California

California National Parks Sierra Nevada Yosemite

Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, Yosemite National Park

Photos of Vogelsang High Sierra Camp in Yosemite National Park Note: I made a return trip to Vogelsang High Sierra Camp with my father in August 2010. I made another banzai speed run up to the Eastern Sierra last weekend, this time to spend two nights at reknowned Vogelsang High…

Phil CollaJuly 23, 2009

California The American Southwest

Salvation Mountain

I recently made a trip out to Anza Borrego Desert State Park to take a look at how the wildflowers are developing there. I arrived at sunrise and took a look at a few of the spots I go to for flowers to see what was blooming and what is…

Phil CollaFebruary 19, 2009

Aerial Photography California San Diego

Crystal Pier, San Diego

Crystal Pier, a combination hotel and pier in the Pacific Beach community of San Diego, extends 872 feet out into the Pacific Ocean. A few dozen cottages sit on the pier near its base. It was built in 1925. Seen beyond Crystal Pier in this aerial photo are Mission Bay…

Phil CollaFebruary 5, 2009

Aerial Photography California San Diego

Ocean Beach Pier, San Diego

Here is a view of the Ocean Beach Pier ("OB Pier") with Sunset Cliffs and Point Loma, and even one of the Coronado Islands in the distance. Ocean Beach Pier, also known as the OB Pier or Ocean Beach Municipal Pier, is the longest concrete pier on the West Coast…

Phil CollaFebruary 3, 2009

California Desert The American Southwest Wildflowers

Photo of Dune Evening Primrose

My favorite desert flower to photograph is the dune evening primrose (Oenothera deltoides). It is so elegant and striking that even a blind monkey with a broken camera can get a good shot of this flower. I've seen them in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park during years of good spring bloom,…

Phil CollaMarch 4, 2008

California Desert The American Southwest Wildflowers

Photos of Anza-Borrego Desert Wildflowers

I got out for a quick look at some wildflowers at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park on Sunday morning. I got out there at 6am just as the sun was rising, and by 8am the light had grown so harsh I put my camera away and just hiked around. The bloom…

Phil CollaMarch 3, 2008

California Desert The American Southwest

Palm Tree Farm

I wandered around a palm tree farm in the desert, feeling like I was amid some kind of midget forest. The palm fronds were just above my head, and the ground was covered in thick fuzz and trimmings from the trees. Due to the wide lens I used, these trees…

Phil CollaMarch 1, 2008

California Desert The American Southwest

Photo of the Borrego Badlands from Fonts Point

From Font's Point in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, one can look across the Borrego Badlands (Carrizo Badlands), once an ancient lake but now a corrugated, tortured, barren wasteland (e.g., Mordor). Carrizo Badlands viewed from Fonts Point. Image ID: 05530 Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Anza Borrego, California, USA Carrizo Badlands…

Phil CollaMay 24, 2007

California Desert The American Southwest

Photo of 17 Palms Oasis

17 Palms Oasis is located in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, several miles down the lunar-looking Arroyo Salado wash. The drive along Arroyo Salado is fun and relatively simple, although a four-wheel drive car is recommended. Seventeen Palms Oasis, consisting of (not surprisingly) 17 palms, appears out of nowhere as you…

Phil CollaMay 23, 2007

California Icons Trees White Mountains

Photos of Ancient Bristlecone Pine Trees

Ancient Bristlecone pine trees (Pinus longaeva) live in a relatively restricted area of eastern California, Nevada and Utah, typically at altitudes above 9500'. The ancient bristlecone pine tree is considered to be the world's oldest species of tree (and indeed the world's oldest sexually reproducing, nonclonal lifeform). A number of…

Phil CollaOctober 8, 2006

California Sierra Nevada Trees

Fall Comes to the Eastern Sierra

For a few years I have been interested in witnessing the famous fall colors of the Eastern Sierra, but never had the time to drive up Highway 395 and take a look. I finally managed to squeeze 36 hours out of my schedule recently and get up to Bishop, and…

Phil CollaSeptember 30, 2006

California Carlsbad Stories Surf

South Carlsbad Reminiscing

When I was a kid, my family would drive down from Newport Beach to spend a week or two each summer camping at South Carlsbad State Beach with two other families. This was going on 30+ years ago. (Now you know how old I am; everyone looks like a grom…

Phil CollaSeptember 25, 2006

California Carlsbad Surf

Fire Breathing Dragon

**As of August 2012, I am using Delmar Housing Projects for my Canon 5D Mark III. The lens I prefer to use is the 16-35 f/2.8 II. The first couple sessions with this rig: first and second.** More surf photos. My approach to photography is not particularly rigorous or diligent.…

