Pelican Portraits
View this blog entry in Google EarthLatitude: 32° 51' 0.75" N, Longitude: 117° 16' 13.01" W, Coord: 32.850211°, -117.27028°
Filed under: California, Pelican, Photo of the Day, Wildlife on 1/30/2008
More photographs of the California race of brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) from a recent morning in La Jolla, between storms. These show the bright red and olive colors that the large gular throat pouch takes on, as well as the dark brown hind neck and yellow head feathers, that are characteristic of breeding adults during winter months.
Check out our Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla.
 |
| Brown pelican portrait, displaying winter breeding plumage with distinctive dark brown nape, yellow head feathers and red gular throat pouch. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20231 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA  View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Brown pelican portrait, displaying winter breeding plumage with distinctive dark brown nape, yellow head feathers and red gular throat pouch. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20232 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Brown pelican in flight, spreading its wings wide to slow before landing on cliffs overlooking the ocean. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20229 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Brown pelican in flight, spreading its wings wide to slow before landing on cliffs overlooking the ocean. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20230 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
Photo of Seals on the Sand
View this blog entry in Google EarthLatitude: 32° 50' 51.61" N, Longitude: 117° 16' 42.57" W, Coord: 32.847672°, -117.27849°
Filed under: California, Harbor Seal, Wildlife on 1/24/2008
On a recent morning I dropped by the pelican bluff and found it pretty crowded so instead I shot harbor seals just around the bend. It was a fine morning and I had the beach to myself at the Children’s Pool. Here are a few portraits of the harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) on the sand.
 |
| Pacific harbor seal on wet sandy beach. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20214 Species: Phoca vitulina richardsi Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Pacific harbor seals on sandy beach at the edge of the ocean. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20213 Species: Phoca vitulina richardsi Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Pacific harbor seal on wet sandy beach. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20228 Species: Phoca vitulina richardsi Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
Photo of La Jolla Sea Lions
View this blog entry in Google EarthLatitude: 32° 51' 0.46" N, Longitude: 117° 16' 12.96" W, Coord: 32.850128°, -117.27027°
Filed under: California, La Jolla, Photo of the Day, Sea Lion, Wildlife on 1/23/2008
There is a big spawning aggregation of market squid assembled on the sand flats at about 60′ off of La Jolla Shores beach right now. As a consequence, many California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) are now in the area, feeding on the squid and hauling out on rocks to rest when not foraging. Here are a couple seen recently in La Jolla:
 |
| Sea lion portrait, hauled out on rocks beside the ocean. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20207 Species: Zalophus californianus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| California sea lion, adult male. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20211 Species: Zalophus californianus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
Slot Hobbit
View this blog entry in Google EarthLatitude: 36° 51' 25.44" N, Longitude: 111° 22' 19.41" W, Coord: 36.857067°, -111.37206°
Filed under: Photo of the Day on 1/18/2008
I recently got the news that I was one of the fortunate to receive a permit to visit the Wave, part of the North Coyote Butte area in Arizona, in April. It’s a place I have long heard about, and the photos that others have shot there make it look curious, strange and pretty cool. Now I get to check it out in person in a few months. I’ll probably spend a day fooling around near Page so that I can return to the Antelope Canyon slot canyons, a very interesting place which I saw about a year ago for the first time. The slots will likely be crowded there this April, but on my previous visit there — on a very cold January day — I had large sections of the narrows to myself much of the morning. I felt like a hobbit creeping about through some bizarre location in Middle Earth.
