Humpback whales swimming in the waters off San Luis Obispo, Calif. created an unexpected and incredible photo opportunity for Bill Bouton.
The retired college biology professor had set out for a day of snapping bird images when he stumbled on the pod breaching the ocean surface scarily close to kayakers and paddlers. Bouton used a 700mm lens on his Canon EOS 7D to capture the stunning shots.
BONUS: A Kayaker's Up Close Video of a Humpback Whale