In April 2009, I was anxiously watching Nancy Black's website to see if the orcas were still around at Monterey Bay. Her website reported big numbers for a couple of days.
Mexico heading toward Alaska. Gray whales don't travel in big groups; therefore, they are an easy target for orcas who always hunt in pods.In the beginning it wasn't too exciting watching out for wildlife. Here and there we watched a sea otter but not even one whale was in sight. I was guessing they might be hiding with their calves in the kelp forest so the orcas couldn't ecolocate them.
I remember two years ago, we had a mother whale with her baby right in front of the Monterey Bay Aquarium in the kelp forest. A kayaker was gliding through the kelp, when a gray whale was spy hopping right behind him. The visitors were shouting but he was not aware what was going on. The whale dove down and we were waiting anxiously. Where would it surface next time? Maybe right underneath him to lift him up? It came up right behind him again. However, this time the kayaker spotted it, too. This was not only exciting for the kayaker but for us, as well.
But back to o
ur whale watching trip. Meanwhile, the swells were high. An old two-master schooner had been out there, too. But because of the high swells I saw only the upper part of the boat. More and more people felt uncomfortable. Their faces turned kind of green, especially those of the Japanese (I am wondering why their skin color doesn't turn pale grey but greenish).
One photographer came with two big cameras and enormous lenses. With these lenses he could probably see a tiny bird from a couple hundred yards away. He looked very professional so I asked him questions, where and how he would sell his photos. He said he wished but he hadn't been too successful. Well, I could relate to that part very well. . . .
We headed toward the submarine canyon of Carmel, when we suddenly saw splashes and something huge jumping out of the water. Yes, the orcas were here and I was ready to shoot them with my camera. Unfortunately, I brought only a 135mm lens. But a larger lens would have been a challenge to hold it steady in that kind of weather, I comforted myself. I had a pretty good grab on it and my other hand was holding firm on the railing, while the boat was bobbing up and down the big waves. People next to me were complaining all they shot was grey sky.
About 50 yards of the starboard side a group of eight orcas with their juveniles were riding the waves. Wow, that was really exciting. I was leaning as hard as I could with my whole body against the railing while holding my camera now with both hands to get sharper pictures. But somehow one wave swapped sideways over board and many whale watchers fell on their back. I was lucky because there were a pile of people already laying on the floor. I just fell on top of them with my legs up in the air and my camera resting on my stomach. I probably look
ed like a desperate sea turtle. The orcas kept on jumping. It was so exciting because I had never seen so many of them together at the same time. They were incredible beautiful with their white spots.
Martin didn't even get one good scene recorded on his camcorder. But I have to admit it was not an easy task. But it was a pity, because I wanted to create a movie with our material.
That day I was the happiest woman in Monterey, when I came home with my "catch" of wonderful orca photographs.
(Click on photos to enlarge).
ur whale watching trip. Meanwhile, the swells were high. An old two-master schooner had been out there, too. But because of the high swells I saw only the upper part of the boat. More and more people felt uncomfortable. Their faces turned kind of green, especially those of the Japanese (I am wondering why their skin color doesn't turn pale grey but greenish). One photographer came with two big cameras and enormous lenses. With these lenses he could probably see a tiny bird from a couple hundred yards away. He looked very professional so I asked him questions, where and how he would sell his photos. He said he wished but he hadn't been too successful. Well, I could relate to that part very well. . . .
We headed toward the submarine canyon of Carmel, when we suddenly saw splashes and something huge jumping out of the water. Yes, the orcas were here and I was ready to shoot them with my camera. Unfortunately, I brought only a 135mm lens. But a larger lens would have been a challenge to hold it steady in that kind of weather, I comforted myself. I had a pretty good grab on it and my other hand was holding firm on the railing, while the boat was bobbing up and down the big waves. People next to me were complaining all they shot was grey sky.
About 50 yards of the starboard side a group of eight orcas with their juveniles were riding the waves. Wow, that was really exciting. I was leaning as hard as I could with my whole body against the railing while holding my camera now with both hands to get sharper pictures. But somehow one wave swapped sideways over board and many whale watchers fell on their back. I was lucky because there were a pile of people already laying on the floor. I just fell on top of them with my legs up in the air and my camera resting on my stomach. I probably look
ed like a desperate sea turtle. The orcas kept on jumping. It was so exciting because I had never seen so many of them together at the same time. They were incredible beautiful with their white spots. Martin didn't even get one good scene recorded on his camcorder. But I have to admit it was not an easy task. But it was a pity, because I wanted to create a movie with our material.
That day I was the happiest woman in Monterey, when I came home with my "catch" of wonderful orca photographs.
(Click on photos to enlarge).
