UPY  Portrait - Highly Commended}

UPY  Portrait - Highly Commended
'Eye contact with humpback whale'
Mike Korostelev

Sometimes animals are very curious. In that day I met 2 adult males humpbacks who were super curious. They came up and tried to look inside the boat when I was in the boat. In the water they looked to me, touched me, tried to play with me. It was funny that when I decide to return back to the boat they tried to stop me.

Judge's comment: I'm aware of this type of behaviour particularly with big animals, however, notwithstanding how close the humpback was to you, you were set up with camera in hand waiting for that decisive moment. A most deserved highly commended in the category.
- Martin Edge