Harp seal whitecoat pup (Pagophilus groenlandicus, phoque du Groenland, Saddleback Seal, Greenland Seal). Gulf of Saint Lawrence near the small archipelago of The Magdalen Islands in Quebec, Canada. 70-200 f/2.8 @160mm ISO 200 f/14 @ 1/500s.
The harp seal pup often has a yellow-white coat at birth due to staining from amniotic fluid, but after one to three days, the coat turns white and stays white for 2–3 weeks, until the first molt.
Harp seal mother and pup HOWL (Pagophilus groenlandicus, phoque du Groenland, Saddleback Seal, Greenland Seal). Gulf of Saint Lawrence near the small archipelago of The Magdalen Islands in Quebec, Canada. 24-105 @47mm ISO 400 f/10 @ 1/320s.
Dr. Jack Terhune studied seal communication at the University of New Brunswick and has measured the amplitude of seal calls. His research has shown that harp seals, often living in groups of up to 150, can alter the pitch of their calls so that each seal can be heard. Off the coast of Newfoundland, there are between 5.5 and 6.5 million harp seals in regular migration up and down the eastern seaboard. One seal’s call could be heard by 10,000 other seals at a range of two to four kilometers away, so the changes of pitch and frequency are important to avoid overlap.
Harp Seal WHITECOAT (Pagophilus groenlandicus, phoque de Groenland) On pack ice in The Gulf of St. Lawrence, off the Magdalen Islands (Îles de la Madeleine), Quebec. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Canon 1Ds MK II, Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 58mm ISO 400 f/9 @ 1/320s Manual Mode. PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE.
Here's a Harp Seal Pup from a trip I made to the Magdalen Islands (Îles de la Madeleine) in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence in 2007. I just re-worked the image using my current workflow before sending it off for publication. This is one of those images that still grabs my attention when I look into those eyes…hard to imagine what could be in it's future…
Harp seals pups are known as ‘whitecoats’ due to their thick, white, insulating fur, which becomes whiter in the first two weeks of life. After two weeks, this fur begins to moult, revealing the silver-grey and black fur beneath
Flying out over the Gulf of the St. Lawrence in a helicopter was nowhere near how amazing it was to spend time with these whitecoats. I'm thinking of organizing a workshop in early March, 2014. Shoot me an email if you re interested in more details. chris@chrisdoddsphoto.com
A Canadian Bell Helicopter takes flight from the The Magdalen Islands (Îles de la Madeleine) at sunrise to take a group of nature photographers out to photograph the Harp Seals on the pack ice in the middle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Canon 1Ds MK II, Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 65mm ISO 250 f/9 @ 1/400s Manual Mode. PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE.
A Canadian Bell Helicopter lands on the pack ice in the middle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence near the Magdalen Islands (Îles de la Madeleine) in The Gulf of St. Lawrence in Quebec while being directed by an ice guide. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Canon 1Ds MK II, Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 65mm ISO 250 f/9 @ 1/400s Manual Mode. PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE.