WhaleWatcher.net is dedicated to helping whale enthusiasts with information about the Humpback whales and particularly about photographing them. We also try to educate whale watchers about the amazing experience of going out in smaller boats in the warm, calm waters of Hawaii or other tropical breeding grounds. Experiencing these incredible 50 foot animals up close, sometimes no more than a few feet away, is exhilarating and difficult to put into words. So we put our words to photographs!

About Jim Tierney

Being out on the ocean and photographing the whales is an amazing experience. It goes beyond words and images, although, of course I try. When you’re out there and you see a 50 foot, 50 ton animal propel itself out of the water and spin like a ballerina… it’s simply one of the most spectacular things ever. And it’s that way every time I see it. So much power.

I try to capture the beauty and the power. If you’ve been out there, you know the images are just a shadow of the real thing. Still… the images trigger that part of your brain that remembers the wind and the water. That remembers what it was like to see a whale twice the size of your boat glide by and fluke up a few feet away.

Sometimes you just have an experience that wakes you up out of your normal existence. That’s what seeing these animals for the first time was like. I was just stunned and amazed by them. That was four years ago and I’ve been chasing them around since. It’s become a complete passion. If you’re part of that ‘cult of the whale’ (those of you who come out every year to spend a week or so with them) you know what I’m talking about. In any event, regardless whether you’re part of the ‘cult’ or not, I hope you enjoy the images and information here on WhaleWatcher.net. And if you’ve never seen a whale in real life, please… come on out to Hawaii and join us on one of the boats. It’s a thrilling, beautiful experience.