Stephen J Kennedy Photography

I never thought I'd get this close to a humpback whale. This was one of three eastern humpback whales that was so curious it came boat side. This image was taken just off Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. Such a privilege to see and great to see numbers recovering after hunting ended in 1979. The eastern humpback population is now at a healthier 28,000 growing from 8,000 in 1992.
Canon 5D Mk III + Canon 100-400mm at 321mm; 1/1000sec at f/6.3; ISO 200.

A humpback whale relaxes in the calm waters of the Pacific Ocean off the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. This is an Eastern Humpback whale and was one of 3 that we had the privilege of seeing. They were incredibly inquisitive and swam up to the boat a number of times. These guys are completing their migration north up the east coast and will soon be heading south again. The beach in the background is South Stradbroke Island.
Canon 5D Mk III + Canon 100-400mm at 321mm; 1/1000sec at f/6.3; ISO 200.

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The sleek black head of a humpback whale breaks the surface as it comes to take a look at our boat. One of several humpback whales during the annual migration on the east coast of Australia. This was just off Surfers Paradise, Queensland.

Canon 5D Mk III + Canon 100-400mm at 107mm; 1/1000sec at f/4.5; ISO 200.