we need no cell phone zones: Man on phone misses whale 2 feet away

text size Man on phone misses whale 2 feet away

Updated: Wednesday, February 4 2015, 01:09 PM EST

(ABC News)- This Instagram photo shows a man missing a humpback whale surface two feet away from him because he was glued to his phone.

The moment was caught during a whale watch in Redondo Beach, California, professional photographer Eric Smith told ABC News today.

“A small private sailboat maneuvered really close to the whales, and this guy on it was literally sitting in that position and never moved,” Smith said. “He could have been texting his mom in the hospital for all I know, but I thought it sucked that he missed such a wonderful moment happening just two feet in front of him.”

Smith said he had about five photos of whales with the private sailboat in the background, but the guy never got off his phone in any of the pictures.

“We’re all guilty being buried in our phones, even me,” Smith said. “You think life is better on your phone, but we’re missing what’s happening around us.”