Northern Resident Orca Pod B1 Tofino

[Jamie Douglas]

I have dreamed about seeing Orca for many many years and finally after 6 years of living in BC my dream came true when I took my family over to Vancouver Island last weekend.

Orca activity has been high this year compared to the last few years so I had my fingers, toes and eyes crossed that this trip would deliver the goods. I spoke to my newly acquired acquaintances at the www.tofinowhalecentre.com on the Thursday before my trip out and they reported a pod had been in the area.

The lunchtime tour on the Saturday reported Orca so I was booked on the 5pm before you could say "there she blows". After a 13 mile bounce across the waves we caught up to the pod and thanks to the great skipper we were able to observe them for about 30 minutes. The swells were less than ideal and played havoc with the AF when you were tracking or trying to anticipate where they would surface next. Add swells, not the best position on the small boat, hand holding, and a dodgy balancing act and this is what I could manage. I have a couple of other keepers that I will share over the next while.

About this Orca pod (for those interested): http://orcinusorcanl.blogspot.ca/2009/05/b7-matriline.html?m=1. Unfortunately recent reports came in that a dead orca was found off Tofino earlier this week and they suspect it may be a member of this pod.

Techs | Canon 1d Mark IV | 500mm F4 II | F6.3 | 1/1250 | ISO 400 | Exp Comp -1/3 | Handheld

Post processing:

• RAW adjustments performed in LR4
• Imported in PS CS6 as a Smarty Object
• Additional tone curve adjustments done in ACR
• Cropped to 16x9 and extended canvass at the top.
• Mid/dark/light tones adjustments done using Tony Kuyper's Luminosity Masks
• Re-sized for web
• Output sharpening and NR reduction

[dankearl]

Green with Envy at your encounter, Jamie, and this is awesome.
I posted a few I saw nearby in the San Juan's this summer, but nothing as dramatic as this.
Great shot from the boat, not easy, I love the eye on the female in front and the huge male fin at the back.
It is hit and miss to find them, you lucked out and really made the most of it....

[Morkel Erasmus]

Sounds like quite an experience, Jamie! I like how this came out, the face in the clear on LHS makes it work well (so many whale shots are just a fin).
Light seemed to have worked out - can certainly appreciate the difficult conditions (don't know if I have "sea legs" yet ).
Contrast looks good for my taste with detail throughout.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Jamie - you did really well under what sounds like difficult conditions. Shooting from a moving boat is never easy and with swells, it just gets worse. I like the comp with multiple members of the pod. The fact that you got the head in the clear with a visible eye just takes it up a level. Nicely done.

TFS,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Jamie, still away so will be brief, but a good sighting overall. I know how difficult this location is and what you are shooting in, so good work. My only wish would be a bit more to the RHS, it's just too tight. Format works and colours look fine too.

TFS
Steve

[Jamie Douglas]

Hi Jamie, still away so will be brief, but a good sighting overall. I know how difficult this location is and what you are shooting in, so good work. My only wish would be a bit more to the RHS, it's just too tight. Format works and colours look fine too.

TFS
Steve

The RHS was bugging me after I posted this last night. I always save a completed image at 1400px as my desktop background after I finish editing so I can stare long and hard at it for a few days. The RHS side bugged me almost immediately so I appreciate your honesty Steve and understanding of the conditions. I'll hire a full frame body next time I think.

Dan - I was checking out your images when you posted them. Certainly wet my appetite. Do you recall what pod you had the joy of encountering? I have the Orca bug now and busy reading up on all the pods and matrilines.

Rachel - Thank you.

Morkel - Arr me hearty, you'll be needing yer sea legs if you venture up to Canada eh!

Talking aboot legs. I need to go and rest mine. I was competing in a mtn hike race this morning which was very very steep so time for a whiskey.


Jamie