Phillip Colla Photography

Blue Whale Balaenoptera Musculus Calif Photo Collection

Blue whale raising fluke before diving
Click to see a larger version!
Blue whale, raising fluke prior to diving for food, fluking up, lifting tail as it swims in the open ocean foraging for food.
Species: Balaenoptera musculus
Location: San Diego, California
Format: Digital 9:16
Copyright © Phillip Colla, all rights reserved worldwide.
Purchase a print of this image
Closed vocabulary cross reference terms:
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Blue Whale
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Whale Anatomy  >  Whale Fluke / Tail
Animal  >  Endangered / Threatened Species  >  Marine  >  Blue Whale
Gallery  >  Blue Whales

Aerial photo of blue whale near San Diego
Click to see a larger version!
Aerial photo of blue whale near San Diego. This enormous blue whale glides at the surface of the ocean, resting and breathing before it dives to feed on subsurface krill.
Species: Balaenoptera musculus
Location: San Diego, California
Format: Digital 3:4
Copyright © Phillip Colla, all rights reserved worldwide.
Purchase a print of this image
Closed vocabulary cross reference terms:
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Blue Whale  >  Blue Whale Aerial
Animal  >  Endangered / Threatened Species  >  Marine  >  Blue Whale
Subject  >  Technique  >  Aerial Photo  >  Blue Whale Aerial

Aerial photo of blue whale near San Diego
Click to see a larger version!
Aerial photo of blue whale near San Diego. This enormous blue whale glides at the surface of the ocean, resting and breathing before it dives to feed on subsurface krill.
Species: Balaenoptera musculus
Location: San Diego, California
Format: Digital 10:16
Copyright © Phillip Colla, all rights reserved worldwide.
Purchase a print of this image
Closed vocabulary cross reference terms:
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Blue Whale  >  Blue Whale Aerial
Animal  >  Endangered / Threatened Species  >  Marine  >  Blue Whale
Subject  >  Technique  >  Aerial Photo  >  Blue Whale Aerial

Blue whale raising fluke before diving
Blue whale, raising fluke prior to diving for food, fluking up, lifting tail as it swims in the open ocean foraging for food.
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Blue Whale
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Whale Anatomy  >  Whale Fluke / Tail

Aerial photo of blue whale with rainbow spout
Aerial photo of blue whale with a rainbow in its blow (spout), near San Diego. This enormous blue whale glides at the surface of the ocean, resting and breathing before it dives to feed on subsurface krill.
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Blue Whale  >  Blue Whale Aerial
Subject  >  Technique  >  Aerial Photo  >  Blue Whale Aerial

Blue whale
Blue whale, the large animal ever to live on earth, underwater view in the open ocean.
Location: Baja California, Mexico
Format: Film 3:2
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Blue Whale
Subject  >  Technique  >  Underwater

Aerial Photo of blue whale mother and calf
This image shows a blue whale pair likely composed of a mother and calf. Blue whale calves will accompany their mothers for approximately a year before being weaned. Female blue whales are larger than males, an adaptation enabling a mother to cope with the physical demands of calving and nursing.
Two blue whales, a mother and her calf, swim through the open ocean in this aerial photograph. The calf is blowing (spouting, exhaling) with a powerful column of spray. The blue whale is the largest animal ever to live on Earth.
Format: Film 2:3
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Juvenile / Calf
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Whale Behavior  >  Mother / Calf Nurturing
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Whale Behavior  >  Whale Blow / Spout
Gallery  >  Aerial
Gallery  >  Blue Whale Aerial
Gallery  >  Blue Whales
Gallery  >  California
Gallery  >  Cetacean
Gallery  >  San Diego
Portfolio
Subject  >  Inspirational

Blue Whale Aerial Photo
Blue whale, mother and calf.
Format: Film 2:3
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Juvenile / Calf
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Whale Behavior  >  Mother / Calf Nurturing

