Saw a whale but couldn’t line up the shot… how do you guys do it?

Buying Advice Forum
1

I spotted a whale a fair distance out today and tried to fly my drone over it to catch a clean breaching shot from above, but I really struggled to position myself right. I’ve had this happen a few times.

What’s the best way to track where a whale is, then get the drone there quickly and accurately? I always feel like I miss it by a few seconds.

I’ve got a few DJI drones, the Matrice 4T, Mavic 3, and the 4 Pro. The 4 Pro seems like the best for this, but I’m open to tips.

Would appreciate any advice!

2

What kind of whales? If you’re after humpbacks, here’s my take:

You’ve got to fly out to the area where you last saw them and just wait. If you wait until you see a spout and then launch, they’re usually already gone. If you spot a tail, expect a long wait.

Breaches are super random — best chance is catching a playful young one doing it a few times. Adults might do it once or twice then disappear.

Honestly, it’s all about patience, lots of practice, and a little luck.

3

@Piper
Yeah, humpbacks.

When they’re 1.5–2km out, it’s tough to get right over them. The Matrice 4T has great tracking, but switching between lenses is clunky. And my controller isn’t charging right now.

So I’m using the Mavic 4 Pro for now. My current approach is to wait until I spot a whale and have a solid reference point like a reef or cloud pattern before I fly.

Looks easy on a BBC doc, but it’s way harder in real life.

I’ll head out again tomorrow. Drones, cameras, and diving — that’s my thing. Also, my Matrice footage isn’t syncing with Adobe’s Creative Cloud, so I’ve been using Final Cut instead, which is kind of a hassle.

If anyone here wants to help me level up my editing skills, I’d be happy to pay for the time. I’ve wasted too many hours trying to figure it out solo.

4

@Mai
You’ve really got to learn their patterns. I used to chase every whale I saw — now I wait for clear signs like a playful calf or heat run. Otherwise, you waste your whole battery on a spout and miss the real action later.

5

@Mai
I’ll DM you how I do it — don’t want anything for it though, just happy to help.

6

Why are you doing this? In a lot of places, following wildlife like this with drones is illegal.

7

Corey said:
Why are you doing this? In a lot of places, following wildlife like this with drones is illegal.

This is in Australia, where rules are strict. I’m not breaking any laws.

I work in conservation and part of what I do involves gathering data on marine life. My flights are done at safe distances — usually over 100m up and more than 50m away.

You’d probably be shocked at what actual whale-watching boats do, much closer and louder.

Also, how do you feel about tagging? Because that’s way more invasive than what I’m doing.

8

Corey said:
Why are you doing this? In a lot of places, following wildlife like this with drones is illegal.

Drones are way less disruptive than the boats full of tourists chasing whales every day. New drones with zoom lenses let you stay far back.

I’ve never seen a drone bother a whale. Boats? All the time.

9

@Piper
Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen:

10

Corey said:
@Piper
Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen:

Yeah I’ve read that article. It feels like they’re saying ‘maybe it’s a problem… or maybe not.’

Honestly, I don’t always trust what advocates say. I’ve seen people preach about ethics, then fly to countries with zero rules to get their shots.

I still think you can follow the rules and film responsibly — but sure, some people take it too far.

11

@Piper
The Guardian’s a great paper, and I agree with the general message. Big groups of low-flying drones? Not good.

But I’m staying 100m up, often even further out thanks to zoom. I’m trying to get close enough for decent footage without actually being close.

It’s also in an area with no other drone traffic. The biggest issue for whales here is all the noisy boats and jet skis.

Drones can be an amazing tool for conservation when used with care — look up the tree kangaroo studies from Queensland.

Saying ‘don’t film wildlife with drones’ is like saying all boats harm whales because some idiots drive over them.

Stick to smart flying, follow the rules, and it can be a good thing.

12

Please stop bothering wildlife. People like you are the reason new laws are being made.

13

Zuri said:
Please stop bothering wildlife. People like you are the reason new laws are being made.

That’s not true. Whale watching boats with loud engines are way more disruptive than I ever could be flying at 100m up.

Please don’t assume stuff without understanding the full picture. I’m very careful with how I do this.

14

You could try using the rangefinder on the 4T to lock in the whale’s location.

But whales move fast, so it’s not easy.

15

Skylar said:
You could try using the rangefinder on the 4T to lock in the whale’s location.

But whales move fast, so it’s not easy.

Tried that — just wasn’t quick enough with the controls. Once my controller’s fixed I’ll give it another go.

Might try dropping a waypoint on the Mavic 4 Pro for now.

Still getting the hang of all this. Got some OK shots, but I know I can do better.

16

@Mai
The Mavic 4 Pro is honestly perfect for whale shots. I’ve flown mine out 6km and caught 20+ breaches on one battery.

17

Claire said:
@Mai
The Mavic 4 Pro is honestly perfect for whale shots. I’ve flown mine out 6km and caught 20+ breaches on one battery.

Appreciate that! Some folks here clearly don’t know what they’re talking about (not you!).

I’m heading out again tomorrow with the 4 Pro — fingers crossed!