California Sea Lions at Los Islotes, Baja California, Mexico
Los Islotes, the small island just off the northern end of Espiritu Santo in the Sea of Cortez, is my favorite place in the world for photographing California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus). These wonderful pinnipeds are very comfortable with the presence of, and famous for the willingness to interact with, divers in the water. Shooting portraits of sea lions is a piece of cake, the photos almost take themselves. Plus the diving tends to be shallow and calm so bottom times of a two hours can be easily had. Here are a few of my picks from my last visit to Los Islotes a few years ago. Cheers, and thanks for looking!
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| California sea lion underwater. Image ID: 27418 Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus Location: Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico |
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| California sea lion underwater. Image ID: 27423 Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus Location: Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico |
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| California sea lion underwater playing with sea star. Image ID: 27428 Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus Location: Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico |
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| California sea lion underwater. Image ID: 27420 Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus Location: Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico |
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| California sea lion underwater. Image ID: 27421 Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus Location: Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico |
Los Islotes is a small island at the northern end of Isla Espiritu Santo, near La Paz in the Sea of Cortez. Espiritu Santo Island and Partida Island are two beautiful desert islands, scalloped with gorgeous white sand beaches. Bird nest on their rugged slopes, and cardon cacti grow in abundance. All three of these islands are part of the Espiritu Santo Biosphere Reserve, named a UNESCO Biosphere due to the area’s biodiversity and beauty. I have had the good fortune to cruise along both shores of Espiritu Santo and Partida but most of my time has been spent at Isla Los Islotes, diving and relaxing. In addition to the sea lions, these waters are full of many Sea of Cortez fishes. However, when I am at Los Islotes I basically ignore all else and just enjoy my time swimming with and photographing los lobos marinos.
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Oceanside Pier Photos
The Oceanside Municipal Pier is located at the end of Mission Avenue in Oceanside, California. The area has a bit of a gritty look to it but don’t let that dissuade you from visiting, the Oceanside Pier is frequented by families, surfers, dog walkers, locals, fishermen and tourists day and night. Ruby’s Diner lies at the end of the pier, a great place to take the kids for a burger and a shake and to get a view of the coastline at sunset. Brown pelicans, long habituated to handouts from fisherman, are often found idling on the railings of the pier and make for an easy photo. Dawn light usually paints the area in cool colors, blues and purples, and there is rarely anyone around at that time. Sunset, on the other hand, has the more classic golden state look to it, with many people lining the pier, the beach and the boardwalk enjoying the end of the day. I have sold a number of nice prints of the Oceanside Pier to clients, and return several times each year in an effort to make new images of this southern California icon. Cheers and thanks for looking!
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| Oceanside Pier at dusk, sunset, night. Oceanside. Image ID: 14628 Location: Oceanside Pier, California, USA |
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| Oceanside Pier at sunset, clouds and palm trees with a brilliant sky at dusk. Image ID: 27610 Location: Oceanside Pier, California, USA |
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| Oceanside Pier at Dawn. Image ID: 28878 Location: Oceanside, California, USA |
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| Oceanside Pier at dusk, sunset, night. Oceanside. Image ID: 14629 Location: Oceanside Pier, California, USA |
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| California brown pelican on Oceanside Pier, sitting on the pier railing, sunset, winter. Image ID: 27603 Species: brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: Oceanside Pier, California, USA |
See also my photos of all five of the ocean piers in San Diego County:
Ocean Beach Pier photos
Scripps Institute of Oceanography Research Pier photos
Crystal Pier photos
Oceanside Pier photos
Imperial Beach Pier photos
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Milky Way over Sky Rock Petroglyph, Volcanic Tablelands, Bishop, California
Milky Way over Sky Rock Petroglyph, Volcanic Tablelands, Bishop, California.
I made this image several years ago but neglected to share any images from that evening’s photographic efforts on my blog. I have made many visits to the Volcanic Tablelands, at all times of day, to explore the rocks, admire the vistas over the Owens River, and photograph one of the finest petroglyph panels in the world. In this composition, I waited for a specific date when the Milky Way could be effectively photographed above the petroglyphs with Mount Tom and the Sierra Nevada range aligned in the distance. It was a very cold evening, I wore all the clothes I had on hand, but after several hours of trying different compositions I managed several images I am very happy with. Sky Rock is a magical place at night, with ancient light emanating from stars many hundreds and thousands of light years away cascading down upon these special, old and impressive engravings. It is just the type of place I enjoy photographing at night, with no other people around, no photo workshop groups, no RVs, no automobile sounds — nothing. Solitude. I have also photographed these petroglyphs under a full moon as well as under pastel dawn skies, as well as a massive panorama of this location that I will be sharing soon. Cheers and thanks for looking!