Blue Whale Aerial Photo
A blue whale eating krill. This blue whale is seen feeding and surfacing amid krill with its throat fully engorged with krill and water. It will push the water back out with its tongue, trapping the krill in its baleen which acts like a filter. Aerial photo, Baja California.
Animal  >  Marine Invertebrate  >  Crustacean  >  Krill
Gallery  >  Aerial
Gallery  >  Blue Whale Aerial
Gallery  >  Blue Whales
Gallery  >  Krill
Location  >  Oceans  >  Pacific  >  California (USA) / Baja California (Mexico)

Blue Whale Aerial Photo
Blue whale feeding and surfacing amid krill with engorged throat, aerial photo, Baja California.
Animal  >  Marine Invertebrate  >  Crustacean  >  Krill
Location  >  Oceans  >  Pacific  >  California (USA) / Baja California (Mexico)

Blue whale
A blue whale opens its twin blowholes while breathing at the surface between dives. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. Near Islas Coronado (Coronado Islands).
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Whale Anatomy  >  Whale Blowhole
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Whale Behavior  >  Whale Blow / Spout
Location  >  Oceans  >  Pacific  >  California (USA) / Baja California (Mexico)  >  Coronado Islands
Location  >  World  >  Mexico  >  Coronado Islands

Blue whale
A blue whale blows (exhales, spouts) as it rests at the surface between dives. A blue whales blow can reach 30 feet in the air and can be heard for miles. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. Near Islas Coronado (Coronado Islands).
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Whale Behavior  >  Whale Blow / Spout
Location  >  Oceans  >  Pacific  >  California (USA) / Baja California (Mexico)  >  Coronado Islands
Location  >  World  >  Mexico  >  Coronado Islands

The characteristic gray/blue mottled skin pattern of a blue whale, seen on its dorsal ridge (spine) as its arches its back prior to a dive. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. Near Islas Coronado (Coronado Islands).
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Location  >  Oceans  >  Pacific  >  California (USA) / Baja California (Mexico)  >  Coronado Islands
Location  >  World  >  Mexico  >  Coronado Islands

A blue whale rounds out at the surface before diving in search of food. A blue whale can stay submerged while foraging for food for up to 20 minutes. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. Near Islas Coronado (Coronado Islands).

The characteristic falcate (rounded) dorsal fin and gray/blue mottled skin pattern of a blue whale. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. Near Islas Coronado (Coronado Islands).
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Whale Anatomy  >  Whale Dorsal Fin

A blue whale raises its fluke before diving in search of food. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. Near Islas Coronado (Coronado Islands).
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Whale Anatomy  >  Whale Fluke / Tail

A blue whale blows (exhales, spouts) as it rests at the surface between dives. A blue whales blow can reach 30 feet in the air and can be heard for miles. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. South Coronado Island is in the background.

A blue whale raises its fluke before diving in search of food. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. Near Islas Coronado (Coronado Islands).
Gallery  >  Islas Coronado

Blue whale feces take on the same color as the whales recent food, in this case likely krill or red crabs. Coronado Islands, Baja California.
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Whale Behavior  >  Excreting
Animal  >  Marine Invertebrate  >  Crustacean  >  Krill

Blue whale feces take on the same color as the whales recent food, in this case likely krill or red crabs. Coronado Islands, Baja California.
Animal  >  Cetacean  >  Whale  >  Whale Behavior  >  Excreting

An enormous blue whale is stretched out at the surface, resting, breathing and slowly swimming, during a break between feeding dives. Open ocean offshore of San Diego.

A blue whale blows (spouts) just as it surfaces after spending time at depth in search of food. Open ocean offshore of San Diego.

Water sheets off a blue whales fluke as the whale raises its before diving for food. Offshore Coronado Islands.

Water drips off a blue whales fluke as the whale raises its high in the air before diving for food. Offshore Coronado Islands.

A blue whales fluke is all that can be seen of the huge animal as it sinks underwater to search for food. Note the scarring near the fluke tips, likely from an attack by killer whales (orca). Offshore Coronado Islands.

A blue whale raises its fluke before diving in search of food. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. North Coronado Island is in the background.
Gallery  >  Islas Coronado

A blue whale raises its fluke before diving in search of food. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. North Coronado Island is in the background.

