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by **Sheila Smart** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:27 am

Went whale watching on a friend's 35 ft yacht on Sunday - just off Maitland beach. Saw a couple of humpies pass by and then saw a pair heading right towards us. By this time, our friend Paul, the owner of the boat, was getting a tad apprehensive. They disappeared about 100 mtrs away and suddenly about three metres away, the water suddenly went flat. Oh oh!! All of a sudden out the other side of the boat this beautiful creature surfaced. They had both swum under the boat and surfaced

The "flat" area was where they had come up and suddenly realised there was an obstacle in their way before they took a dive.

Cheers
Sheila

by **Geoff** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:28 am

Stunning sheila -

1. Right time
2. Right place
3. Right eye
4. Right composition
5. Right camera in right hand

(or are you left handed??!?

)

LOVELY!!

by **ozczecho** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:36 am

As Geoff said...you make your own "luck"... this image shows not luck, but a great shot from a very talented photog. Absolutely awesome.

by **losfp** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:37 am

10/10 for the capture - These are the sorts of shots I always, ALWAYS miss!

But with your knack for taking candids, I'm not surprised YOU got it

9/10 for the pun

by **Sheila Smart** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:58 am

Here's a tip for those whale watching. They generally swim just below the surface and come up three times for air within a few seconds. The first you get the spout, then second you get the fin and the third they come up to take a dive. That's when you get the fluke and if you are really lucky, they will breach. There was no breaching unfortunately yesterday. Paul timed them and generally speaking, they are down for about five minutes before they surface. Steer clear of anyone in a stink boat who is reluctant to turn off the engine

As soon as a large cruiser turned to go back into Pittwater, the whales started to surface.

This was taken with my 5D and the Canon 300 f/4 L IS. There are more shots in my Whats New gallery http://www.pbase.com/sheila/whats_new

Cheers
Sheila

by **stubbsy** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:03 pm

Nice image Sheila.

Des - thanks for making me think. Didn't get the pun at first

Sheila - I like your sense of humour as well as your photography

Edit: Sheila - this one is bloody good too!

by **sirhc55** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:11 pm

Fabulous shot Sheila - looks like he/she has been in the wars.

by **greencardigan** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:21 pm

Beautifully captured!

Is that a cliff or something in the BG?

by **Sheila Smart** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:30 pm

greencardigan wrote:Beautifully captured!

Is that a cliff or something in the BG?

Its the headland off Maitland beach just south of Gosford, on the Pittwater side.

Cheers
Sheila

by **Alex** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:59 pm

Great shot, Sheila. Is it my monitor at work or is there some pink colour in water droplets and on the edge of the tail.

This shot is a classic!

Alex

by **Sheila Smart** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:11 pm

Alex wrote:Great shot, Sheila. Is it my monitor at work or is there some pink colour in water droplets and on the edge of the tail.

This shot is a classic!

Alex

You're right Alex. It appears in the RAW image. I did think it was CA so I put it through the CA adjustment in ACR but that did not work. If I print it out, I will clone out the pink. It seems to appear only in sparkly stuff (for want of a better description!). If anyone has any ideas, I would appreciate them.

cheers
Sheila

by **avkomp** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:42 pm

definitely a case of right place, right time.
well captured

steve

by **Bob G** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:17 pm

Sheila you are a genius!!!

Bob G

by **Matt. K** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:21 pm

Sheila
That is a wonderful image and a brilliant capture! All of the visual elements are perfect! It would make a brilliant fine art print.

by **Finch** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:53 pm

Hi Sheila,

Yes, a delightful shot indeed. Your skill as a photographer and the brilliant timing worked to capture this stunning shot.

Cheers

Michael

by **Raskill** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:06 pm

Nice, real nice. Might as well get photos of them while you can....

by **Glen** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:08 pm

Wish I could get as good as flukes as you

by **Willy wombat** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:15 pm

Im so envious of your cetaceous offering. What a beautie and lucky you for being there to see it.

by **LostDingo** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:44 pm

You can be at the right place at the right time but not always capture the moment....you have captured time and shared with us....thanks for sharing such a magical moment

regards,

Paul

by **radar** on Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:58 pm

Sheila,

beautiful capture. You may have been lucky to be there at the time, but like so many others have said, it is your skill that came up with this beauty.

thanks for sharing.

André