Sea Lions, Stephens Passage, Alaska #3403

Last week I spent a day in Tracy Arm onboard the Captain Cook. As we left, heading north to Juneau some 40 miles away, Captain Steve took us by the Midway Islands in the middle of Stephens Passage to enjoy a sea lion haul-out. Usually these haul-outs are a belching, blubbering mass of writhing individuals trying to bully their way to the best resting spot. I have photographed these haul-outs and rookeries all over Southeast Alaska and as a photographer it is hard to make visual sense of the scene. I never, ever expected to find a sweet tender moment in all this confusion, and I was so thrilled when I was able to isolate this blissful moment. Enjoy and Happy Fourth of July – Camera: #Nikon #D850, Lens: # Nikkor 80-400mm, Digital Capture, Hand Held, ©Mark Kelley