Pictures supplied; Rachelle Mackintosh

Acclaimed freelance photographer Rachelle Mackintosh has turned her lens toward the ocean for her latest project, capturing stunning footage of humpback whales in action off the Cronulla coast.

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Operating on board a Cronulla Whale Watching vessel, Mackintosh captured a series of spectacular images between Bundeena and Cape Baily from June 9 to June 14. Among the highlights was a young, playful humpback whale that delighted onlookers by repeatedly placing seaweed on its head.

The whale-watching season is just getting started, but activity along the coast is hotting up quickly, making it the perfect time for locals and tourists to get out on the water. While June and July are considered the peak months to witness the spectacular northward migration of humpback whales to warmer waters, the majestic creatures can be spotted anytime between May and October.

Mackintosh, a Gymea Bay resident is no stranger to capturing world-class wildlife moments. She was named a winner in the 2025 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year awards for an image of an orca. Her diverse portfolio also earned her a Travel Photo of the Year accolade at the Australian Society of Travel Writers' annual awards for her image of an elephant at the Kapama Private Game Reserve. Her commercial work has been featured by high-profile tourism bodies including Destination NSW and Tourism Australia, and her wildlife photography has appeared in major international publications such as USA Today.

Throughout her illustrious career, Mackintosh has lapped the world several times to get close to animals and share their stories. Her favourite global adventures include tracking tigers in Siberia, gorillas in Rwanda, chimpanzees in Uganda, cheetahs in Namibia, big cats in India, and polar bears in the subarctic. She has also embarked on numerous expeditions across outback Australia, Iceland, the US, Africa, Jordan, Canada, New Zealand, the Indian Ocean, the South Pacific, south-east Asia, Japan, and Finland. Her underwater encounters are equally impressive, having swum with humpbacks, whale sharks, dwarf minke whales, great white sharks, and giant manta rays.

When she isn't travelling the world or cruising the coast for whales, Mackintosh keeps busy by producing her Wild Lives podcast and creating fine art prints of her favorite wildlife images. Her latest work and ongoing adventures can be followed on her Instagram page @faunographic.