Humpback Whale, Pt Retreat Lighthouse, Juneau, Alaska-Image #2919

Alaska’s humpback whales returned to Juneau from their annual migration from Hawaii sometime in May. This single whale is diving off the northern end of Admiralty Island with the Pt. Retreat Lighthouse in the background. During the fireweed season the lighthouse is surrounded by fireweed, and the fireweed came really early this year because of the amazingly dry and warm weather we had during the months of May and June. The scene in this image is pretty iconic for Alaska with a whale, a lighthouse, fireweed and the dramatic backdrop of the Alaska Coastal Range. Those of us who call Juneau home are so lucky to live here. Thank you for visiting. Copyright Mark Kelley 2015 – Camera: Nikon D800,  Lens: 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom,  Digital capture, ISO 400, polarized