Passing Sydney

Toward the end of winter, humpback whales begin their journey south along the east coast of Australia, returning from warmer breeding grounds.

We went out to see them just off Sydney, where they passed near the cliffs and occasionally broke the surface beside us. From the boat they felt immense, and the people watching from the headlands suddenly seemed very small.

It is humbling to see these animals in their own environment. Beautiful, powerful, and moving through a migration far larger than anything around us.