A stunning series of photos show a whale in the Galapagos Islands giving a cheeky wave to the camera.

The two humpback whales frolicked in the sea as the sun set over the islands, off the coast of Ecuador.

Young wildlife photographer Sam Rowley, 20, from London, snapped the shots on a recent two-month tour to the islands.

Poser: A humpback whale gives a wave for the camera while frolicking in the sea in the Galapagos Islands

Making a splash: The series of stunning images were captured by 20-year-old wildlife photographer Sam Rowley

Take-off: The pair of humpback whales staying in the area for around 10 minutes, frolicking in the sea at sunset

'I was always prepared and always carried all the necessary equipment around with me for unexpected events like this,' Sam, a biology student at the University of Bristol, told MailOnline.

'One evening my guide and I saw a whale breach on the horizon,' he said.

'We just jumped straight in a dinghy and went out. There was a lot of craziness and excitement.

'They're one of the biggest animals in the world, and to see them when it's just you and them, at sunset in one of the most beautiful places in the world was just awesome.

'They were about 30 metres away and it felt like we were watching something quite intimate.

'It was tricky to anticipate where and when they would breach, but with help from my friends and my concentration it was doable in the end.'

The islands are considered to be one of the world's prime locations for wildlife spotting.

Wild at heart: The Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador, are considered to be one of the world's prime locations for wildlife spotting

Lucky shots: The Bristol-based photographer said it was difficult to anticipate where the whales would appear next, but they were just 30metres from the boat



