Humpback whale slapping its fluke
The magnificent humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) – or ballena jorobada in Spanish – is one of the largest species of baleen (or toothless) whales. It...
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The magnificent humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) – or ballena jorobada in Spanish – is one of the largest species of baleen (or toothless) whales. Its flippers alone can grow up to 16 feet long, which is the largest appendage in the world, and its tail can measure 18 feet wide.
During our trip to Maui, Hawaii, we spotted humpback whales around the Lahaina harbor. Some of the whales started slapping their tails in the water, to the amazement of the boar tour participants.
Humpback whales will sit vertically in the water while slapping their flukes against the water. This is another repetitive behavior; it is common to see Maui humpbacks slapping their tails dozens of times in a row.
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During our trip to Maui, Hawaii, we spotted humpback whales around the Lahaina harbor. Some of the whales started slapping their tails in the water, to the amazement of the boar tour participants.
Humpback whales will sit vertically in the water while slapping their flukes against the water. This is another repetitive behavior; it is common to see Maui humpbacks slapping their tails dozens of times in a row.
Read less
Jun, 2021Views
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cgparis
January 25, 2023
Thanks so much for your encouraging comment, Rafa, that's very kind of you!!
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo during a whale watch photography tour off the coast of Lahaina, in Maui (Hawaii). Humpback whales depart the icy waters of Alaska in the fall for Hawai’i. They come to breed, to give birth, and to play. In Maui, the underwater visibility from the crystal clear water is exceptional. The variety of shallow (800’) and deep (18,000’) waters mixed with no natural predator gives them the ultimate safe space to raise and nurture their young calves in safety. Since my husband and I were spending couple of months in Maui during humpback whale season, we were able to join several of the whale watch photography tours. The tours were done in a zodiac boat, which allowed for easier and quicker access to the sites where the humpback whales can be spotted more closely. The best place to see whales in Maui is the Maui Nui Basin. It's estimated that more than half of the humpback whale population migrates to the Maui Nui Basin for breeding every winter. The Maui Nui Basin refers to the waters between Maui, Lanai and Kaho'olawe and is a protected sanctuary for the whales.Time
This particular photo was captured at around 4pm on on February 8, 2021. The 3-hour whale watch photography tours offered by this company (The World of Whales) are intentionally held in the afternoons to take advantage of the late afternoon sunlight.Lighting
The whale watch photography tours in Lahaina (Maui) would be held in the afternoons from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm, so we could get better lighting for photo shooting, particularly the lighting before and during sunset. On several occasions, we could see rainbows showing out of the splash made by the humpback whale's tail in the water. We were very lucky with the weather that day, enjoying a fairly clear and sunny afternoon in the ocean. The late afternoon light allowed for some excellent lighting against the humpback whales and also against the landscape in the backdrop (Lahaina coastline).Equipment
My gear for whale photography was primarily the Nikon D7500 body with a 18-400mm lens. I also carry the DJI Osmo Action 12MP Digital camera for underwater videos, in case a whale comes close to the boat. This also gives me the option of a wide-angle shot. I don’t even think about using a tripod. There just isn’t space in the boat. I prefer to use an image-stabilized lens and hand hold so that I can move quickly to where the action is. The waters around Hawaii are crystal clear when the surface is calm, so a polarizing lens, while costing a few stops of light, is great for photographing whales that are close-up and partially submerged, particularly if shooting in the middle of the day.Inspiration
Photographing humpback whales is both challenging and exciting. There are no guarantees when you get on the boat that you will see more than a dorsal fin or a tail fluke. But that is where the adventure begins. Preparing to photograph humpback whales requires a little planning. The weather can be unpredictable and often the best whale watching boats which offer an unobstructed view of the whales also offer little cover from rain. So having something to protect your gear is essential. I usually carry a super absorbent towel and a waterproof bag that will hold my digital SLR with my lens. Bring a light jacket for trips in the early morning or late afternoon.Editing
Yes, I did some basic post-processing on this photo using Luminar AI software from Skylum. I made adjustments to enhance color, contrast, and light. I adjusted the Details to accentuate the splash made by the humpback whale while slapping its tail in the water. I also applied a little vignetting to bring the attention to the subject.In my camera bag
I carry my only DSLR camera, a Nikon D7500. I mostly use the Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD lens (this is my goto lens while traveling), and also carry the following lenses: Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G Lens Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR zoom lens Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR Lens I also carry an Olympus Tough TG-6 Digital Camera (specially for underwater and macro photography) and recently purchased a DJI Osmo Action 12MP Digital Camera as additional gear for underwater photography and videos.Feedback
Capturing a whale breaching is a combination of anticipation and a lot of luck. When a whale is repeatedly breaching, watch for the first sign of a head coming out of the water, which looks a bit like a cigar emerging from the ocean and press the shutter button. While no one knows why these whales breech, we do know that the peduncle slap where the tail and lower portion of the body is thrown out of the water and then slaps the surface is considered a very aggressive behavior. For those photographing with a SLR, think about which lens you use. Certainly you can change lenses during the boat trip, but you run the risk of missing the shot because you are changing lenses. Any SLR will do, but be sure to use your continuous firing mode and consider Continuous focusing. Metering is a challenge because the animals are dark, but very reflective when wet, the boat is moving around, and the angle of the sun on your subject is continually changing. I typically shoot with matrix metering, but use the setting that you are comfortable with. I used Auto white balance for these whale shots. In order to stop the action, use a shutter priority mode with a setting of 1/1000th of a second, and set ISO to 400, at least. For those photographers that get seasick, I highly recommend you take some motion sickness pill at least 1 hour before you embark on the boat, specially if it is a small (e.g., a Zodiac) boat.