 |
| A hiker admiring the striated walls and dramatic light within Antelope Canyon, a deep narrow slot canyon formed by water and wind erosion. Navajo Tribal Lands, Page, Arizona, USA. Image: 17995 Location: Navajo Tribal Lands, Page, Arizona, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Antelope Canyon, a deep narrow slot canyon formed by water and wind erosion. Navajo Tribal Lands, Page, Arizona, USA. Image: 18001 Location: Navajo Tribal Lands, Page, Arizona, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
Beautiful Morning in La Jolla
View this blog entry in Google EarthLatitude: 32° 51' 0.75" N, Longitude: 117° 16' 13.01" W, Coord: 32.850211°, -117.27028°
Filed under: California, Pelican, Photo of the Day, Wildlife on 1/15/2008
A morning dentist appointment in La Jolla meant a short visit beforehand to shoot pelicans before I submitted myself to my semi-annual tooth cleaning (no cavities). I met David Osborn, a wonderful photographer from England who is currently in California to shoot a variety of natural history subjects for a few weeks, and old diving pal Jim Campbell who came over from Coronado to shoot too. It was a perfect morning to be at the ocean’s edge in La Jolla: sunny, warm, clear and the ocean glassed off for miles.
Check out our Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla.
 |
| Brown pelican head throw, winter plumage, showing bright red gular pouch and dark brown hindneck plumage of breeding adults. During a bill throw, the pelican arches its neck back, lifting its large bill upward and stretching its throat pouch. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20188 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Brown pelican spreads its huge wings to slow before landing on seaside cliffs. The wingspan of the brown pelican can be 7′ wide. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20187 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Brown pelican spreads its huge wings to slow before landing on seaside cliffs. The wingspan of the brown pelican can be 7′ wide. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20189 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Brown pelicans sparring with beaks, winter plumage, showing bright red gular pouch and dark brown hindneck plumage of breeding adults. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20195 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| California brown pelican portrait, on sandstone cliffs above the ocean, showing winter breeding plumage with dark brown nape, red throat and yellow head. Lit with flash, early morning before sunrise. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20191 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Brown pelican head throw, winter plumage, showing bright red gular pouch and dark brown hindneck plumage of breeding adults. During a bill throw, the pelican arches its neck back, lifting its large bill upward and stretching its throat pouch. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20200 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
Mavericks … Not
View this blog entry in Google EarthLatitude: 32° 51' 0.75" N, Longitude: 117° 16' 13.01" W, Coord: 32.850211°, -117.27028°
Filed under: California, Pelican, Photo of the Day, Wildlife on 1/12/2008
The Mavericks Surf contest was held today. No, I did not shoot it, unfortunately. I took photos of pelicans instead, not quite the same but the best I could do under the circumstances. Check out our Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla.
 |
| Brown pelican closeup showing characteristic winter mating plumage, including yellow head, dark brown nape of neck and red gular throat pouch. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20154 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Brown pelican raising its bill in a head throw to stretch is throat. Winter plumage, non-mating coloration. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20155 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Brown pelican spreads its huge wings to slow before landing on seaside cliffs. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20156 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Brown pelican portrait, resting on sandstone cliffs beside the sea, winter mating plumage with distinctive dark brown nape and red gular throat pouch. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20157 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Double-crested cormorant. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20159 Species: Phalacrocorax auritus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Brown pelican spreads its huge wings to slow before landing on seaside cliffs. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20164 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| Brown pelican portrait, winter mating plumage with distinctive dark brown nape and red gular throat pouch. La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20179 Species: Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus Location: La Jolla, California, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
Photo of UCSD Library at Night
View this blog entry in Google EarthLatitude: 32° 52' 52.11" N, Longitude: 117° 14' 14.93" W, Coord: 32.881142°, -117.23748°
Filed under: California, La Jolla, Photo of the Day on 1/11/2008
This is Geisel Library, the central library at University of California, San Diego (alma mater). These two particular photos are composites, each consisting of three images with varying exposures, combined on the computer. Without using this approach, known as HDR (high dynamic range), the shadows would be totally black and the bright windows would be burnt out with no detail. In the full resolution versions I can make out individual books on the stacks in the top photo.
 |
| UCSD Library glows with light in this night time exposure (Geisel Library, UCSD Central Library). University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20142 Location: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| UCSD Library glows with light in this night time exposure (Geisel Library, UCSD Central Library). University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 20145 Location: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
Photo of Geisel Library at Dusk
View this blog entry in Google EarthLatitude: 32° 52' 52.11" N, Longitude: 117° 14' 14.93" W, Coord: 32.881142°, -117.23748°
Filed under: California, La Jolla, Photo of the Day, San Diego on 1/10/2008
This is Geisel Library, the central library at University of California, San Diego (alma mater). Photos taken at dusk when the light emanating from the library are about equal with sunset. Since the light is balanced, a decent photograph can be achieved with just a single frame. Tomorrow I’ll post a few examples of composites.
