In her caption for “Feet! Maui Whale Watch,” Kathy Coombs noted, “Caught this on a whale watching trip — we all were waiting for a whale to breach. No whale, but lots of feet!”

LAHAINA — Lahaina photographer Kathy Coombs was out on a whale watch boat when something caught her eye.

“The whales weren’t jumping, and I looked up and saw all these feet! Had to take the shot,” she explained with a laugh.

The photo, taken on a Maui Classic Charters cruise on Jan. 18, is a finalist in the Family/Community category in the Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest 2011 run by National Geographic.

Thousands of entries were submitted, and National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson, the contest’s judge, selected two finalists in each of the six categories.

The contest will be decided by online voting at www.nationalgeographic.com/energizer/. Anyone may vote once per day through Sept. 15.

To win in her category, Coombs needs the community to vote for her every day.

“I would love to have all of Maui vote for me, as I am thrilled to represent Hawaii in the National Geographic contest,” she said.

The grand prize winner will earn a National Geographic Expeditions trip for two to Alaska, Morocco or Bhutan.

Energizer will also feature the winning shot in an ad in the December issue of National Geographic magazine.

Coombs was floored when National Geographic phoned with news on the contest.

“I actually didn’t believe them when they called me,” she said.

“I am a final entry out of 6,000, and the only one from Hawaii to get this far.”