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

14th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Eye Spy

This photograph captures a whale behaviour called "spy hopping" where whales poke their head above the water to take a look around and see what is happening above the surface. Whales have extremely good vision and so I have always found this behaviour intriguing and I wonder what they are thinking when they are "people watching" in this way. To me this is such a special moment where I can't help but feel that on some level we are bridging the gap between land and sea.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2016
Date Uploaded: 11.2016
Photo Location: Hervey Bay, Australia
Copyright: © Mark Seabury
Awards
Photo of the Day: 12.16.16
Editor's Pick