Phil CollaSeptember 24, 2006

Birds California San Diego

Black Skimmer, San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge

The last light of the day caught the underside of this black skimmer (Rynchops niger): Black skimmer forages by flying over shallow water with its lower mandible dipping below the surface for small fish.Image ID: 17420Species: Black skimmer, Rynchops nigerLocation: San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California, USA

Phil CollaSeptember 23, 2006

Surf

Shorebreak at the Wedge

Another morning at the Wedge. I sympathize with this guy as I have eaten more than my fair share of shorebreak sand too. It looks like the lip caught him in the back of the head just after this shot was taken. And this is only a small inside shorebreak,…

Phil CollaSeptember 21, 2006

Birds California San Diego

Photo of a Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger), San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Don Hill recommended a few spots in San Diego for me to see fall seabirds. Inspired by Don's great shots I drove down to take a look and was pleasantly surprised by all the bird life in the bay. This black skimmer (Rynchops niger) was photographed in the San Diego…

Phil CollaSeptember 17, 2006

Birds California San Diego

Avian Surfer, Black Skimmer, San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge

This black skimmer (Rynchops niger) was photographed in the San Diego Bay. Black skimmer forages by flying over shallow water with its lower mandible dipping below the surface for small fish.Image ID: 17419Species: Black skimmer, Rynchops nigerLocation: San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California, USA

Phil CollaSeptember 16, 2006

California Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird Wildlife

Brown Pelican Photo

See my Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla. This brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) is coming in for a landing on the cliffs of La Jolla, California, just after sunrise: Brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of…

Phil CollaSeptember 8, 2006

Channel Islands Fish Underwater Life

Torpedo Ray Photo

In this photo a California torpedo ray (Torpedo californica), or electric ray, is hovering amid the kelp forest while my diving partner Brad Silva is filming it with his bright torchlights and video camera. Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, California. Pacific torpedo ray in kelp forest, filming…

Phil CollaAugust 8, 2006

Blue Whale California Wildlife

Summer Is Here Now

Summer has not officially started until I have seen a blue whale. My first blue whale photo of 2006: I got out recently with Mike Johnson and we saw a few blue whales.

Phil CollaJune 22, 2006

California Landscape National Parks Sierra Nevada Yosemite

Photo of Nevada Falls, Yosemite National Park

Nevada Falls is one of Yosemite's most spectacular waterfalls but is only reached with some effort. A 3.5 mile hike (one-way) up the Mist Trail, which includes a good soaking while passing by Vernal Falls along the way, is required to reach the summit of Nevada Falls, including 1900' of…

Phil CollaMay 19, 2006

California Landscape National Parks Sierra Nevada Yosemite

Bridalveil Falls Rainbow

During spring months with heavy water flow, it is easy to see a rainbow in Bridalveil Falls: just visit the falls a short while before sunset and watch as the colors climb up the plummeting water as the sun sinks behind you. Bridalveil Falls with a rainbow forming in its…

Phil CollaMay 18, 2006

Astrophotography and Night Scapes California Landscape National Parks Sierra Nevada Yosemite

Yosemite Falls Lunar Rainbow

After getting word that the waterfalls in Yosemite are pouring at ginormous levels right now (due to a timely combination of last winter's deep snowpack and recent warm weather), I blasted up to Yosemite Valley for a quickie. Indeed, all the falls were huge. As I drove into the Valley…

Phil CollaMay 15, 2006

California Landscape National Parks Sierra Nevada Yosemite

Photo of Fern Springs, Yosemite National Park

Fern Springs, near the entrance to Yosemite Valley, is a quietly running spring that crosses below the road and enters the Merced River. The small cascades offer a change of composition to the photographer looking for something to focus on aside from the towering granite walls and thundering waterfalls for…

Phil CollaMay 5, 2006

Birds California Seabird Wildlife

Western Gull, Larus occidentalis

The Western gull, Larus occidentalis, is a large white-headed gull common along the western coast of North America. The Western gull ranges from British Columbia to Baja California. It is exclusively marine, and nests on offshore rocks and islands. While offshore it feeds on fishes and invertebrates that it can…

Phil CollaApril 18, 2006

Invertebrate Marine Life Underwater Life

Photo of a Corynactis Anemone

The Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific recently arranged to use one of our photographs of the tiny Corynactis californica anemone for a huge wall mural, to be hung in the coming month. It reminded me of how cool these small creatures are, and how many times I have hunkered…

Phil CollaApril 17, 2006

Beautiful Views of San Diego California San Diego

Between Showers

Downtown San Diego viewed from Point Loma. A storm system passed through Southern California last weekend dumping rain, hail and snow. However, the sun was able to peek through the clouds for a moment at sunset, lighting up the San Diego skyline while the surrounding harbor and mountains in the…

