Just about anyone can capture a quality sunset image, but it's a special moment when a photographer can capture a blaze-orange sunset with whales in the frame.
This is especially true when one of the whales is diving, and the sea water pouring from its fluke is the color of lava.
The accompanying image was captured by Katie Dunbar, a naturalist for Monterey Bay Whale Watch . Understandably, it was widely shared on Facebook.
"The singular moment was amazing," she said. "For me it sums up the phenomenon of the concentration of humpbacks. In one moment there were three whales with the setting sun, and normally we are lucky to see just one!
"As a biologist of course I am thrilled to see so many whales here to feed, the abundance of a recovering species. But as an artist I relish the opportunity to see such beautiful creatures, especially in such aesthetic conditions."
Hundreds of humpback whales have been feeding in Monterey Bay for more than a month, lured by a phenomenal showing of anchovies.
Dunbar said the image was not photoshopped.
"I literally didn't do any editing, it's just cropped for composition and rotated to have a straight horizon line," she said, adding that she used a Canon 7D with a 70-200mm f/4L USM lens."
Monterey Bay Whale Watch, commenting on its Facebook page , wrote: "It was the perfect end to a perfect day."
–Pete Thomas