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| The Milky Way at Night over Sky Rock. Sky Rock petroglyphs near Bishop, California. Hidden atop an enormous boulder in the Volcanic Tablelands lies Sky Rock, a set of petroglyphs that face the sky. These superb examples of native American petroglyph artwork are thought to be Paiute in origin, but little is known about them. Image ID: 28798 Location: Bishop, California, USA |
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Whales at the Coronado Islands, Mexico
Whales visit the Coronado Islands in Mexico throughout the year. During winter months, gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) pass by the islands, first southbound and a few months later traveling north, during their annual migration between Baja California and the Bering Sea. Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) and blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) may be found at the Coronados year-round but spring and summer months are the best times to see them in the islands, especially if there is the presence of krill which does occur from time to time. All of the photos below were taken at the Coronado Islands.
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| Fin whale dorsal fin. The fin whale is named for its tall, falcate dorsal fin. Mariners often refer to them as finback whales. Coronado Islands, Mexico (northern Baja California, near San Diego). Image ID: 12769 Species: Fin whale, Balaenoptera physalus Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| A blue whale blows (exhales, spouts) as it rests at the surface between dives. A blue whales blow can reach 30 feet in the air and can be heard for miles. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. North Coronado Island is in the background. Image ID: 09497 Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| A blue whale raises its fluke before diving in search of food. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. North Coronado Island is in the background. Image ID: 09484 Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| Gray whales traveling south to Mexico during their winter migration. The annual migration of the California gray whale is the longest known migration of any mammal, 10,000 to 12,000 miles from the Bering Sea to Baja California. Image ID: 29049 Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| Blue whale rounding out at surface, North Coronado island in background. Image ID: 02224 Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| A blue whale blows (exhales, spouts) as it rests at the surface between dives. A blue whales blow can reach 30 feet in the air and can be heard for miles. The blue whale is the largest animal on earth, reaching 80 feet in length and weighing as much as 300,000 pounds. South Coronado Island is in the background. Image ID: 09498 Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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Garibaldi Fish, Coronado Islands, Mexico
The most easily recognized, and typically the most prolific, fish at Mexico’s Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado) is the brilliant orange Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus). Some underwater areas of the Coronado Islands are urchin barrens (reef areas taken over by fields of sea urchins and devoid of most other marine life) so the recipe for garibaldi photos is: 1) smash a few urchins, 2) wait for the garibaldis to dive in for a feast, 3) snap photos. Cheers and thanks for looking!
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| Garibaldi, Coronado Islands. Image ID: 02511 Species: Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| Garibaldi juvenile, vibrant spots distinguish it from pure orange adult form, Coronado Islands. Image ID: 01930 Species: Garibaldi, Hypsypops rubicundus Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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California Sea Lions, Coronado Islands, Mexico
Some of my favorite diving with California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) has taken place at Mexico’s Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado). The Coronados are a small group of undeveloped rocky islands just offshore of Tijuana, Mexico and only about an hour boat ride south of San Diego. Seemingly barren, the islands are in fact loaded with marine life, including the clown princes of the Pacific, sea lions. Here are a few of my better photos of these noble and beautiful creatures. Cheers, and thanks for looking!
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| California sea lions, Coronado Islands. Image ID: 02160 Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| California sea lion. Image ID: 02943 Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| California sea lion, Coronados Islands. Image ID: 00956 Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| California sea lion pup starving during 1997-8 El Nino event, Coronado Islands. Image ID: 02417 Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| California sea lion colony, Los Coronado Islands. Image ID: 03077 Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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Aerial Photos of Islas Coronado, the Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico
Aerial Photos of the Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico
These new aerial photos of the three main islands in Las Islas Coronado, offshore of Baja California not far from Tijuana (Mexico) and San Diego, came from a nice flight a few weeks ago during a high pressure system, which calmed the ocean surface thus allowing some of the submarine rocky reef structure to be visible. Thanks for looking!
