Best location and best season for whale photography

[thakurdalipsingh]

<p>I am visiting USA and Canada in May/June, Pl tell which is Best location and best season for whale photography. Best boat/ship company catering to whale photographers?</p>

 

[bob_sunley]

<p>Which coast, east or west, they are a few thousand miles/kilometers apart? Where depends on the migration of species. some just hang around for most of the year. Probably a good ideas to spend a few hours with google. :)</p>

[Charles_Webster]

<p>Whale watching along the Pacific coast is best in Jan. and Feb when they are migrating north and stay close to the shore. There are permanent populations of whales along the B.C./Washington coast.<br>

<Chas><br /><br /></p>

[stemked]

<p>I did a Monterrey Bay Trip a few years ago in August. It was INCREDIBLE! Three Blue Whales, a couple of Humpbacks, dozens of Gramps,and top that off with a lot of great pelagic birds and seals. To get an idea what is when the tour group I went with keeps a listing of all their daily whale sightings over the ;ast few years. It is a remarkable resource to check out:<br>

http://www.montereybaywhalewatch.com/sighting.htm</p>

<p> </p>

[Two23]

<p>Reykjavik, July. For Beluga whales up close, Churchill in August.</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

[lee_fortier]

<p>May through Oct on the US East Coast.<br>

Here's a link to a whole bunch of whale watch boats.<br>

Enjoy.<br>

Lee<br>

<a href="http://www.leefortier.com">www.leefortier.com</a><br>

BTW: dress warm. It's cold out there.</p>

[thakurdalipsingh]

<p>Thanks every body, though I can go east or west coast. But preferable is west coast-<strong>BC and Alaska. </strong><br>

<strong>What about near Juneau? </strong><br>

<strong>What equipment required-70-200 w TC14 on D300 and 24-700 on D700? Is it sufficient?</strong><br>

<strong>Lee ! you forgot to provide link or I cant find?</strong></p><div></div>

[paul_g9]

<p>Best site in New England is Stellwagen Bank because it's a marine sanctuary. The herring and mackerel are protected from commercial fishing, so there's nothing anywhere else in the area that comes close. Look for boats out of Gloucester, MA or Provincetown, MA. I don't have a specific boat to recommend, but one site does private small boat charters as well as the normal big boat trips. Here's the link to the charter info:<br>

<a href="http://www.seethewhales.com/general.htm#Additional%20Trips%20Available">http://www.seethewhales.com/general.htm#Additional%20Trips%20Available</a></p>

[stemked]

<p>One thing I found useful was a photo gun stock, forget about a tripod. Depending on how close you are that isn't a bad range although for me a range of up to 300mm was probably even more useful on our trip.</p>

[mas-alaska]

<p>Pt. Adolphus near Juneau is your best bet in Southeast Alaska for Humpbacks. Johnstone Strait in B.C. for Orcas. I have been both places, but not photographing. <a href="http://www.mitchseaver.com/juneau">Here </a>are some whale shots near Juneau, not Pt, Adolphus and <a href="http://www.mitchseaver.com/humpbacks">here</a> are some from below my house in Ketchikan. I recommend at least 400 mm and image stabilization.</p>

[dcstep]

<p>You've got a 24-700! That must be a beast. Last year I used my 500mm plus a 1.4x TC and got some "ok" shots, but nothing spectacular. A lot has to do with luck and the skill of the boat pilot to get up ahead of the whales so that they come to you. Image stabilization is your friend and hopefully you'll have enough light to shoot at relatively high shutter speeds to offset the vibrations of your boat. (It can rain forever in Alaska).</p>

<p>There's a straight up above Juneau, but I've forgotten the name. The humpbacks are there most of the summer. I went there by ship, but you might could find a day-trip out of juneau</p>

[thakurdalipsingh]

<p>Dear Mitch -Thanks for info.<br>

, your photo no.24 of whales backlit breathing is certainly winner.</p>

[mas-alaska]

<p>Thanks Thakurdalip, Enjoy your trip. I was in India many years ago and hope to return someday.</p>

<h1> </h1>