Interesting Photo of the Day: Splitting the Catch

Interesting Photos

Whales in some parts of the world have learned to follow the noise and activity of fishing boats in order to catch any herring near them. When the boats’ nets begin to close, the whales recognize what’s happening and take the opportunity to cut off any herring escaping the nets as they close. It’s sometimes a beneficial relationship for both the whales and the people fishing. Fishermen often locate killer whales and humpbacks to find the schools of herring that reside near them:

A killer whale getting a free meal on leftover from a fishing vessel. (Via Imgur. Click image to see full size.)

Photographer Audun Rikardsen captured this photograph in the Arctic water off of Norway. His equipment includes the Canon EOS 5D Mark III with a 11-24mm f/4 lens at 11mm, 1/200 of a second, f/6.3, ISO 640.

Audun has custom-made housing for his camera setup that was specially designed so that he can take split-level pictures in low light. This involves getting close enough to the whales and the boat, requiring the cooperation of the fishing crew and his own caution. He runs the risk of either disturbing the whale or being dragged into the boat’s propeller!