maui

Humpback whale, Maui, Hawai’i

Wow! This took my breath away. I couldn’t believe I actually caught the image. These whales come rocketing out of the water with such speed and unexpected timing, it is impossible to be ready. This one was so close, I had to quickly zoom out with my long lens to get her in the frame.

While in Maui, I went whale watching twelve times. That was twice a day, most days. Yep, I’m a little crazy for whales. And obsessive about getting a photo. And I got the shot!

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Green Turtle, Maui, Hawai’i

By Kimberli Bindschatel

Turtles, turtle, turtles! I’ve always wanted to see a sea turtle hauled out onto the beach. I had no idea when heading to Maui last month, that I’d get that chance. And there were eighty! People kept telling us about the beach where we could see them. We’d get vague directions from tourists who hadn’t really paid that much attention. Then, lo and behold, there they were, blending in with the rocks. I ran for my camera and plopped down on my knees in the sand, so excited I hit a rock and broke open my knee. I didn’t care though. Not right then. There were turtles!

For two hours, I watched as, one by one, they emerged from the bubbling surf and crawled up onto the beach–to rest, sun themselves, no one knows for sure. No where else in the world do adult sea turtles leave the water for anything other than laying eggs. But this particular species in Maui does. And it was an amazing sight to witness. I stayed until the sun was well below the horizon, getting every photo I could in that beautiful light. It was like magic.

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Turtles!

By Kimberli Bindschatel

I’ve been researching sea turtles for my latest book, Operation Turtle Ransom, and wanted to see turtles while in Maui if possible. Who knew that the green turtles there haul out to sunbathe or rest. Apparently, this behavior is an anomaly. No other turtles in the world are known to do this. For other sea turtles, males head for the sea as hatchlings and never set foot on sand again. Females only come ashore to lay eggs. But not Maui turtles.

Every night around sunset, at Hookipa Beach (known for world famous Windsurfing), the turtles come ashore in large numbers. There were 83 there when I saw them. They blend in with the rocks.

Personal space is invaded as they crawl onto each other to get out of the water.

Then they hang out, taking a snooze,

Amazing to witness. I am blessed.

Whales!

By Kimberli Bindschatel

Just got home from two weeks in Hawaii, most of the time spent on Maui. Wow, the whales! So this happened. I was zoomed in to 400mm, photographing a calf when, shazam, mom rockets out of the water between us. This is full frame. I zoomed out as fast as I could and got

this shot. The best whale photograph I’ve ever captured. So excited! Still pinching myself. That’s going on the wall!

Here’s the calf, practicing breaching like mom, building up those muscles for the long trek to Alaska.

The next morning, very early, we came upon a competition group, that’s where several males follow a female and fight for her attention. Two males (we assume) breached over and over again beside the boat. Lighting wasn’t great, but this one was the best shot. Amazing!

Another of the humpback whale’s showy surface behaviors is a powerful maneuver known as a peduncle throw. The peduncle is the muscle where the tail fluke connects to the body. A peduncle throw is a quick, powerful upward and sideways thrust of the fluke and peduncle, landing with a huge splash of water.

I’ve photographed humpback whales in Alaska, Mexico and now Maui, but this is by far the most beautiful fluke shot I’ve even got. The light is stunning, don’t you think?

Tail slapping.

Another cool fluke shot.

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