I know it’s just a grey lump in the water, but to me this is the shot I’ve been waiting for my whole life.   This is the first time I’ve every seen a wild whale with my own eyes.  Yes, I’ve seen trained killer whales at aquatic parks and, of course, I’ve seen loads of documentary films on whales.  But this is my first live encounter with an untamed one.

A few days ago I took my camera to work with me.   I had seen a news report that there was a California grey whale in the channel of a nearby boat harbor,  so during my lunch break,  I went down to breakwater at the mouth of harbor.  No whale.  Oh well, I got some other shots of interesting things so it wasn’t a complete waste of time (see previous post).    That was Wednesday.  This morning, Saturday, I decided to take a chance that the whale was still in the harbor and went down again with my camera.  I climbed out on the breakwater like I did a few days earlier.  Still no whale.

Then I saw a group of people on the breakwater on the other side of the channel.  They were looking at something.   I hopped in my car and drove all the way around to the other side.   I parked and walked about a mile out to the end of the rocks to where the people were gathered.

Then I heard it:  the whooshing sound of a whale blow.  Jackpot.   (The yellow spot on the map is the location of the whale.  I was on the strip of rocks just above it, about 35 or 40 feet from the animal).

I knew that I would never be this close to a wild whale again.  The law in these parts say that one cannot approach by boat protected marine animals.  Getting too close means a hefty fine and time in jail (rightly so). So the whale being this close to land is an opportunity that will most likely not happen again for me.  This would be my one-and-only-chance to get the photo I have been waiting decades to get.

I turned on my camera and poised myself.  Suddenly, the animal breached.  The crowds oooh-d and ahhh-d.  I quickly lifted my camera and snapped the shutter.  There was a long pause and a very slow click just as the whale moved back under the water.  I looked at the camera’s monitor and my heart jumped.  The glaring red flash of the “low battery” indicator blinked at me.

“NO!”   I said, a tad too loud because heads snapped around to look at me.  “Stupid, stupid, stupid”… I realized that I had left home without putting new batteries in my bag.

I snapped a few more pictures, each one with a delay that allowed the animal to sink back into the water before the shutter snapped.  Finally, the camera completely gave up the ghost and shut itself off.   I sighed and settled back to watch the whale gracefully lolling around in the water.  I got lost in watching the whale and the people watching it.  Fathers and mothers were lifting children onto their shoulders and pointing, “Do you see it?  Do you see the whale?”

I was briefly moved to tears:   this creature was so amazing and perfect that I finally concluded: what the hell, so I didn’t get a picture.  I am seeing this wonderful animal with my own eyes.   Me!   What did I do to deserve so great a gift?

It was  joyous.

But I did learn a few things that I want to pass on to you.  First, always take your camera with you.  You won’t get that perfect shot if you don’t have it.  Second, always, always, ALWAYS keep fresh batteries with you.  Duh.  I knew that but I didn’t do it this time and I paid for it.  Third, be willing to go the extra mile (literally).  Twice I went looking for the whale.  I was willing to try the third time and climb out on nearly a mile of breakwater to get the shot.

Finally, look for the miraculous in the ordinary.  It may look like only  a grey lump in the water, but to me it is one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life.

Here he is again, up close:

To read more about grey whales, see my article from two years ago: A Whale Watching Meditation.

Text and images:  L. Gloyd (c) 2009

PS:  I may just go back out there again soon with fresh batteries, just to see………………..