A blue whale blows (exhales, spouts) as it rests at the surface between dives. A blue whales blow can reach 30 feet in the air and can be heard for miles. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. North Coronado Island is in the background.

A blue whale bulky profile -- up to 15 feet across -- is seen from behind as it surfaces between dives. Usually only one-fifth of a blue whale is visible at the surface. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. Near Islas Coronado (Coronado Islands).

A blue whale blows (exhales, spouts) as it rests at the surface between dives. A blue whales blow can reach 30 feet in the air and can be heard for miles. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. North Coronado Island in the background.

Blue whale rounding out at surface, North Coronado island in background.

A blue whale rounds out at the surface before diving in search of food. A blue whale can stay submerged while foraging for food for up to 20 minutes. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. North Coronado Island is in the background.

Blue whale surfacing, Isla Coronado del Norte in background, Baja California (Mexico).

Blue whale, raising fluke prior to diving for food, fluking up, lifting tail as it swims in the open ocean foraging.

Blue whale, raising fluke prior to diving for food.

Blue whale, blows (exhales).

Remoras are seen holding on to the dorsal ridge (back) of this blue whale. Remoras latch on to blue whales while they winter in warm southern waters. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds.

A blue whale rounds out at the surface. Note its scarred, almost totally absent dorsal fin. Offshore Coronado Islands.

A blue whale blows (spouts) just as it surfaces after spending time at depth in search of food. Offshore Coronado Islands.

Blue whale.
Subject  >  Technique  >  Underwater

An enormous blue whale raises its fluke (tail) high out of the water before diving. Open ocean offshore of San Diego.

Blue whale, raising fluke prior to diving for food, fluking up, lifting tail as it swims in the open ocean foraging.
Location: California

Aerial photo of blue whale near San Diego
Aerial photo of blue whale near San Diego. This enormous blue whale glides at the surface of the ocean, resting and breathing before it dives to feed on subsurface krill.
Gallery  >  Blue Whale Aerial

Aerial photo of blue whale near San Diego as it swims on its side turning and blows a bubble of air out of its blowhole. This enormous blue whale glides at the surface of the ocean, resting and breathing before it dives to feed on subsurface krill.

Aerial photo of three blue whales socializing
Aerial photo of three blue whales socializing near San Diego.

Aerial photo of blue whale exhaling at the surface
Aerial photo of blue whale exhalilng with a giant blow at the ocean surface near San Diego. This enormous blue whale glides at the surface of the ocean, resting and breathing before it dives to feed on subsurface krill.

Aerial photo of two blue whales near San Diego
Aerial photo of two blue whales near San Diego. These enormous blue whales glide at the surface of the ocean, resting and breathing before diving to feed on subsurface krill.

Image 21274, Phillip Colla Photography
Blue whale, exhaling in a huge blow as it swims at the surface between deep dives. The blue whale's blow is a combination of water spray from around its blowhole and condensation from its warm breath.
Location: La Jolla, California
Location  >  USA  >  California  >  San Diego  >  La Jolla

Image 21293, Phillip Colla Photography
Blue whale, exhaling in a huge blow as it swims at the surface between deep dives. The blue whale's blow is a combination of water spray from around its blowhole and condensation from its warm breath.
Location: La Jolla, California
Location  >  USA  >  California  >  San Diego  >  La Jolla

Image 21275, Phillip Colla Photography
Blue whales, two blue whales swimming alongside one another.
Location: La Jolla, California
Location  >  USA  >  California  >  San Diego  >  La Jolla

Blue whale. The sleek hydrodynamic shape of the enormous blue whale allows it to swim swiftly through the ocean, at times over one hundred miles in a single day.

Blue whale, exhaling in a huge blow as it swims at the surface between deep dives. The blue whale's blow is a combination of water spray from around its blowhole and condensation from its warm breath.

Blue whale, swimming through the open ocean.

Blue whale fluking. An enormous blue whale raises its powerful fluke (tail) high out of the water as it makes a steep dive into the open ocean.

Blue whale aerial photo.
Blue whale, swimming through the open ocean.
Gallery  >  Aerial La Jolla
Portfolio