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| North Coronado Island, Mexico, northern point looking south with Middle and South Islands in the distance, aerial photograph. Image ID: 29052 Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| North Coronado Island, Mexico, southern point looking north, aerial photograph. Image ID: 29053 Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| South Coronado Island, Mexico, northern point showing underwater reef structure, aerial photograph. Image ID: 29061 Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| South Coronado Island, Mexico, southern point looking north, Middle and North Islands in the distance, aerial photograph. Image ID: 29063 Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| Middle Coronado Island, Mexico, looking north with San Diego and Point Loma in the distance, aerial photograph. Image ID: 29059 Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| South Coronado Island, Mexico, eastern side, Middle and North Islands in the distance, aerial photograph. Image ID: 29066 Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
If you like these, please check out more aerial photography or photos of the Coronado Islands in Mexico.
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Aerial Panoramas of La Jolla and San Diego
Flying recently while a winter high pressure system hung over Southern California, I was able to take advantage of clear dry air to shoot several aerial panoramic photos of the La Jolla and northern San Diego coastline. These are technically very difficult to realize, both in capturing the source images and in digitally blending them into the final high resolution panoramic image. The plane was moving 100+ mph, so parallax was a significant factor, and holding a 300mm lens steady while buffeted by wind is not easy. Shown below are coastlines along Torrey Pines State Reserve, Point La Jolla south to Bird Rock, and Point La Jolla north to Scripps Institution of Oceanography (including UCSD). Cheers and thanks for looking!
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| Aerial Panorama of La Jolla, University City, showing (from left) UCSD, University City, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla Shores, Point La Jolla, Mount Soledad, in the background some of the mountains to the east of San Diego. Image ID: 29098 Pano dimensions: 3881 x 20864 |
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| Aerial panorama of Torrey Pines State Reserve, from Del Mar (left) to La Jolla (right). Image ID: 29096 Location: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California, USA Pano dimensions: 3403 x 33257 |
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| Aerial Panoramic Photograph of La Jolla, Mount Soledad, University City. Image ID: 29097 Pano dimensions: 3627 x 18499 |
If you like these, please see more aerial photographs, photos of La Jolla and photos of San Diego.
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Gray Whale Aerial Photos, Eschrichtius robustus, California
Gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) migrate from the Bering Sea in Alaska down the west coast of the United States to the “calving lagoons” of Baja California. (A small number of grays whales also live in the extreme western Pacific.) This migration is considered the longest of any mammal. Calves are typically, but not always, born in or very near the Baja California lagoons but are sometimes born north of there, during the southern migration. I have encountered one gray whale mother and newborn gray whale calf well to the north, in the cold gray waters of Big Sur, about 20 years ago. I recently had another special opportunity to photograph gray whales during their southern migration, this time from the air. Southern California had experienced a high pressure weather system that cleared out the air and laid the seas down flat. The best time to fly in such conditions is in the last days of the high pressure, before it breaks. We had clear skies, flat oceans, great visibility, and did see a few whales. These photos are tagged with their exact GPS locations (sometimes I get requests for info from cetacean researchers). Cheers, and thanks for looking!
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| Aerial photo of gray whale calf and mother. This baby gray whale was born during the southern migration, far to the north of the Mexican lagoons of Baja California where most gray whale births take place. Image ID: 29001 Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus Location: San Clemente, California, USA |
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| Gray whale blowing at the ocean surface, exhaling and breathing as it prepares to dive underwater. Image ID: 29045 Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus Location: Encinitas, California, USA |
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| Aerial photo of gray whale calf and mother. This baby gray whale was born during the southern migration, far to the north of the Mexican lagoons of Baja California where most gray whale births take place. Image ID: 29031 Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus Location: San Clemente, California, USA |
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| Gray whales traveling south to Mexico during their winter migration. The annual migration of the California gray whale is the longest known migration of any mammal, 10,000 to 12,000 miles from the Bering Sea to Baja California. Image ID: 29048 Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| Gray whale diving below the ocean surface, leaving a footprint in its wake. Aerial photo. Image ID: 29037 Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus Location: Encinitas, California, USA |
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Sea Turtle, Galapagos, Black and White
I have made a lot of dives in the Galapagos Islands, and one of my favorite creatures to see underwater is the sea turtle. The ungainly-looking animals are actually quite hydrodynamic and can navigate the surge, currents and waves to graze on algae along the reef. These two turtles were encountered at remote Wolf Island (Wenman Island) in the far northern reaches of the Galapagos archipelago. In the first image, a school of ever-present Pacific creole fish surrounds the turtle; its distinctive tail gives away that it is a male. Cheers and thanks for looking!
