Image 1 of the sequence: A Humpback Whale throws its tail. In these photographs the whale is upside down...you are looking at it's ventral, or belly side...so the tail is slammed down on the top, or back (dorsal) side. Here the tail is just starting to lift off the water.
Image 2 of the sequence: A Humpback Whale throws its tail. In these photographs the whale is upside down...you are looking at it's ventral, or belly side...so the tail is slammed down on the top, or back (dorsal) side. Here the tail is being lifted higher into the air.
Image 3 of the sequence: A Humpback Whale throws its tail. In these photographs the whale is upside down...you are looking at it's ventral, or belly side...so the tail is slammed down on the top, or back (dorsal) side. Water streams off the tail as it nears the top of its arc.
Image 4 of the sequence: A Humpback Whale throws its tail. In these photographs the whale is upside down...you are looking at it's ventral, or belly side...so the tail is slammed down on the top, or back (dorsal) side. The maximum height or upward lift is reached.
Image 5 of the sequence: A Humpback Whale throws its tail. In these photographs the whale is upside down...you are looking at it's ventral, or belly side...so the tail is slammed down on the top, or back (dorsal) side. Now the tail has changed to a downward thrust.
Image 6 of the sequence: A Humpback Whale throws its tail. In these photographs the whale is upside down...you are looking at it's ventral, or belly side...so the tail is slammed down on the top, or back (dorsal) side. Downward thrust of the tail, almost ready to slam against the ocean surface.
A Humpback Whale Tail Slap Series Montage.
The whale lifted its tail high up out of the water, then slapped it down forcefully...several times.
This is made by stitching together 8 individual images that were shot in a sequence.
This is not a "live" photo of 8 whales, but a montage of 8 photos of one whale.
A blast of air along with the water that has collected around the blowhole characterizes the spout of the whale.
A close up look at the head and spout.
Head, viewed from the left side, showing the knobs and the large splashguard around the twin blowholes.
Deep dive, tail flukes waterfall.
Last glimpse of tail flukes as the Humpback goes on a deep dive to eat krill that is 100 feet (30 meters) or so below the surface.
Another mighty tail slap.
Lifting the tail flukes for a deep dive.
Hump and dorsal fin of a Humpback Whale in the Santa Barbara Channel with the west end of Santa Cruz Island in the background.
Two Humpbacks.
After completing 5 or 6 tail slaps, the beast is seen here rolling over, diving and heading southwest (to the right side of the photograph).