Phil CollaMarch 13, 2006

California Death Valley Desert National Parks

Photo of Devil’s Golf Course, Death Valley National Park

The Devil's Golf Course is a curious assemblage of crystalline salt shapes spread over a large swath of the Death Valley salt pan. This saltpan, which is the lowest point in Death Valley National Park, and indeed the western hemisphere, holds a small amount of subsurface moisture. This water is…

Phil CollaMarch 6, 2006

California Death Valley Desert National Parks

Photo of Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park

Zabriskie Point in Death Valley offers a great view from the Funeral Mountains, across curious gullies of sedimentary rock and packed mud that comprise the badlands below Zabriskie Point, to the floor of salt-pan floor of Death Valley and the Panamint Range in the distance. It is especially striking at…

Phil CollaMarch 2, 2006

California Death Valley Desert National Parks

Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park's most accessible sand dunes are just a few miles down the road from Stovepipe Wells, in the center of Death Valley. 14 acres of sand dunes, rising several hundred feet high in places, lie about a quarter mile from the road. While there is no official…

Phil CollaMarch 1, 2006

California Elephant Seal Wildlife

Piedras Blancas Elephant Seals

We have been visiting the Piedras Blancas rookery of northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) since early 1991, when it was newly colonized by animals from the San Miguel, San Nicholas and Ano Nuevo rookeries, and have watched it grow to its current size. We have had the good fortune to…

Phil CollaMarch 1, 2006

California Death Valley Desert National Parks

Photo of Badwater, Death Valley National Park

Badwater is the lowest point in Death Valley National Park, at 282 feet below sea level. Indeed, it is the lowest point in the entire western hemisphere. The Badwater Basin is the catch point for 9000 square miles of drainage, however, there is typically little water here except following winter…

Phil CollaFebruary 28, 2006

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Pelican Head Throw

See my Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla. Here are a few photos of California brown pelicans performing the pelican head throw, also known as the pelican bill throw. It looks painful. The brown pelican lifts its large bill up, arches its neck back until the throat gular pouch…

Phil CollaFebruary 1, 2006

Surf

Carlsbad Morning Glass

I got a few fun photos in South Carlsbad recently, it was glassy and sunny, did not feel like winter: Surf, wave, winter, morning, Ponto, South Carlsbad.Image ID: 14980Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California, USA Surf, wave, winter, morning, Ponto, South Carlsbad.Image ID: 14978Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California, USA Surf, wave, winter, morning,…

Phil CollaJanuary 9, 2006

California

Recent California Snaps

A few recent images. Click on any one to see others that are related. Beach cliffs at Torrey Pines State Reserve: Sandstone cliffs rise above the beach at Torrey Pines State Reserve.Image ID: 14725Location: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California, USA Broken Hill at Torrey Pines State Reserve: Broken…

Phil CollaJanuary 5, 2006

Surf

Salt Creek Surf

When the sun finally burned through the morning haze some nice waves appeared at Salt Creek, leftovers from Big Wednesday. Salt Creek surf, pretty big day, winter, morning.Image ID: 14851Location: Salt Creek, Laguna Niguel, California, USA Salt Creek surf, pretty big day, winter, morning.Image ID: 14852Location: Salt Creek, Laguna Niguel,…

Phil CollaDecember 22, 2005

California Surf

Big Wednesday

Big Wednesday : December 21 2005. All of Southern California and Baja gets bombed with good surf, some of the best we've seen in 20+ years. Most excellent. I got away for a few hours and saw some guys tackle what is probably an 18 foot La Jolla Cove left.…

Phil CollaDecember 21, 2005

California Desert Wildlife

Photo of Desert Bighorn Sheep

The Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) found in southwestern California, is a subspecies of the North American desert bighorn sheep that occupies the rocky and arid Mojave and Senoran deserts of the American southwest and northern Mexico. Desert bighorn sheep, male ram. The desert bighorn sheep occupies dry, rocky…

Phil CollaNovember 22, 2005

Beautiful Views of San Diego California San Diego

Photo of Oceanside Pier

The Oceanside Pier is the longest wooden pier on the West Coast of the United States. The concrete base of the pier was built in 1925. The wooden pier itself has been rebuilt several times, most recently in 1988. The names of locals who donated to the construction of the…

Phil CollaNovember 17, 2005

California San Diego

Photo of the Botanical Building, Balboa Park, San Diego

The Botanical Building in Balboa Park, San Diego, at 250 feet long by 75 feet wide and 60 feet tall, was the largest wood lath structure in the world when it was built in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition. The Botanical Building, located on the Prado, west of the Museum…

Phil CollaNovember 14, 2005

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