Mom and Her Calf

A calf, mother, & escort humpback whale dance & spin in the emerald blue of Tonga. The leviathans circled directly beneath me. The calf began to ascend towards the surface, as the youngling needs to breath much more often than the adults.

Let's play together!
2 Humpback whales are playing with a school Rough-toothed dolphins.
With Canon5Dmark IV camera, Canon8-15mm Fisheye Lens, nature light.
F/5,1/320,ISO500.

This cheeky humpback rolled and frolicked at the surface before giving me an up close swish of it's fluke and returning back down to mom resting below.

A playful humpback whale rolls and frolics just below the surface of the water in Ha'apai, Kingdom of Tonga.
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Humpbacks in Tonga

Humpback whale calf fly-by
This gorgeous calf gave us one this one epic fly-by as mom rested below before swimming off into the blue. Ha'Apai, Kingdom of Tonga.

Magical world swimming with Humpback Whales in Tonga.

Humpback mom and calf
Sometimes things go just right. A mother and calf humpback approach within 15 feet in gin clear water off the sandy shallows of Ha'apai, Tonga.

Eye to eye with a humpback whale.
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Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
I only had a couple of seconds to reset my focus points and switch to portrait orientation as this stunning adult humpback whale slowly ascended to the surface off the coast of Ha'apai, Kingdom of Tonga.
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Mother and baby Humpbacks in the shallow waters of Tonga.

I encountered this baby humpback in Tonga , this year. I stayed there for about half a month, but I have a stronger impression than any whale I have ever met. Even though new born calf was curious and played well with me.

This energetic boy was very artistic. His dance was like a solo ballet.
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Flip.
Humpback calf rolls around belly up.

Looking up in Swallows Cave

The stillness of Swallows Cave - Tonga

Humpback calf.

Vortex.
Freediver floats amidst the baitfish of Swallows Cave, Tonga

Reverence.
Young adult male humpback poses for a shot.

Joy.
Humpback calf frolics near the surface.

FLUKE
Every whale has unique markings on its fluke.
Shot taken in Vava'u Tonga with the Olympus OMD EM1Markii & 12mm lens
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Cosmic
Humpback whale suspended in the deep sea, looking like it's floating in space.
Shot on Olympus OMDEm1 Markii, Contrast and brightness, saturation adjustments in Lightroom

Humpback calf comes closer for a look.
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Having fun with a Humpback Whale
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Tiny crab living living underneath a nodosus starfish.

Beautiful Humpback performing close-up for me in Tonga.