Minke Whale Surprise
- Svalbard Photography Expedition
- How to Get to Svalbard (and what to do once you are there)
- Svalbard Photography Tour
- A Snowmobile Trip to East Svalbard
- Svalbard Photography Expedition on the M/V Freya
- Landscapes of Svalbard
- Harp Seals in the Sea Mist
- Falling in Love with the Arctic Walrus
- The Bearded Seal - A New Favourite
- Minke Whale Surprise
- Polar Bears (a.k.a. pixel bears)
- The Birds of Svalbard
- Reflections on Our Trip to Svalbard (and Svalbard Departure Tips)
We were at the front of the ship photographing a walrus when, out of nowhere, a minke whale sighting! It surfaced right in front of the bow. We heard the explosive exhale first, then saw its head break the surface — so close I could barely react. I pointed frantically but the only thing that came out of my mouth was a loud whisper of: “Holy shit!”
It was too close for my lens, but thankfully Andy had the right setup and managed to get a shot. Despite having done a minke whale diving trip years ago, this was actually our first proper sighting — and it totally took us by surprise.
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Minke whales are the smallest of the baleen whales, but still grow up to 10 meters (33 feet) long.
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They’re known for being elusive and fast-moving, often surfacing briefly and unpredictably — which makes sightings like this even more special.
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They can live up to 50 years and feed mainly on krill and small fish, using baleen plates to filter food from the water.
Next up — Polar Bears (a.k.a Pixel Bears)
We’re Andy and Jennifer—two former corporate executives who chose long ago to prioritise experiences over stuff while pursuing our passions for travel and photography. From the Arctic to Antarctica, and most places in between, we’ve captured the world through our lenses and love sharing those stories. Our careers gave us the means, but our purpose is inspiring others to explore and helping people create images they’re proud of.