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| Sea Turtle, underwater, black and white. Image ID: 16382 Location: Wolf Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador |
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Image ID: 16383 Location: Wolf Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador |
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Medano Beach Sunrise, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Medano Beach, the beautiful long sand beach fronting the bay of Cabo San Lucas, can be crowded and busy with tourists, but I found that it was peaceful and quiet each morning.
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| Sunrise on Medano Beach, on the coast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Image ID: 28948 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico Pano dimensions: 4368 x 16027 |
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| Surf fisherman on Medano Beach at sunrise, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Image ID: 28953 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico |
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| Sunrise on Medano Beach, on the coast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Image ID: 28955 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico |
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| Sunrise on Medano Beach, on the coast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Image ID: 28946 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico Pano dimensions: 4481 x 9747 |
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| Resort hotels on the beach in Cabo San Lucas. Image ID: 28954 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico |
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| Beach chairs and umbrellas line the sand in front of resorts on Medano Beach, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Image ID: 28947 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico |
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| Beach chairs and umbrellas line the sand in front of resorts on Medano Beach, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Image ID: 28949 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico |
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New Work - January 2014
October 2013 through January 2014 took my cameras and me around San Diego for sunrise scenes as well as up into the sky around Cabo San Lucas and over gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) during their southern migration off the coast of Southern California. Below are a few of my favorites from the last several months; see more in my gallery of new images released January 2014. Cheers and thanks for looking!
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| Hospital Point, La Jolla, dawn, sunrise light and approaching storm clouds. Image ID: 28851 Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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| North Coronado Island, Mexico, northern point looking south with Middle and South Islands in the distance, aerial photograph. Image ID: 29052 Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico |
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| Aerial photo of gray whale calf and mother. This baby gray whale was born during the southern migration, far to the north of the Mexican lagoons of Baja California where most gray whale births take place. Image ID: 29017 Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus Location: San Clemente, California, USA |
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| Oceanside Pier at Dawn. Image ID: 28878 Location: Oceanside, California, USA |
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| Residential and resort development along the coast near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Image ID: 28926 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico |
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| California Brown Pelican head throw, stretching its throat to keep it flexible and healthy. Image ID: 29085 Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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| Aerial photograph of Land’s End and the Arch, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Image ID: 28890 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico |
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California Brown Pelicans, Winter Plumage, La Jolla
The plumage of La Jolla’s California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) has been especially striking this year, it seems there are more really red throats and deep brown necked adult brown pelicans on the bluffs than usual. I also find it interesting how much color variation there is in the bills of these birds, from pink and red to gray to white or sometimes near black. The last two weeks have had exceptional weather with clear dry offshores, which makes for good photography. It really has been like shooting fish in a barrel, the great conditions combined with the latest autofocus gear makes flight photography a breeze. I drove down the coast to admire the waves at sunrise, and stopped for a bit in La Jolla. There was ideal light plus a large swell that arrived yesterday had the water stirred up far below making for slight different texture to the background of portrait and flight photos. These are the images I kept from this morning; all were shot handheld with a 5DIII and 300/2.8, they razor sharp on the eyes and little or no cropping needed. If you like these, please see more California brown pelican photos or a little PDF e-guide about this choice spot. Cheers and thanks for looking!
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| California brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage. Image ID: 29086 Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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| California Brown Pelican head throw, stretching its throat to keep it flexible and healthy. Image ID: 29085 Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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Image ID: 29084 Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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| Brown pelican portrait, displaying winter breeding plumage with distinctive dark brown nape, yellow head feathers and red gular throat pouch. Image ID: 29087 Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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Image ID: 29088 Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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Image ID: 29089 Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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La Jolla Bluffs, Gulls, Cormorants and Pelicans
I have not been down to the La Jolla bluffs to see the birds for a couple weeks to see my favorite seabirds, the California race of the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), so I thought I would take a look this morning. I had hoped the projected swell would be up this morning, allowing for flight shots over breaking surf, but it looks like the waves will not arrive until tomorrow. Its a good thing I waited until the weekend, as a buddy who was just there mentioned that the situation was less than copecetic when he photographed there yesterday. This morning was slow on the bird action but still fun, and I bumped into a couple San Diego photographers I had not seen in a year so that was nice. I took very few photos, instead taking in the warm sun. It was nearly glass calm all morning. This is what I kept from this morning, all shot handheld with 5DIII and 300/2.8, razor sharp on the eyes and little or no cropping needed:
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| California brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage. Image ID: 28968 Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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Image ID: 28969 Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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Image ID: 28970 Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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| Brown pelican portrait, displaying winter breeding plumage with distinctive dark brown nape, yellow head feathers and red gular throat pouch. Image ID: 28979 Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
See more California brown pelican photos and a little PDF e-guide about this choice spot.
