Strait of Gibraltar

These recordings were made in Tarifa and the Strait of Gibraltar while observing whales and dolphins by the Swiss foundation FIRMM. Many thanks to Katharina Heyer and everyone involved who made this possible. I can warmly recommend this unique experience! Everyone should be able to get this close to wild whales and dolphins at least once in their lifetime. From July to August is the season when you can find orcas (killer whales, killer whales) in the Strait of Gibraltar in addition to the native pilot whales and three species of dolphins.

Tips for whale photography with a digital SLR camera: Fast zoom lens with built-in AF motor, focal length range from 24 mm (directly on the boat) to 600 mm, exposure time min. 1/1000 s, Auto ISO, AF mode on release priority, back button Focus, series connection, UV filter as a splash guard on the lens. Aperture not wide open gives more depth of field. Bokeh is secondary as the motif is exposed enough on the water. Catching a subject and focusing on the right spot is hard enough. The small dolphins in particular are quick. Support yourself with your stomach or buttocks, so you can compensate for the movements of the boat with your upper body and legs. A high vantage point gives a better view and when the sea is calm you can see the animals under water, but you only get good photos when the animals are close enough to the boat and fill the picture format. A low point of view looks more natural and gives the picture depth, since the horizon is often in the picture, but with every movement of the telephoto lens a few degrees up and down, the AF has to change from a few meters away to infinity.