 |
| UCSD Library glows at sunset (Geisel Library, UCSD Central Library). University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 14780 Location: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
 |
| UCSD Library glows at sunset (Geisel Library, UCSD Central Library). University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA. Image: 14777 Location: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA View this Image in Google Earth! |
The UCSD Library (Geisel Library, UCSD Central Library) at the University of California, San Diego. UCSD Library. La Jolla, California. On December 1, 1995 The University Library Building was renamed Geisel Library in honor of Audrey and Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) for the generous contributions they have made to the library and their devotion to improving literacy. In The Tower, Floors 4 through 8 house much of the Librarys collection and study space, while Floors 1 and 2 house service desks and staff work areas. The library, designed in the late 1960s by William Pereira, is an eight story, concrete structure sited at the head of a canyon near the center of the campus. The lower two stories form a pedestal for the six story, stepped tower that has become a visual symbol for UCSD.
More UCSD Library photos.
Sheet of Water
We recently stayed at a hotel in La Quinta. In the lobby was one of those modern fountain things that created a thin sheet of water. Behind it the lights of the restaurant are showing. Random.
 |
| Water sheets over a fountain, blurry water, abstract lights are visible through the falling water. Image: 20136 |
Photo of Joshua Trees at Sunrise
We went out to La Quinta last weekend to visit our new baby niece. A big storm system was passing over California but the Coachella Valley got very little rain from it. I made a sunrise run out to Joshua Tree National Park and did a little exploring as the sun came up.
 |
| Joshua tree at sunrise. Joshua trees are found in the Mojave desert region of Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA. Image: 20140 Species: Yucca brevifolia Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA |
 |
| Joshua tree at sunrise. Joshua trees are found in the Mojave desert region of Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA. Image: 20141 Species: Yucca brevifolia Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA |
Photo of a White Pointer Shark
View this blog entry in Google EarthLatitude: 29° 9' 44.74" N, Longitude: 118° 16' 27.96" W, Coord: 29.162428°, -118.27444°
Filed under: Great White Shark, Guadalupe Island, Mexico, Sharks, Wildlife on 1/7/2008
This great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) had a particularly pointy look to him, really streamlined and sleek, with little beady black eyes. When you see a white shark in person its no wonder they are known as white pointers down under.
 |
| A great white shark swims through the clear waters of Isla Guadalupe, far offshore of the Pacific Coast of Mexico’s Baja California. Guadalupe Island is host to a concentration of large great white sharks, which visit the island to feed on pinnipeds and use it as a staging area before journeying farther into the Pacific ocean. Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico. Image: 19465 Species: Carcharodon carcharias Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico View this Image in Google Earth! |
HOME | Online Image Search | Photo of the Day | Contact / Bio | Licensing/Pricing | Prints | Stock List | Image Hierarchy | List of Log Entries | Site Map | Blue Whale | Cetaceans | Pinnipeds | Sharks | Rays | Fishes | Kelp Forest | Sea Birds | Inverts | Man & Animal | Man & Ocean | Ocean & Light | Ocean & Motion | Portraits | About Color and Monitor Calibration | Copyright Statement | All text and photographs copyright © Phillip Colla Natural History Photography All rights reserved worldwide. The content of this site is made available for purposes of researching images offered for license by Phillip Colla Natural History Photography. No image is to be copied, duplicated, modified or redistributed in whole or part without the prior written permission of Phillip Colla Natural History Photography. Whale logo is a trademark of Phillip Colla Natural History Photography, 8021 Paseo Arrayan, Carlsbad, CA 92009, USA. 760.707.7153 Email: oceanlight@OceanLight.com Web: www.OceanLight.com Portfolios: www.Gygis.com
Updated: June 18, 2013
