Man who captured whales at feeding time – from his kayak

Paddling in a tiny kayak, an intrepid photographer captured the moment when rare humpback whales emerge from the deep to feed off the shores of Alaska.

The images were captured by Duncan Murrell, 56, who situated himself within touching distance of the giant mammals without disturbing them as they hunted for prey.

The task demands steady nerves, as Mr Murrell has to avoid trapping himself while the whales herd mackerel by releasing a string of bubbles which form a net around the fish. "I try to make sure that I'm on the right side of the net."

Mr Murrell, originally from Paignton in Devon, said his penchant for close-up whale photography began 20 years ago while he was exploring an archipelago near Alaska.