Photographing Whales and Seals Along Washington’s Coast - Course Preview

Professional photographers Photographers Doug Gardner and Aaron Baggenstos take you on a chartered boat off the coast of Washington State to photograph harbor seals and killer whales. You will get technical and creative advice and learn how to get high quality shots under less-than-ideal circumstances.

Doug and Aaron take you on a chartered boat in the ocean off the coast of Washington State, not far from Canada. There lives the endangered orca whales, also known as Southern Resident killer whales. These whales have become endangered because of the diminishing supply of Chinook salmon they feed on – each whale needs about 200 to 300 salmon a day just to survive.

Because orcas aren’t easy to find, Doug and Aaron hire a guide who knows where to look. On the way, they spot some harbor seals on a rock outcropping and instruct you in how to take the best pictures under less-than-ideal conditions of a moving boat and harsh sunlight. When the guide takes them to the right place to find the whales, Doug and Aaron instruct you how to photograph these unpredictable but beautiful creatures while they get some stellar shots themselves.

See all of the videos in our Photographing Whales and Seals Along Washington’s Coast Course:

• THIS PAGE: Photographing Whales and Seals Along Washington’s Coast – Course Preview
• Locating Harbor Seals: Wildlife Photography
• Wildlife Photography: Capturing Southern Resident Killer Whales