As convenient as they are, phones these days have their downsides - with one recent study finding technology impairing sleep patterns.

Staring at screens too long can also cause you to miss out on some of life's more important and pleasurable moment - like seeing a breaching humpback whale within arms reach of where you're sitting.

Photographer Eric Smith was on a whale watching trip off Redondo beach in California when he noticed a humpback surface next to a nearby boat, right beside a man so engrossed in using his phone that he didn't appear to notice.

Smith spoke to ABC News about his photo:

"A small private sail boat manoeuvred really close to the whales, and this guy on it was literally sitting in that position and never moved.

"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."