Breathtaking encounter with humpback whales captured by B.C. filmmakers
When a group of B.C. filmmakers set out on a small fishing boat near Powell River last week, they hoped to capture some video for a documentary on humpback whales.
What happened next blew their minds.
"Staring into the eye of a humpback whale is an experience like no other,” said filmmaker Jonah Lee-McNamee, who was among six people on the expedition.
Lee-McNamee said the group spotted two whales in the distance, and killed the boat’s motor in an attempt to keep their distance – but the humpbacks apparently had other plans.
"We didn't get close to the whales, the whales got that close to us. They chose to approach us out of their own curiosity,” said Lee-McNamee.
He recounted looking down and seeing one whale swimming directly under the boat.
“I’m freaking out,” he recalled. “If these whales wanted to, they could have just flipped us over easily – they’re massive creatures,”
But Lee-McNamee said about half an hour into the encounter, the crew started to sense they were in the presence of gentle giants.
"These whales, despite their size, have incredible agility, and the way they moved in the water was like watching a dance,” he said. “We just said, OK, let’s just enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.” .
Lee-McNamee, the son of CTV News Vancouver anchor Mi-Jung Lee, will direct the documentary, “Hope for the Humpbacks,” about the return of humpbacks to B.C.
He hopes the film will be ready some time in 2025, so that others can catch a catch a glimpse from that breathtaking experience.
"All of us on the crew kind of felt like it was a divine moment that these whales came to play with us for our humpback whale documentary,” Lee-McNamee said. “We’re just so thankful that these whales chose us.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard found not guilty of sexual assault
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
Missing B.C. climber died from fall on Mount Baker, medical examiner says
The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.
Following child's death in Ontario, here's what you need to know about rabies and bats
An Ontario child died last month after coming into contact with a rabid bat in their bedroom, which was the first known human rabies case in Canada since 2019.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
Anne Hathaway confirms 'Princess Diaries 3': 'Miracles happen'
You might be thinking, 'Shut up!' but it’s officially true: the 'Princess Diaries' franchise is finally growing.
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Sask. man pleads guilty in U.S. after unknowingly providing videos of men raping toddlers to FBI agent
A Saskatchewan man living in the United States has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after he unknowingly provided disturbing videos to an FBI agent he thought was a pedophile.