Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
An Ocean Beast

This is a photo of a humpback whale in Monterey. The whale came up to our boat within two feet and did something called "mugging" where a whale will go from boat to boat and play with the people by spraying them and flipping their tail fins. This particular whale put its head out and that was when I took the photo.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2024
Date Uploaded: 10.2024
Photo Location: Monterey, California, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS R100
Copyright: © Levi Chabon