Alaska Photos ~ Alaska Stock Photography ~ Alaska Pictures

Photos of Whales

All of the Whale photographs on this site are available as stock photos for commercial licensing or as fine art display pictures for home and office decor.

Visit the Gallery of

Whale photos

• Search ALL Whale Photos
• Search Killer Whale (Orca) Photos
• Search Humpback Whale Photos
• Search Fin Whale Photos

Killer Whale (Orca)

Orca, or Killer whale breaches in Port Gravina, Prince William Sound, Alaska. © Patrick J. Endres

The Killer Whale is technically not a whale, but rather the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. In Alaska, there are two types of Orcas: Residents and Transients. They are differentiated primarily by their diet and some behavioral variations. The terms "resident" and "transient" do not imply that one stays around and one leaves. The Residents feed predominantly on fish and the transient Orcas hunt primarily marine mammals. Groups called pods form lifelong bonds and frequent the same areas. For further reading see The Killer Whales of Prince William Sound by Craig Matkin, or a more current look can be found at the North Gulf Oceanic Society website

Humpback Whale

Humpback whales breaches in the southern waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska. © Patrick J. Endres

Humpback whales are large baleen whales averaging 40-50 feet in length and weighing up to 79,000 pounds. Their unique shape and acrobatic tendencies make them easy to spot, particularly when they breach out of the water. Humpbacks come to Alaska to feed on the abundant krill that thrive in the cool northern waters. In the winter the whales migrate, sometimes 15,000 miles or more to warmer waters where they breed and give birth. They live off their fat reserves in the winter. Because of this, they feed aggressively in the summer with a variety of methods, including bubble net feeding, lunging, and stunning fish by slapping the water. Humpback whales are commonly seen in the Southeast and Southcentral regions of Alaska. Learn more about the Humpback whale at the American Cetacean Society web site

Fin Whale

Fin Whale, Prince William Sound, Alaska. © Patrick J. Endres

The Fin Whale is long and slender, the second largest whale after the blue whale. It is found worldwide in all oceans except at the poles near icepack. The fin whale eats small fish, squid, and crustaceans, by swimming with its mouth open, then closing it to filter out the water through its baleen. Mating occurs every two-three years during the winter in temperate waters, and while one calf is common, as many as six have been reported.

Bowhead Whale

Bowhead whales are hunted by the Inupiat eskimos of the Arctic coast of Alaska. The whale is a vital part of their culture and sustenance. © Patrick J. Endres

The Bowhead whale thrives in arctic waters where it survives with a very thick layer of fat (2 feet) insulating it from the chilling waters. They feed on plankton and migrate seasonally, based on the icepack. The Inupiat of Arctic Alaska have long hunted the whale, and it remains a vital part of their culture and food source.

Inupiate Heritage Center, Barrow, Alaska. © Patrick J. Endres

back to top of page