Photo ID Catalogue

A better understanding of the animals we observe not only helps us protect them, but also deepens our awareness of the environment they share with other species — including ourselves, Homo sapiens, who are equally part of this ecosystem.

This philosophy, combined with growing requests for collaboration in photo-identification research, inspired the creation of our photographic databank.

The goal is not to build a new catalogue, but to offer an open, collaborative tool accessible to everyone — curious visitors, whale watchers, students, and researchers — where images can be uploaded, shared, and cross-referenced with existing identification catalogues.

The primary reference for this work remains the pioneering catalogue created in 1987 in the Azores by IFAW, Dr. Jonathan Gordon, and Dr. Lisa Steiner, whose contributions continue to guide photo-identification efforts across the Atlantic.

Blue whale surfacing in calm waters, showing its streamlined body and dorsal fin

Choose a Photo-ID year

List of 2019's Photo ID

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 30
  • Behaviour: Foraging/Nursing
  • Number of animals: 3
  • Group composition: 2females, 1calf
  • Observations: #calf Whitehead
  • GPS:  38°-20'-31"N-28°-19'-20"W
  • Date:  08.24.2019 at 10h47
  • Photographer:  João Quaresma

Physeter macrocephalus


08.23.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 120
  • Behaviour: Foraging
  • Number of animals: 1
  • Group composition: female
  • Observations: Daisy
  • GPS:  38°-17'-3"N-28°-25'-27"W
  • Date:  08.23.2019 at 17h20
  • Photographer:  Adrien Laydevant

Physeter macrocephalus


08.23.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 90
  • Behaviour: Foraging
  • Number of animals: 1
  • Group composition: female
  • Observations: Stephanie
  • GPS:  38°-18'-43"N-28°-24'-27"W
  • Date:  08.23.2019 at 17h06
  • Photographer:  Adrien Laydevant

Physeter macrocephalus


08.23.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 270
  • Behaviour: Foraging
  • Number of animals: 1
  • Group composition: female
  • Observations: -
  • GPS:  38°-20'-65"N-28°-24'-74"W
  • Date:  08.23.2019 at 11h22
  • Photographer:  Adrien Laydevant

Physeter macrocephalus


08.17.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 300
  • Behaviour: Foraging
  • Number of animals: 1
  • Group composition: female
  • Observations: #251
  • GPS:  38°-22'-97"N-28°-6'-50"W
  • Date:  08.17.2019 at 10h24
  • Photographer:  João Quaresma

Physeter macrocephalus


08.16.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 270
  • Behaviour: Foraging/Nursing
  • Number of animals: 2
  • Group composition: 1female, 1calf
  • Observations: #Maxou
  • GPS:  38°-23'-33"N-28°-7'-22"W
  • Date:  08.16.2019 at 16h18
  • Photographer:  João Quaresma

Physeter macrocephalus


08.16.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 120
  • Behaviour: Foraging
  • Number of animals: 1
  • Group composition: female
  • Observations: #Donner
  • GPS:  38°-23'-20"N-28°-2'-40"W
  • Date:  08.16.2019 at 11h18
  • Photographer:  João Quaresma

Physeter macrocephalus


08.16.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: -
  • Behaviour: Foraging/Socializing
  • Number of animals: 2
  • Group composition: females
  • Observations: -
  • GPS:  38°-22'-99"N-28°-2'-46"W
  • Date:  08.16.2019 at 11h05
  • Photographer:  Adrien Laydevant

Physeter macrocephalus


08.16.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: -
  • Behaviour: Foraging/Socializing
  • Number of animals: 2
  • Group composition: females
  • Observations: -
  • GPS:  38°-22'-99"N-28°-2'-46"W
  • Date:  08.16.2019 at 11h05
  • Photographer:  Adrien Laydevant

Physeter macrocephalus


08.16.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 90
  • Behaviour: Foraging
  • Number of animals: 1
  • Group composition: female
  • Observations: #125
  • GPS:  38°-23'-29"N-28°-4'-51"W
  • Date:  08.16.2019 at 11h04
  • Photographer:  João Quaresma

Physeter macrocephalus


08.16.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 90
  • Behaviour: Foraging
  • Number of animals: 1
  • Group composition: female
  • Observations: -
  • GPS:  38°-23'-38"N-28°-9'-24"W
  • Date:  08.16.2019 at 10h24
  • Photographer:  Adrien Laydevant

Physeter macrocephalus


08.15.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 110
  • Behaviour: Foraging/Socializing
  • Number of animals: 1
  • Group composition: female
  • Observations: -
  • GPS:  38°-17'-46"N-28°-3'-51"W
  • Date:  08.15.2019 at 16h29
  • Photographer:  Adrien Laydevant

Physeter macrocephalus


08.15.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 300
  • Behaviour: Foraging
  • Number of animals: 1
  • Group composition: female
  • Observations: -
  • GPS:  38°-15'-26"N-28°-13'-33"W
  • Date:  08.15.2019 at 15h52
  • Photographer:  Adrien Laydevant

Physeter macrocephalus


08.14.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 270
  • Behaviour: Foraging/Nursing
  • Number of animals: 2
  • Group composition: 1female, 1calf
  • Observations: -
  • GPS:  38°-15'-16"N-28°-14'-67"W
  • Date:  08.14.2019 at 16h30
  • Photographer:  João Quaresma

Physeter macrocephalus


08.14.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 270
  • Behaviour: Foraging
  • Number of animals: 1
  • Group composition: female
  • Observations: -
  • GPS:  38°-15'-18"N-28°-13'-32"W
  • Date:  08.14.2019 at 15h54
  • Photographer:  João Quaresma

Physeter macrocephalus


08.14.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 300
  • Behaviour: Foraging/Nursing
  • Number of animals: 4
  • Group composition: 2females, 2calves
  • Observations: -
  • GPS:  38°-18'-53"N-28°-15'-23"W
  • Date:  08.14.2019 at 11h08
  • Photographer:  João Quaresma

Physeter macrocephalus


08.14.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 270
  • Behaviour: Foraging/Nursing
  • Number of animals: 2
  • Group composition: 1female, 1calf
  • Observations: #103
  • GPS:  38°-19'-50"N-28°-13'-80"W
  • Date:  08.14.2019 at 10h28
  • Photographer:  João Quaresma

Physeter macrocephalus


08.12.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 120
  • Behaviour: Foraging/Nursing
  • Number of animals: 2
  • Group composition: 1female, 1calf
  • Observations: #251
  • GPS:  38°-24'-9"N-28°-23'-59"W
  • Date:  08.12.2019 at 16h02
  • Photographer:  João Quaresma

Physeter macrocephalus


08.12.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 120
  • Behaviour: Foraging/nursing
  • Number of animals: 2
  • Group composition: 1female, 1calf
  • Observations: #252
  • GPS:  38°-23'-96"N-28°-24'-15"W
  • Date:  08.12.2019 at 15h50
  • Photographer:  João Quaresma

Physeter macrocephalus


08.12.2019

Physeter macrocephalus

Physeter macrocephalus

  • Trip Number: -
  • Heading: 270
  • Behaviour: Foraging
  • Number of animals: 2
  • Group composition: females
  • Observations: Maxou
  • GPS:  38°-24'-1"N-28°-25'-70"W
  • Date:  08.12.2019 at 11h20
  • Photographer:  Adrien Laydevant