WOW! What an incredible photo! Is this a full sized adult? Can you give me some background on taking this photo. Is the water usually this calm and clear? How were you able to get so close? Was this whale lifting it's entire head out of the water often?
@Giant Eland Thank you! Was a young whale, I read somewhere it was about 17 metres long, but I don´t think it was more than 12. Sadly, was sick and very slim (probably with the stomach full of plastic) and one afternoon entered on a harbour in a small city in Northern Spain, looking for refuge I guess. That´s why the water is so calm, I took the picture from the wharf in fact, and the whale swam so close to land that you almost could touch it. Stayed there until the afternoon on the next day, when Maritime Safety (not sure how it is called in English) guided it back to the open sea. Never was seen again, but I´m afraid probably died soon, was in really bad condition... Was sad to see a so magnificent animal in such condition, but also probably my only chance to see a Fin Whale so close. I knew about this whale at night, and next morning I woke up at 4 am and drove four hours just to try to see it, with no idea if still would be there. One of the most crazy trips I have made XD.
On these pictures you can have a better idea:
Here you can see the size compared with the boat and people on it: Balaenoptera physalus
A short video: Balaenoptera physalus
How close was to land: Balaenoptera physalus
And a more general view: Balaenoptera physalus
Wow, ahh okay that makes more sense. Once again sorry for the animal's condition, but congrats on making the trip- absolutely worth it for such a unique opportunity and great photographs! How did you find out about the whale being there in the first place?
@Giant Eland I knew thanks to Facebook, someone from that city took pictures of the whale few time after entered on the harbour and shared them on a Spanish site about cetaceans, and keep updating all the evening. At night the whale was still there so I set the alarm to few hours earlier
