Filming the Southern Resident Killer Whales: A Journey to Puget Sound
A few months ago, I had the incredible experience of producing a short film about the Southern Resident killer whales in Puget Sound near Seattle with my good friend Chris Fischer. You can now watch the short film, so be sure to stick around till the end of this post to see where it’s available!
Prepping for the Shoot
We arrived late at our Airbnb but still needed to prep our gear in case we got the call that killer whales were nearby. Our destination: Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, where we would be filming the Southern Resident killer whales with the Center for Whale Research.
Gear prep is always a critical step, and troubleshooting is inevitable when combining resources between multiple filmmakers. One challenge we faced was balancing the gimbal with our G2 camera—it just wasn’t working. Plan B was to use a tripod on the boat, though it wasn’t ideal. Eventually, we opted to go handheld and shoot at 120 frames per second to help stabilize the footage.
Meeting the Experts
The next morning, we met Dr. Michael Weiss at the Center for Whale Research. His expertise in studying the social behaviors and hunting strategies of these orcas was invaluable. Southern Resident killer whales rely primarily on Chinook salmon, a species that is in sharp decline due to overfishing and barriers like dams that prevent their spawning.
Waiting for the Orcas
For the first two days, no orcas were in the area. As any wildlife filmmaker knows, patience is key. To make the most of our time, we filmed aerial footage of the San Juan Islands using a drone, capturing the breathtaking environment these whales call home.
While launching the drone, we encountered a curious harbor seal. Respecting wildlife is always a priority, so we kept a safe distance while filming.
The Moment We Had Been Waiting For
On day three, everything changed. Reports came in that J-pod was offshore. Chris, working directly with the Center for Whale Research, rushed out the door to join their team. I prepared to head out with a whale-watching tour to capture additional footage.
The excitement of seeing orcas in the wild is indescribable. Through the mist, they appeared, moving gracefully through the water. Filming at 600mm handheld on a rocking boat was a challenge, but the experience was unforgettable. Meanwhile, Chris had an even closer encounter, filming from the boat, and getting incredible footage for the research team as they studied the whales from above with their drone.
Why This Film Matters
The main reason I set out to produce this film was to raise awareness about the dire situation of the Southern Resident killer whales. Unlike other orcas that prey on marine mammals, these whales rely almost entirely on Chinook salmon. With salmon populations in decline, these whales are starving. Many factors contribute to this crisis, including overfishing, habitat destruction, and the barriers posed by massive dams.
How You Can Help
Wildlife filmmaking is my passion, and I want to continue sharing stories like this. Every film I release on YouTube is done in my spare time outside of my professional work for networks like the BBC and Nat Geo. To help me create more behind-the-scenes content and impactful films, I’ve launched a Patreon page.
By becoming a patron, you’ll get exclusive access to additional content, filmmaking insights, and even one-on-one discussions about nature and conservation. If that sounds interesting, check out the link in the description!
The completed short film, 75: The Story of the Southern Residents, is available on our website at ReelEarthFilms.org. Head to the ‘Films’ section to watch it and learn more about these incredible whales.
Thank you for being part of this journey and for supporting conservation storytelling!
