Orca Breach — Patagonian Hunting Wave
1,199.00 د.إ
A Patagonian Peninsula orca in the intentional beaching hunting behaviour — the whale at half-body length on the beach in pursuit of a South American sea lion pup, the sand spray and receding wave creating the characteristic dramatic frame.
Description
The intentional beaching behaviour of the Peninsula Valdés orca population is one of the most extraordinary cooperative hunting strategies in the animal kingdom, and one of the most difficult wildlife photography subjects — the beaching events occur in seconds, are unpredictable in precise timing, and the optimal photographic position on the beach cannot be established without risk to the photographer. This image was made from an authorised position on the beach cliff above the hunting shore during the autumn sea lion whelping season, using a 400mm telephoto to maintain safe distance while achieving full-body coverage of the event. The orca’s full dorsal profile is visible at the moment of maximum beaching — approximately 60 percent of its 6-metre body length on the wet sand — its white eye patch and saddle patch clearly defined against the black dorsal colouration.
