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| The Orca is the largest member
of the dolphin family. With its’ black body, gray saddle patch, and
white eye patch and belly this is one of the most beautiful animals
found in the sea! Their natural inquisitiveness makes these dolphins a
superb photographic subject. An Orca breaching against the beauty of the
Pacific Northwest is a wonder to behold (and capture on film)! |
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Like most dolphins, Orcas can be very acrobatic. In addition to
breaching Orcas also often spy-hop, power-lunge, and throw their flukes.
These images come from both the northern and southern resident pods
living off British Columbia and Washington State. From late April into
October Orcas can be seen in these areas, with the height of the season
being mid summer. |
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Orca calves are among the most precocious of all baby cetaceans. They
are curious, playful, and fun loving. I have had them spray the boat
with their blows, or splash water into the dinghy with their flukes.
Watching a calf learn to breach is a special treat. The early attempts
are usually awkward with not too much success. Once a calf gets the hang
of breaching it seems that the sky becomes the limit as they twist and
turn and invent all sorts of variations on the theme! |
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The dorsal fin of a bull Orca can reach 6 feet in height. The power and
strength of these animals is summed up in that fin as it cleaves the
surface of the sea. It is powerful, menacing, and beautiful all at once,
and is often the first thing that can be seen as a pod of Orcas surface. |
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TIPS FOR ORCA PHOTOGRAPHS: One of the few dolphins that can be filmed
consistently from shore. During June and July Orcas regularly pass by
Limekiln lighthouse on the western shore of San Juan Island in
Washington State. Many tour boats operate in these waters as well and
can be booked for trips out to film Orcas. Plan on working in and out of
your camera case and be prepared for the possibility of rain. Both long
and medium telephotos are the norm, I usually keep one body with a 300mm
and 1.4 extender and the other with a 70mm-200mm zoom. A breaching or
lob-tailing animal will require at least 1/750th of a second to freeze
all the action. Surfacing animals and spy-hops can usually be shot at a
slightly slower shutter speed. We are again talking about filming
animals in the higher latitudes where water is dark, as are most of the
backgrounds. Orcas themselves of course are a dark animal. This all
means a faster film speed to attain those fast shutter speeds. I prefer
Fuji Provia RDPIII ISO 100 speed, and do push it a stop (sometimes two)
on foggy or rainy days. |