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Torrey Pines Sunrise in San Diego Magazine
One of my favorite shots from 2013 was featured as a nice-looking spread in the January issue of San Diego Magazine: Torrey Pines famous “Broken Hill” at sunrise, with La Jolla and the Pacific in the background. (Here is a link to the full-width pano: Torrey Pines Broken Hill panoramic photo.) I had a cover for San Diego Magazine a couple years ago, but this is the first interior full page image I have had with them. Thanks San Diego Magazine!
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California Brown Pelicans in Flight, La Jolla, California
The morning light along our coast has been very nice lately, not to mention our temps have been balmy while the rest of the country is in deep freeze. I’ve had a couple nice morning sessions photographing my favorite seabirds, the California race of the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), including some views of adults in winter plumage (red/olive throat, white/yellow head, chestnut brown hindneck, both mating and non-mating varieties) against not only blue water but also rocks and shadowed sea cliffs.
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| California brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage. Image ID: 28968 Species: Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
These were all made this morning with a full frame camera and 300mm f/2.8 lens, hand-held, on the upper part of the bluff in La Jolla. I choose to shoot only on clear sky mornings, and don’t begin shooting until the sun just crests Mount Soledad and begins to shine on the pelicans as they approach the bluff in flight (I have enough photos of pelicans in shadow that frankly I never want another). That would be about 7:40 these days, although I do arrive early so I can slowly find a position before the homecoming birds arrive without disturbing the ones that are already there. I try not to focus on immature pelicans any longer; it might be good practice but their coloration just does not make for appealing images (except as documentary shots which serious bird photographers shoot much better than I). I position myself so that the light is over my shoulder and my shadow is pointed where I think the pelicans will be, and then I wait and wait and wait until a pelican crosses through the waiting composition. (I use the same technique underwater shooting sharks and sea lions, choosing a composition that makes good use of the light and my focal length and then waiting for the subjects to play their part). This morning I only had about 6-8 decent flight passes by mature adults, but they were productive and I managed a keeper from each one. If you are curious, I’ve compiled my thoughts on photographing California brown pelicans in La Jolla in a PDF article. Cheers and thanks for looking!
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| Image ID: 28969 Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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| Image ID: 28970 Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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| Image ID: 28972 Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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| Brown pelican portrait, displaying winter breeding plumage with distinctive dark brown nape, yellow head feathers and red gular throat pouch. Image ID: 28979 Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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| Image ID: 28973 Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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| Image ID: 28971 Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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| Image ID: 28977 Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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Seabird Entanglement in Monofilament Fishing Line
Unfortunately, I have another image of wildlife entanglement to share, this time a California brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) entangled in monofilament fishing line. This seabird appeared to me to have ingested a hook or lure, so that one end of the monofilament fishing line was down its throat while the remainder of the line was wrapped in and around the pelican’s beak and neck. I have other photos of monofilament fishing line injury to marine wildlife. I also had a blog post some time ago about Seabird and Sea Lion Entanglement Photos.
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| Brown pelican, entangled in monofilament fishing line, showing winter mating plumage colors. Image ID: 28966 Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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Ghost Cormorant
A cormorant speeds home to its nest in the La Jolla seacliffs, flying just above the waves. Shot long before sunrise, this image is blurred from the long time the shutter was open.
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Natural History Photography - Best Images of 2013
My Best Natural History Photos of 2013
Once again the end of the year is upon us and I look back at my photographic works of the preceding 12 months. I did not produce as many new images as in years past but I did manage to create some notable ones that hopefully communicate why I love to spend time outdoors. If the theme of this year’s selection is not obvious, allow me to point out that this is the first annual retrospective of mine that includes just one photograph made during daylight hours (and a couple at the edge of the day). Note: if you like these feel free to check out previous years’ favorites as well: 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007. Also, be sure to check out Jim Goldstein’s blog, where he collects the “best of the year” collections of many talented photographers, you are sure to find enough eye candy to keep your pupils entertained for all of 2014. Cheers, thanks for looking, and best wishes for 2014!
