A Collection of Underwater Creatures

In this week’s blog post I’m going somewhat back in time to one of my first outings with a mirrorless camera, before I switched over all my Canon equipment. I wanted to test the capabilities of this newer equipment in one of the most challenging environments I typically photograph: aquariums. They are dimly lit, the subjects are constantly in motion, and focusing through thick and concave glass can prove extremely challenging. The images I am sharing here were taken at San Diego’s Birch Aquarium at Scripps, which offers a diverse collection of fish, molluscs, jellyfish, and more!

In Search of the Sperm Whales

Following a whale-watching flight over the Kaikoura coastline, we also took the opportunity to watch these giants from up close. An early morning cruise with Whale Watch provided several sightings of Sperm whales, the world’s largest toothed predator. These giants of the sea were commonly hunted in the 19th and 20th centuries, which inspired the classic novel Moby Dick. Now the species is protected throughout most of its territory, but there is still work to be done to fully protect them.

Sunset over the Mountains

Today I share images from yet another stunning Kaikoura landscape. Fyffe Quay is a popular sunbathing spot for New Zealand fur seals. They dawdle about well into the evening, providing an unusual opportunity to photograph them at dusk. I was lucky enough to spot a pup posing on a rocky wall, perfectly positioned against the snowy mountains in the background.

Fur Seal Colony Kaikoura

The Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway is a great place to spot kekeno, also known as New Zealand fur seals. These are easily some of my favourite (and in my opinion, most photogenic) marine mammals. I hope you enjoy this selection of fur seals basking on the white rocks of the Kaikoura coastline.

Wings Over Whales

One of my best memories of Kaikoura was taking a whale-watching flight with Wings Over Whales. Although circling the whales did get me a little dizzy by the end, it was amazing to see these marine giants from the air, where you can get a true sense of their scale. During our flight, we saw two sperm whales and a humpback whale, and as a bonus we got to enjoy the view of the surrounding mountains and ocean from the air also.

The Akaroa Harbour

Akaroa peninsula is the best place in New Zealand to spot the world’s smallest dolphin. The Hector’s Dolphin is endemic to New Zealand, and sadly are nationally endangered. In my time in Akaroa, I enjoyed the harbour views before hopping on a boat to try and spot some of these unique dolphins in their natural environment.

Akaroa's Fur Seals

Akaroa is peninsula on the Western coast of New Zealand’s South Island. It is just over an hours’ drive from the city of Christchurch, yet offers a completely different atmostphere. This is New Zealand’s only French settlement, and boasts abundant wildlife. I visited Akaroa for the first time late last year, and one of the highlights of my visit was a private tour to a fur seal colony. As it was Summer, the colony consisted mostly of very young - and very inquisitive - seal pups.

Fur Seals of Katiki Point

Although it is famous for its circular boulders (more on this next week!), Moeraki is also home to a large New Zealand fur seal colony. This is based at Katiki Point, a short walk from the lighthouse. This is an excellent place to get up close to the fur seals, as they climb up from the beach to the grass on either side of the marked path. In the summer, their coats stand in striking contrast to the dried yellow grass.