Rudolph Crossing

U.S. Route 89A. AZ

Crossing signs are so much more fun when they are customized, aren't they?  Pop art?  Found art?  Hmmm.  I dunno. I suspect Duchamp would approve.

Whale's Spout

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, f/5, 1/1600s, ISO: 400

It's kind of tough to get shots of whales spouting unless there are a couple close together like in this picture.  It's usually the spout that catches the eye and by the time the camera is ready the spouting is done.

Whale's Tail

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, f/5.6, 1/2000s, ISO: 2000

What is it about the whale's tail that makes it so interesting?  Why is it so much more fun to see a whale's tail than its blow hole?

Humpback Whale

I went on a whale watching excursion yesterday.  We saw about twenty humpback whales.  We saw a couple of whales breach one a couple of hundred yards away and the other much further off.  In most cases we could only see a small portion of the whale at any given moment.  This series of photos gives pretty good idea of what the whale looks like, at least the upper half.

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

Humpback Whale -- Monterey Bay, CA

A Humpback's Hump

Humpback Whale -- Pacific Grove, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM, f/5.6, 1/1600s, ISO: 1250

The warm weather has driven the whales close to shore this year.  No need to get in a boat to see these fantastic creatures, although I'll probably get out for an excursion this weekend.  If I'm lucky I might even see some killer whales.  Wouldn't that be amazing?

Photo selection inspired by Geogypsy's Foto Friday Fun 127, image #0057.

Goulding Campground

Goulding Campground, UT
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM, f/6,3, 1/80s, ISO: 100

Not too bad of a view from the Goulding Campground, eh?  That's Monument Valley in the distance.  We stayed here for the night before exploring John Ford's old stomping grounds this summer.

Talastima Cliff Dwelling

Talastima Cliff Dwelling, Navajo National Monument, AZ
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM, f/5.6, 1/60s, ISO: 125