Sails and whales

Took a drive out to Ho'okipa Beach, Maui today to see what the surf was like.  The wind was blowing and the surf was up.  A local resident said typically conditions are either right for surfers OR windsurfers but not both at the same time.  Rounding the corner on the highway approaching the beach, it became quickly apparent that conditions were right for windsurfers and even a couple kite-surfers, too.  I figured I'd try my hand at photographing the brightly colored butterfly wings whisking across the surf.

If you look in the background of the photos above, you'll see two Pacific humpback whales breaching!  I noticed a splash as the last picture was taken but thought nothing of it, packed up and went back to the car.  I had no idea the whales were in the pictures till everything was downloaded to my computer.  They aren't perfect pictures by any means but what are the chances of getting such a back drop?  Something seemingly minor like being in the right place at the right time and coming away with unexpected pictures like these has certainly made me smile all day.


(Thank you to my friend Robin for the perfect title for these pictures "Sails and Whales".)