DanLJ images

On the whale watch, this is all you see at first, or sometimes at all:
A dark line moving through the water for a minute, a vapor, nice scenery,
and little more.

Contax 645, 80mm, 1/2800 sec, f5.6
Kodak Portra 400VC
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

Humpback whale-snot billows in the sunset.
Photo by Isabelle, who has not approved these captions.
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

Three humpback whales of five, preparing to again "bubble-feed." One shows its
tail flukes, and two are breathing heavily. It was a pretty evening.

Contax 645, 80mm, 1/180 f11 Portra 400NC
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

You didn't know that humpback whales were trained in synchronized swimming,
did you? These four are just done bubble-feeding and are talking about doing it
again.

Contax 645, 80mm, 1/180 sec f11, Portra 400NC
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

They show their flukes, and down they go for another few minutes of under-water
conversation.

Contax 645, 80mm, 1/180 sec f11, Portra 400NC
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

OK, folks; here's the deal. The humpbacks do not play to the audience.
They are feeding, and don't necessarily come close to the photographer,
who has to use post-processing techniques to make up for the lack of a
500mm telephoto lens.

This group of 5 or 7 humpback whales has been bubble-feeding, which means that
they talk to each other with loud groaning noises about where the krill and other good
stuff are located. Then they dive deep and form up in a circle. The swim upwards
together, large synchronized swimmers circling while blowing air through their noses.
Small boys would enjoy this part. The krill or whatever are flummoxed by the bubbles
and herd themselves together. The whales gradually rise together, and when they
have a big batch of lunch assembled, cheerfully leap through it with their mouths
agape.

In this photo they are circling, getting ready to do it again.

Photo by Isabelle.
July 7, 2003, near sunset.

Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

Humpbacks circling, resting, after bubble-feeding.
Photo by Isabelle
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

Humpback whales giving the spectators a sendoff. This is what happens, boys and girls:
the whale puts a piece of its spine above water, blows its nose and dives three times,
then shows its tail and disappears for a long time. These three are about to disappear
for a long time.
Photo by Isabelle, July 7, 2003, near Juneau, AK
Canon z90w, Portra 400NC
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

This *is* a fluke. That's the other end of the whale, astern of the snout.

Contax 645, 80mm, 1/180 sec, f5.6, Portra 400NC
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

Humpback whale clearing its nostrils.
Photo by Isabelle.
July 7, 2003
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

This is why it's called a *hump*-back whale...

Contax 645, 80mm, 1/700 sec f5.6
Portra 400NC July 6, 2003
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

Contax 645, 80mm, 1/700 sec, f5.6
Portra 400NC; July 6, 2003
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

Killer whales, Glacier Bay estuary, July 7, 2003

Contax 645, 210mm, 1/1000 sec f5.6; Portra 400NC
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

Killer whale, July 7, 2003

Contax 645, 210mm, 1/1000 sec f5.6; Portra 400NC
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

Killer pod

same date, same location, same data
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

Humpback whales leaping after bubble-feeding. Near Juneau, July 7, 2003
Photograph by Isabelle
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

Humpback whales leaping at the conclusion of bubble-feeding.
Photo by Isabelle Johnson, July 7, 2003
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

There *is* something there... Is it a log? A cow in a wetsuit? The guide, who has our money, says it's a humpback whale. A submerged city bus is about the size of it.

Contax 645, 80mm, 1/700 sec, f5.6
Portra 400NC; July 6, 2003
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

This is pretty much what whale-watching consists of, normally: a distant dark lump in the water, a puff of mist, perhaps a tail fluke, and interminable waiting. And spectactular scenery.

Contax 645, 80mm, 1/700 sed, f5.6
Portra 400NC
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

Fortunately for the folks in the small boat, the whales do not care about them.
The whales have been busy bubble-feeding -- that is,swimming in circles, making
a fence of bubbles that corrals their food. Then the leap through it with open mouths,
up above the surface. Then they swim cheerfully around so we can admire their
ingenuity. Like some people we have known.
Photo by Isabelle
Copyright © 2003 Daniel L. Johnson

The file names are my file numbers, and are not directly related to image contents. The subject and technical data are contained within each jpeg file itself, as a comment readable by the Gimp or Photoshop, and the comment is provided to the right of each thumbnail image below.

I'm not in the photography business, but if you'd like a print of any, these photos in real life are all 6x4.5 cm color negatives (unless noted otherwise), and we can arrange this through Photos, Inc., of Minneapolis. I send them my negative and you send them your charge card number and address, and in a week or two you'll get a print. email me at drdan AT wwt.net if you wish to pursue this.