley
Superior Skill
hiyahercfarm

Emotions

Impressed
manh

Top Ranks

Marine Life Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Large Animals Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Large Animals Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Earth Day Photo Contest 2022Top 20 rank
Creative Moments Photo Contest vol1Top 10 rank
View more
Earth Day Photo Contest 2022Top 10 rank week 1
Creative Moments Photo Contest vol1Top 10 rank week 1
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol13Top 10 rank
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol13Top 10 rank week 1
Photography Awards 2021Top 10 rank
My Best Capture Photo Contest vol2Top 20 rank
My Best Capture Photo Contest vol2Top 10 rank week 1
Tracking Wildlife Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Tracking Wildlife Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Creative Boundaries Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Capture The Ocean Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Capture The Ocean Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Animal Kingdom Photo Contest vol2Top 20 rank
Animal Kingdom Photo Contest vol2Top 20 rank week 1
ViewBug Homepage Photo ContestTop 30 rank
ViewBug Homepage Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Inspired By The World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Inspired By The World Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
A ViewBug Logo Photo ContestTop 10 rank
A ViewBug Logo Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Picturing Aquatic Animals Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Picturing Aquatic Animals Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Picturing Other Species Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 7Top 20 rank
Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 7Top 20 rank week 1
Favorite Travel Memory Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Favorite Travel Memory Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Favorite Travel Memory Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Special Moments Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Special Moments Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Travel Photography ProjectTop 10 rank
Travel Photography ProjectTop 10 rank week 1
Endangered Species Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Endangered Species Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Colossal Wildlife Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 4Top 20 rank
Celebrating Nature Photo Contest Vol 4Top 20 rank week 3
Wildlife And Water Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Wildlife Photo Contest 2018Top 20 rank
Big Mammals Photo ContestTop 20 rank

Categories

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#humpback #whale #whale breeching
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

Taken from a small fishing boat, approx. 15-16 feet, off Ixtapa/Zihuatenejo Mexico

Time

About 11:00 a.m.

Lighting

Natural sunny day allowed me a fast shutter speed to freeze the action

Equipment

Was on a rocky boat, no tripod. That is why the horizon is not perfectly level. Did not correct with photoshop.

Inspiration

My wife and I were fishing when the boat captain (the only other person in the boat) said he saw whales further out. I him to forget the fishing and get us out to the whales. It was a mother humpback and her calf, playing together in the water. The mother would breech and a few seconds later the calf would try to imitate. This included lying on their backs and slapping the water with their flukes. At one point, the mother came straight towards the small boat and the captain had to motor us out of the way. She also stuck just her head out of the water to look at us, a manuever known as spy-hopping, which I also captured on film. That pic is in my viewbug portfolio also. I wanted to just watch as they played, but I knew I was unlikely to get this photo-op ever again, so I started guessing where she would come up to give me a shot. I lucked out with this one.

Editing

No, although it was tempting to straighten the horizon. Thought the original would have more impact.

In my camera bag

Camera, spare batteries, spare sd card, and lens wipes

Feedback

When the lighting allows, always go to a high shutter speed unless you deliberately want a blurred effect.

See more amazing photos, follow Retiree

User photo
It’s your time to shine! ☀️

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Already a member? Log In

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service, and acknowledge you've read our Privacy Policy Notice.