Whales

Aerial Photography Argentina Whales

Aerial Photos of Mating and Courtship Among Southern Right Whales at Peninsula Valdes, Argentina

Each winter and spring, Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis) gather along Argentina’s Península Valdés, particularly in the calm, protected waters of Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José. From about June through November, these gulfs serve as breeding and nursery grounds where adults, juveniles, and mothers with calves congregate. The whales…

Phil CollaNovember 1, 2025

Argentina Underwater Photography Whales

Southern Right Whales on the Peninsula Valdes, Argentina, 2025

I made another visit to Peninsula Valdes, on the southern coast of Argentina, to photograph Southern Right Whales in September. I spent 16 days there with 9 of them on the water. We had pretty good weather and didn't miss any of our scheduled water days but did have to…

Phil CollaOctober 22, 2025

Argentina Underwater Photography Whales

New Photos of Southern Right Whales in Argentina, Eubalaena australis

After a three year break, I made it back to Peninsula Valdes with friends in September for another visit with Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis). There were two sessions planned and I was looking forward to both. The first was filled with sunny weather, inquisitive whales and generally great conditions.…

Phil CollaNovember 8, 2022

Argentina Underwater Photography Whales

Courtship and Mating Groups Among Southern Right Whales

Courting groups of whales are spectacular. I have seen many humpback courting groups (aka, active groups, or heat runs, although the latter is misleading) in Hawaii and, at one time in my life, was tasked with getting in the water to determine who the focal animals were (female and male)…

Phil CollaOctober 26, 2022

Argentina Whales

Southern Right Whale White Calf, Peninsula Valdes, Argentina

About 5% of southern right whale calves are born white, although that is a rough statistic which varies from year to year, study to study and which population is studied (Argentina or South Africa). A white calf is not an albino though, since it lacks the pink eyes of true…

Phil CollaOctober 25, 2022

Underwater Photography Whales

The Greatest Muscles in the Animal Kingdom

You think you've got horsepower in your Lamborghini? You got nothing compared to what Mother Nature has conjured in the great whales. Having evolved to roam the open ocean their entire lives, sometimes at considerable speed, the great whales have the most impressive drive train in the animal kingdom, capable…

Phil CollaMay 2, 2020

Argentina Underwater Photography Whales

Underwater Photos of Southern Right Whales, Eubalaena australis

In September 2019 I was able to visit Puerto Piramides, a town on Peninsula Valdes on the coast of Argentina, to photograph Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis). This had been a dream of mine since the 90s when I was active in humpback whale research in the Hawaiian Islands. One of…

Phil CollaMarch 10, 2020