HUMPBACK WHALES GLIDE PAST BOATS IN SPECTACULAR CLOSE ENCOUNTERS DURING MIGRATIONS
WITH PIX AND VID
By Shuk Yee Tsang
A breathtaking video shows humpback whales passing close to boats off the coast.
The moment was captured by videographer Geoffrey Aquino, 52, from Queensland, Australia in Noosa, Queensland, Australia.
Some days he films from coastline cliffs for a broader vantage point.
Other days, he launches drones from vessels, a task he says requires advanced skill, steady conditions, and strict safety protocols, especially around moving decks.
Capturing such footage is far from simple. He added that predicting where whales will surface is an art of timing and intuition.
Aquino has been a licensed drone pilot for more than eight years and holds multiple permits for the locations he films Seasonal whale-migration content.
No one was harmed in the encounter, and the only subject featured in the video is the whale itself. Aquino is happy to be credited and available for follow-up interviews.
For him, whale encounters near vessels reveal this as he said: “human fascination meeting wild nature… moments that can exist in harmony when approached with respect and understanding.”
“My work spans the full rhythm of Queensland’s coastline from nature and marine life"
"Filming whales is both an art and a challenge.
" They can disappear underwater for long periods, and predicting where they’ll breach across kilometres of open sea requires experience, timing, and intuition.
“When filming, it’s a balance between precision and patience.
“You’re managing unpredictable subjects, shifting weather, and compliance boundaries.
"All while maintaining a calm awareness of the ocean. It’s intense, instinctive work, but deeply humbling.”
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