Whale and Dolphin pictures

[Young Shooter]

well i took these at the miami seaquariam honestly these pictures i dont like at all, im just posting them to take a reaction of out people to see what they say
thanks
POST AWAY....

[Dave L]

ten out of ten for timing ! ;) they should be a great reminder of your day out !

[Young Shooter]

thanks alot i didnt get that much response on them as i wanted to i think i post to often and people get use to my work and get annoyed with it

[Young Shooter]

thanks alot i didnt get that much response on them as i wanted to i think i post to often and people get use to my work and get annoyed with it

[PuckJunkey]

They both have the same problem IMO; there's too much else going on around these animals to the point of being a distraction.

Next time, head down there with a longer lens and really fill the frame as much as you can with just the animal in question. Then crop out the extra stuff later. Both pictures would be more compelling if all you could see was the dolphin / orca and the water around them, maybe parts of the tank / trainers for a little context.

Also, the orca shot is also a toughy because you actually caught it a second too soon maybe. There's so much water "floating" around its airborne body that it kind of obscures the animal. Another second or so and the whale should still be out of the water, but more clearly visible. Or maybe wait until they do one of those really high, arcing leaps out of the water? Lastly, that composition is better suited to a vertical arrangement I think.

Still, realize that you've captured two shots that are better than what most people get. You really caught the moment, you just weren't zoomed in quite enough.


By the way: it's "something", not "somthing". Sorry, couldn't resist.
;)

[Dave L]

Using too much zoom on an occasion like this takes immense amounts of patience,experience and skill I would have thought. Get too close and its easier to miss the action (at least in the hands of an amateur like me !) Whales/dolphins can jump around a giant swimming pool in an unpredictable fashion. Any tips from pros on this ?

[Wings]

Any tips from pros on this ?

I'm not a pro, but I would just shoot a lot and I mean a lot, but not blindly, go for the right moment and be well prepared. It's just that you need a bit of luck too and especially with digital cameras it doesn't matter so much how long you hold that button.

[Young Shooter]

They both have the same problem IMO; there's too much else going on around these animals to the point of being a distraction.

Next time, head down there with a longer lens and really fill the frame as much as you can with just the animal in question. Then crop out the extra stuff later. Both pictures would be more compelling if all you could see was the dolphin / orca and the water around them, maybe parts of the tank / trainers for a little context.

Also, the orca shot is also a toughy because you actually caught it a second too soon maybe. There's so much water "floating" around its airborne body that it kind of obscures the animal. Another second or so and the whale should still be out of the water, but more clearly visible. Or maybe wait until they do one of those really high, arcing leaps out of the water? Lastly, that composition is better suited to a vertical arrangement I think.

Still, realize that you've captured two shots that are better than what most people get. You really caught the moment, you just weren't zoomed in quite enough.


By the way: it's "something", not "somthing". Sorry, couldn't resist.
;)

yeah i hear what ur saying about all of that but its hard to zoom with a 28/80mm zoom in the 20 row but i know what u mean and i didnt want to get down there closer cause the water will splash on my camera and i dont need that, yeah i hear u about vertical, truely i dont like vertical elinment stuff

[gahspidy]

Youngshooter,
I like your timing and these pics describe what looked like a good, funfilled day.They are snapshots of a fun day, albeit better than the typical snap. You surely have a good eye. Puckjunkey offers you some very good critique and advice.
By the way, as I have learned from this great forum is that sometimes when there are little or no comments on a thread, that in itself is a sort of critique. Sometimes if a viewer does not feel very strongly one way or another about an image, they usually just offer no comment and move on. Take that for what it is. Keep posting

[Dave L]

these are very good pics - you should feel good about them. I like the whale and the water around it gives this giant an almost angelic quality (at the same time emphasizes its awesome strength) and the pic also captures the event and atmosphere. I like pics that capture the moment and ambience - I prefer this ' a snap shot in time' approach. It may not be the perfect pic - but the event - the memory is encapsulated in the photo. Even the crowd in the foreground with their cameras etc - highlight the excitement of the moment. I have been to Sea World and have witnessed the spectacle - it isn't just the whales/dolphins - its the whole ocassion. And you definately acheive that in the first photo.

If it is purely a pic of a whale or a dolphin in action - I prefer to see them taken when they are in the wild (thats a whole different ball game). keep shootin' and keep posting !!