Judy Haran
July 2026 - Whale's Tails
About the Image(s)
This is a photo from my trip to Alaska in June 2021. I went with Muench Workshops, 8 of us plus the captain and the cook on a small boat for a week. Great trip, I recommend it. I had forgotten about this photo for several years. I got excited (photograph excitement) when I saw it had the Fibonacci sequence.
Nikon D500, 500PF, f/5.6, 1/1250, ISO 100
13 comments posted
Nice catch! !! IN more ways than one! If I didn't know better I would say you were a Mathematics teacher in a past life! :). But in fact there are many examples of this in nature and this clearly is one of them. I liked that you used BNW , I think it enhances the image overall. Kinda nice to dig into some of the old images! Posted: 07/07/2026 18:55:27
Timing is almost everything - well that and nice composition, focus and lighting! You nailed them all I would not have thought of the Fibonacci sequence had you not pointed it out. So we are really programmed to like this shot!!! Is this a B&W shot or was it the natural Alaska lighting? It works either way, just curious.
I have heard great things about Muench from a friend who has traveled on many of their trips. Posted: 07/10/2026 20:04:07
I have heard great things about Muench from a friend who has traveled on many of their trips. Posted: 07/10/2026 20:04:07
Thanks. It was color but greenish gray and the whites weren't bright enough so I just put it in Silver Effect and played with the settings.
I have done four trips with Muench. Antarctica, Alaska, and two in France. Antarctica was 12/2019. I was still much of a novice. Good thing however I went then because I am less happy about cruises due to some health issues I have now. Alaska was 8 of us on a boat. France was 6-10 people. Everything was all inclusive with them which isn't that way with other tours. My Lisbon tour led by a local friend was 16-18 people at meals which was a PITA for ordering and paying. A lot of spouses. About 10 photographers.
Posted: 07/10/2026 20:37:12
I have done four trips with Muench. Antarctica, Alaska, and two in France. Antarctica was 12/2019. I was still much of a novice. Good thing however I went then because I am less happy about cruises due to some health issues I have now. Alaska was 8 of us on a boat. France was 6-10 people. Everything was all inclusive with them which isn't that way with other tours. My Lisbon tour led by a local friend was 16-18 people at meals which was a PITA for ordering and paying. A lot of spouses. About 10 photographers.
Posted: 07/10/2026 20:37:12
Good to know! Thanks Judy! Posted: 07/10/2026 22:56:07
Wow-what incredible timing to capture this beautiful composition! The black-and-white conversion enhances the image beautifully, emphasizing its shapes, textures, and mood. This has all the qualities of an award-winning photograph. Posted: 07/14/2026 20:06:52
Very nice, Judy. Your composition is extraordinary, especially with the gift of a Golden Spiral from the whale's tale kicking up the ocean spray. You were certainly in the right place at the right moment. You seem pretty keen on Muench Workshops. I'm going to look into them, as I need to do more adventuring afield with my camera. I'm also intrigued by your use of Silver Effects in post processing. I thought your image was B&W at first. Great job! Posted: 07/17/2026 22:11:46
Thanks so much. I am so glad I have kept old raw photos since the editing programs are so much better now. I wish I had learned about developing in the film days. Posted: 07/17/2026 23:03:58
Having tried to catch diving whales before without any luck, I applaud (and am slightly envious of) your timing and focus. Nice job. Posted: 07/18/2026 15:43:14
Thanks. This company still does Alaska trips. They knew how to find the whales. We were in a Zodiac and they were bubble feeding and I was really worried they'd pop up under the Zodiac. Posted: 07/18/2026 18:07:25
I understand. We were kayaking in Glacier Bay with humpbacks surfacing all around us. Wouldn't have taken much to capsize a kayak. I did that all by myself later and doused a camera in saltwater...they hate that. Posted: 07/18/2026 22:22:11
Yikes. Posted: 07/18/2026 22:26:50
Yikes. Posted: 07/19/2026 01:31:07
Tremendous!
I like so many things about this photo, especially:
-The black & white treatment
-The way the spray from the fluke contrasts with the dark background
Well. well done! Posted: 07/19/2026 21:21:05
I like so many things about this photo, especially:
-The black & white treatment
-The way the spray from the fluke contrasts with the dark background
Well. well done! Posted: 07/19/2026 21:21:05