Tag: minke whale

//  In Plain Sight Blog with Nate Collins Photo  //

Not a lot of new images – we’ve had iffy morning weather and really still no whales – was chatting with one of the deck hands today who was wondering if the algae bloom earlier this year negatively impacted the krill that blue whales need. Anyhow…

A handful of images as I’ve been on the boat a ton lately and some I find interesting.

Images below are posted at 1060×706 at 72dpi. Full size images available for printing / image licensing.

Above:

First, and I usually don’t do circle of life stuff (my existential dread doesn’t let me hahaha) but this first image was interesting. Long beak common dolphin that was swimming upside to hunt and knocked the fish into the air. What’s unique for me is I’ve never noticed a dolphin “looking forward” with its eyes like this. Also interesting look at the jaw and teeth.

Then a feeding frenzy of birds. Maybe it gives an idea of kind of what it looks like when the dolphins drive the fish to the surface to feed.

The whale image is terrible but it’s the only whale I’ve seen in a while. It’s a relatively large (for species) Minke whale. They typically don’t spout. So, hard to spot and unless they lunge feed or breach it’s just kinda a black lump…

Below:

Then a few more of short beak common dolphins from today. I’ve been working with a new polarizer and it made for some intriguing balances of color without as much glare. Not sure I love it but I think on brighter days looking down it will be cool.

Below:

Finally a plane we’ve been seeing a lot as the boats been out further looking for blue whales. I shot the pic thinking of a friend of mine who does aircraft images – I think it’s a Beechcraft T-34 from North Island (where Katie’s dad used to work)