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Photographer Spots Sneaky Grey Whale Next To Unsuspecting Whale Watchers
Photographer Spots Sneaky Grey Whale Next To Unsuspecting Whale Watchers
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Photographer Spots Sneaky Grey Whale Next To Unsuspecting Whale Watchers

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Nature occasionally brings wonder and surprise, though we often have to look for it very closely. But sometimes nature goes out of its way to bring the surprise all by itself. Let me elaborate. Today’s story is about a few resurfaced photos where a grey whale sneakily popped up behind unsuspecting sightseers and pleasantly surprised them. The photographer E. Smith, who closely and carefully watched the situation, caught this rare moment and shared it on his Instagram, and unsurprisingly, caught a lot of attention for it in the media. Him capturing the moment was no coincidence, as Smith knew how whales act and they tend to be really sneaky. In fact, they’re so sneaky that the maneuver has a name: it’s called a spy hop. So without further ado, here are the amazing photos.

More info: esmithimages.com | Facebook | Instagram | twitter.com

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    “The calf made an appearance near the bow of the boat causing everyone to look forward”

    Image credits: esmith_images

    Here’s the whole story in his own words.
    “Every morning, small groups of visitors onboard small motorboats known as pangas, to see the whales. In this photograph, a panga with people from my camp were known as a cow and a calf pair. My fellow whale enthusiasts from Campo Cortez in Baja wait for an appearance at the front of their boat. The calf made an appearance near the bow of the boat causing everyone to look forward. While this awesome spy hopper snuck up behind everyone at super close range in a behavior called a spy hop. Cheering and hysterical laughter ensued.”

    “A second later, the mother emerged a foot behind the stern in a behavior called a spy hop”

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    Image credits: esmith_images

    “This shot is the second before everyone caught on and cheers erupted.”

    “And the winner of hide and seek is…”

    Image credits: esmith_images

    “I’m ready for my close up”

    Image credits: esmith_images

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    “I mean… she’s totally posing. No two ways about it. The grey whales of Baja are something else. These photos from March put me in a good mood. Ignorance was bliss that week.”

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    Image credits: esmith_images

    “Happy accidents are rare, but I try to put myself in scenarios where they are much likelier to occur. I also make it a point to have a good camera with me at all times, because you never know when you’ll see something amazing. I’m always viewing the world in single frames and can’t really turn it off. I’d rather be ready to make an image of a great moment than have it fade from my memory.”

    Image credits: esmith_images

    Image credits: esmith_images

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    Image credits: esmith_images

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    Image credits: esmith_images

    “Well hello! It’s good to meet you! As Henry David Thoreau wrote, ‘The world is but a canvas to our imagination.’ Below the surface of Baja’s San Ignacio Lagoon last week, a young grey whale swam close for a look. I’m so fortunate to have had these remarkable experiences.”

    Image credits: esmith_images

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    Image credits: esmith_images

    Image credits: esmith_images

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    Image credits: esmith_images

    Image credits: esmith_images

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    Image credits: esmith_images

    Image credits: esmith_images

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    Hidrėlėy

    Hidrėlėy

    Author, Approved Contributor

    Read more »

    I am a Brazilian digital artist who loves transforming imagination into hyper-real visuals. I work with artificial intelligence and image editing to create what I always wondered as a child: how would our favorite characters look in real life? Over time, many of my artworks have gone viral and were featured in international publications. I have recreated realistic versions of cartoon characters such as Disney and The Simpsons, imagined how celebrities who died young would look today, and even gave modern faces to historical figures like Mona Lisa or Shakespeare. Beyond entertainment, I created Para Não Esquecer, a social project that revisits memorable criminal cases in Brazil. My goal is to honor victims, keep memory alive and remind society that justice and empathy matter. I also write for Bored Panda, where I create articles featuring artists, photographers, rescue stories and feel-good moments from around the world. My work aims to highlight creativity, kindness and emotional storytelling. In everything I do, my purpose is the same: to touch hearts, evoke emotion and make people feel something real.

    Read less »
    Hidrėlėy

    Hidrėlėy

    Author, Approved Contributor

    I am a Brazilian digital artist who loves transforming imagination into hyper-real visuals. I work with artificial intelligence and image editing to create what I always wondered as a child: how would our favorite characters look in real life? Over time, many of my artworks have gone viral and were featured in international publications. I have recreated realistic versions of cartoon characters such as Disney and The Simpsons, imagined how celebrities who died young would look today, and even gave modern faces to historical figures like Mona Lisa or Shakespeare. Beyond entertainment, I created Para Não Esquecer, a social project that revisits memorable criminal cases in Brazil. My goal is to honor victims, keep memory alive and remind society that justice and empathy matter. I also write for Bored Panda, where I create articles featuring artists, photographers, rescue stories and feel-good moments from around the world. My work aims to highlight creativity, kindness and emotional storytelling. In everything I do, my purpose is the same: to touch hearts, evoke emotion and make people feel something real.

    Titas Burinskas

    Titas Burinskas

    Moderator, Community member

    Read more »

    This dude right here? He works as a Community Manager at Bored Panda. Has no back-story, cause his spine works just fine. He writes about himself in third-person, and in first-person about others. Fell in love with storytelling and cannot let that love go. Now, he's here to help you make your own story simply beautiful. Secretly makes cute music samples and writes stories in the dark that nobody has ever heard of before.

    Read less »

    Titas Burinskas

    Titas Burinskas

    Moderator, Community member

    This dude right here? He works as a Community Manager at Bored Panda. Has no back-story, cause his spine works just fine. He writes about himself in third-person, and in first-person about others. Fell in love with storytelling and cannot let that love go. Now, he's here to help you make your own story simply beautiful. Secretly makes cute music samples and writes stories in the dark that nobody has ever heard of before.

    What do you think ?
    Cassie Ward-Renshaw
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Aww this is so cute! Shes like a big puppy she let them pat her nose 😍 this is where whales& dolphins belong not in tanks, you can meet them in the wild!

    Linda HS
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Whale videos, specially humpbacks, are always a winner! They love being petted, scrubbed and love being around boats with humans in it. She “spying” on the humans, is her way of saying “ I am comfortable to show you my baby”. Love whales! 🥰

    elfin
    Community Member
    Premium
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The ultimate photobomb.

    Load More Comments
    Cassie Ward-Renshaw
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Aww this is so cute! Shes like a big puppy she let them pat her nose 😍 this is where whales& dolphins belong not in tanks, you can meet them in the wild!

    Linda HS
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Whale videos, specially humpbacks, are always a winner! They love being petted, scrubbed and love being around boats with humans in it. She “spying” on the humans, is her way of saying “ I am comfortable to show you my baby”. Love whales! 🥰

    elfin
    Community Member
    Premium
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The ultimate photobomb.

    Load More Comments
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