All Washed Up by graemestevens

All Washed Up

A blue whale was washed up at Tapuae Beach, Okurukuru yesterday. Okurukuru is roughly a 5 minute drive from home, followed by a 30 minute beach walk (one way) in what can only be called "obnoxious weather" to get to the rocky outcrop where the whale has come to rest. It was very sad to see but the aroma is one that I won't soon forget.
This is very sad for the whale. I'm sad now, really! But from a photography point of view, you make a great shot. You could have show (sorry, I don't know how to spell it well) all of the whale but you framed it the most powerfull way possible. You are a good photographer Graeme. A really good one with a lot of creativity and sensitivity! It's a FAV.
July 5th, 2014  
wonderfully emotive - so sad - beautiful image
July 5th, 2014  
A sad shot beautifully presented.
July 5th, 2014  
@daneau Thanks very much - as the tide was coming in, and the location of the whale, it was impossible to get the entire whale without sharing it's fate. Very sad though.
@annied Agreed and thank you very much.
@ukandie1 Thanks you very much. Much appreciated.
July 5th, 2014  
well done for making the effort! Good image - did they manage to save?
July 5th, 2014  
@lorrainelouise Thanks very much - no, they didn't save it, apparently it had been dead for a week or so prior to finally being washed ashore.
July 5th, 2014  
Lovely, sad, and fascinating photo. (Somehow I was expecting a mermaid story)
July 5th, 2014  
Fascinating image Graeme and dreadfully sad . you handled it well
July 5th, 2014  
Very sad to see a wonderful creature come to an end like this. Great tribute shot Graeme. At least the Japanese didn't get this one.
July 5th, 2014  
It still leave a beautify curve.
July 5th, 2014  
I like the contrasts in this shot.
July 5th, 2014  
FAV*)
July 5th, 2014  
@johenn thanks very much - no mermaids sadly, but as soon as I site one the photo will be on here!
@ceilidh Thank you very much :)
@golftragic thank you very much - always appreciated. I was tempted to call the shot "Sushi" but thought that might be cutting it a bit fine...
@yaorenliu Thanks, it does even for all it's sadness
@spanner thanks for that, appreciated
@katerinatina Thank you very, very much
July 5th, 2014  
@graemestevens Good pun, poor taste, glad you thought better of it.
July 5th, 2014  
Beautifully dramatic!
July 5th, 2014  
Sad for the whale but well captured
July 5th, 2014  
@creativefool thanks very much :)
@wearing0 thank you, and very sad
July 5th, 2014  
How very sad, but a great picture. Fav
July 5th, 2014  
Sam
It is sad but whales have an end life too! It's nature! I'm sure he is going to Whale Heaven where he will have an endless supply of plankton!
July 5th, 2014  
@888rachel Thank you very much :)
@gigiflower absolutely agree with you there, but there's still a certain sadness about it. Especially about the smell. And the exercise I had to subject myself to just to get there. Sheesh.
July 5th, 2014  
Sam
@graemestevens HAHAHAH I'm glad the sadness is all about you ;)
July 5th, 2014  
This image really tells a story, like the B&W. Always sad to see these beautiful creatures dead, great image :-)
July 5th, 2014  
That is very sad Graeme. Was it a fully grown whale? If so it would have been enormous on the beach. Bet you wished you had smell-cam.
July 5th, 2014  
Oh how sad. The b/w suits the feel
July 5th, 2014  
I thought it was a mermaid for a moment there! Such a sad thing to come across but it did make for a great shot which will hopefully raise some awareness about these fellows! x
July 5th, 2014  
Sad subject portrayed with compassion.
July 5th, 2014  
pulls the heart strings.
July 5th, 2014  
what a sad sight
July 5th, 2014  
Something so moving about this image................well captured!
July 5th, 2014  
.....melancholic touching image
July 5th, 2014  
So sad such a touching image
July 5th, 2014  
A sad image but so sensitively composed.
July 5th, 2014  
Great image, love the composition
July 5th, 2014  
@gigiflower I work in Sales. Everything is about ME ;)
@hermann thanks you very much :)
@terryliv Thanks - not fully grown but still quite large. I was toying with the idea of the wide angle lens but didn't really want to be changing lenses with all the salt spray and wind!
@flyrobin thank you very much
@lilminimonka If I ever see a mermaid I'll post a photo straight away!
@newbank thank you very much
@blueberry1222 It does indeed
@shannejw very much so, thanks
@lynnilou thank you very much
@nookie72 thank you very much
@scolgs thanks, much appreciated
@snaphappi Thanks very much, it's not often that I manage to arrive at sensitive ;)
@dougapic thank you, very much appreciated
July 5th, 2014  
Great shot very sad
July 5th, 2014  
The choice of PoV/crop may have been forced on you but the drama of the immensity of just a part of this magnificent creature is what makes this a breath-catching image - Fav.
July 5th, 2014  
beautiful, sad and though provoking... fav
July 5th, 2014  
@pittcj17 Thanks very much
@northy Thanks, very much appreciated
@vignouse Yes, didn't have a lot of choice on safe places to be, and thanks very much, always appreciated
July 6th, 2014  
How sad. It is a wonderful shot! Beautifully composed.
July 6th, 2014  
@cailts thank you very much :)
July 6th, 2014  
I saw the news item about this and immediately thought if you and wondered if you went to see it. So this photo doesnot disappoint. I also read it had started decomposing inside, so I am not surprised about your comments about the smell. Your photo, to me, reflects the sadness of the demise of one of the giants of the ocean. A wonderful tribute
July 6th, 2014  
@deliad thank you very much. It was a sad sight, pleased I managed to do it "justice" for want of a better phrase
July 6th, 2014  
Superb shot! Love the curvy line of the body. Fav!
July 6th, 2014  
So sad. Something I have never seen. I think you framed it will so it would be 'tasteful" but I am sure being there was anything but. Love the b and w. Fav
July 6th, 2014  
@eyeamlisa Thank you very much indeed
@espyetta Thanks very much, much appreciated
July 6th, 2014  
What a sad but amazing shot
July 6th, 2014  
This is so well done; it's difficult to photograph something of this nature and make it visually appealing. fav.
July 6th, 2014  
@neatz Thanks you very much
@kamen088 Thank you very much, and for the follow, much appreciated
July 7th, 2014  
Fascinating POV! It's always sad when the whales wash up on shore.
July 7th, 2014  
@harbie thanks very much
July 7th, 2014  
You have composed and processed this with sensitivity. Wonderful
Composition.
July 7th, 2014  
@lleo thank you very much, really appreciate that
July 7th, 2014  
Beautiful evocative image, thanks for the effort in capturing
July 9th, 2014  
@pusspup Thank you very much, and for the follow
July 9th, 2014  
Amazing b&w...fav!
July 10th, 2014  
@achoris thanks so much :)
July 10th, 2014  
Very dramatic composition. Using only part of the animal in your picture only adds to its strength.
July 12th, 2014  
@bankmann thanks very much, much appreciated feedback
July 12th, 2014  
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