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| The Wave at Night, under a clear night sky full of stars. Photographer is illuminating the striated rocks with a small handheld light. The Wave, an area of fantastic eroded sandstone featuring beautiful swirls, wild colors, countless striations, and bizarre shapes set amidst the dramatic surrounding North Coyote Buttes of Arizona and Utah. The sandstone formations of the North Coyote Buttes, including the Wave, date from the Jurassic period. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Wave is located in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness and is accessible on foot by permit only. Image ID: 28620 Location: North Coyote Buttes, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Arizona, USA |
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| Owachomo Bridge and Milky Way. Owachomo Bridge, a natural stone bridge standing 106′ high and spanning 130′ wide,stretches across a canyon with the Milky Way crossing the night sky. Image ID: 28541 Location: Owachomo Bridge, Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, USA |
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| Perseid Meteor Shower and Milky Way, Andromeda Galaxy and the Pleides Cluster, over Half Dome and Yosemite National Park. Image ID: 28746 Location: Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, California, USA |
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| Ancient bristlecone pine trees at night, under a clear night sky full of stars, lit by a full moon, near Patriarch Grove. Image ID: 28533 Species: Ancient Bristlecone Pine, Pinus longaeva Location: White Mountains, Inyo National Forest, California, USA Pano dimensions: 5144 x 11788 |
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| Mount Rainier sunset, viewed from Ricksecker Point. Image ID: 28722 Location: Ricksecker Point, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA |
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| Approaching sunrise and star trails over the San Diego Downtown City Skyline. In this 60 minute exposure, stars create trails through the night sky over downtown San Diego. Image ID: 28386 Location: San Diego, California, USA |
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| Milky Way over the Watchman, Zion National Park. The Milky Way galaxy rises in the night sky above the the Watchman. Image ID: 28587 Location: Zion National Park, Utah, USA |
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| The OVRO 40 meter Telescope, part of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory located near Big Pine, California, USA. The telescope is used to conduct interferometric observations along with the other telescopes in the observatory, as a Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) station and as a single dish instrument. Its main focus today is on the monitoring of blazars. Image ID: 28796 Location: Big Pine, California, USA Pano dimensions: 7153 x 11978 |
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| Milky Way over Tioga Lake, Yosemite National Park. Image ID: 28521 Location: Tioga Lake, Yosemite National Park, California, USA |
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| Blue Moon, Full Moon at Sunset over San Diego City Skyline, approaching jet with headlights appearing in front of the moon. Image ID: 28753 Location: San Diego, California, USA |
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| Cormorants and sea lions on Seal Rock, at night, waves lit by full moon. Image ID: 28864 Location: Laguna Beach, California, USA |
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| Milky Way and stars at night above Mount Rainier. Image ID: 28728 Location: Sunrise, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA |
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| Live Oak and Milky Way, rocks and stars, Joshua Tree National Park at night. Image ID: 28417 Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA Pano dimensions: 4848 x 7431 |
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| Sunrise Clouds and Surf, Hospital Point, La Jolla. Image ID: 28834 Location: La Jolla, California, USA |
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| Scripps Pier solstice, sunset aligned perfectly with the pier. Image ID: 28474 Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, USA |
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Aerial Photos of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico
We celebrated the Christmas holiday in Cabo San Lucas. I had hoped to perhaps make a few good images of pristine, lonely, white-sand beaches, the ones I recall from my last visit to Cabo San Lucas in 1985. Alas, resort development has taken over the coastline. So I hired an ultralight and made some aerial photos of the existing resort development and new resort construction, from the scenic El Arco (the arch) at Land’s End, over the harbor and then along the coast from Cabo San Lucas harbor east and north to Chileno Bay, including long Medano Beach and quaint Bahia Santa Maria. Perhaps these images will be picked up for editorial use. Below are a few of my favorites; if you like these, you can see more aerial photos of Cabo San Lucas on my website. The flight was sure fun! Cheers and thanks for looking!
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| Aerial photograph of Land’s End and the Arch, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Image ID: 28890 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico |
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| Aerial photograph of Land’s End and the Arch, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Image ID: 28893 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico |
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| Punta Ballena, Faro Cabesa Ballena (foreground), Medano Beach and Land’s End (distance). Residential and resort development along the coast near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Image ID: 28930 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico |
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| Cabo San Lucas, marina and downtown, showing extensive development and many resorts and sport fishing boats. Image ID: 28884 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico |
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| Hacienda del Mar and Vista Azul resorts. Residential and resort development along the coast near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Image ID: 28928 Location: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico |
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Updated: March 7, 2014
