This adorable female elephant seal was bobbing her head up and down the whole time I was near her. I think she may have been trying to toss sand on her back, which could be to keep her body temperature comfortable while on land. Each time she kept getting higher and higher, her mouth crept open further. I just waited and timed this shot, at the highest point of her motion, mouth and eyes fully open with wonder, and a pink tongue in all its glory. It was almost like she knew I was wanting to photograph her, so she put on her best show. St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands GPS Coordinates: 54°26'10.979" S 36°11'17.441" W
Can you believe this elephant seal photobombed me? I was watching this King preen itself over and over for a few minutes and particularly liked how it had its neck and head angled, with its beak flush to its body. So I snapped away, casually glanced at my screen in the bright sun, confirming I got it and walked away. It wasn’t until later that night when I was looking through my photos from the day, back on the ship, when I noticed the photobombing elephant seal. She just wanted to wave and say “Hi there, the Kings aren’t the only things here you can photograph you know?" St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands GPS Coordinates: 54°26'11.099" S 36°11'17.682" W
This adorable puffball wandered right up to me, not more than a 2-3 feet from where I was standing. It just sat there, all still, looking up at me inquisitively, its tiny eyes revealing so much of its character and how interested it was in figuring me out. I had my camera on my tripod, complete with the usual setup and big lens, so maybe it thought it was another penguin like itself, only larger? But with some odd creature behind in dressed in a bright red coat? A few of the others on this expedition to South Georgia were fortunate enough to have these cuties peck and nibble at their water/wind proof winter pants. While all his/her buddies were running around all crazily, like kids on a playground, it did not move an inch from where I was. I’d like to think we were both fascinated with each other. Salisbury Plain, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands GPS Coordinates: 54°3'39.137" S 37°19'31.361" W