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philcolla

A few flight shots from this morning, the birds wa A few flight shots from this morning, the birds waves and wind were great.
Depths of winter on San Diego’s Gold Coast. Brrr Depths of winter on San Diego’s Gold Coast. Brrr.
A look back at 2020, new retrospective post link i A look back at 2020, new retrospective post link in my bio
Full moon and Christmas tree on Scripps Pier Full moon and Christmas tree on Scripps Pier
Instagram post 17880986146977266 Instagram post 17880986146977266
Slippery when wet. Slippery when wet.
Sea lion and spray, La Jolla Sea lion and spray, La Jolla
Terramar this evening. I love North County’s fla Terramar this evening. I love North County’s flat beaches, at low tide its like a mirror.
Torrey Pines view south to La Jolla, early morning Torrey Pines view south to La Jolla, early morning
Superfly loves looking at our local reefs when we Superfly loves looking at our local reefs when we have such huge tide swings. It's like X-ray vision only for the ocean. All the harbor seals were laying out on the reef flats in the sun like hotdogs.
My recent efforts photographing sea lions have bee My recent efforts photographing sea lions have been almost exclusively at the waters edge. Naturally most of my shots are strewn with bubbles but I am hoping for one or two where the bubbles add to the story rather than obscure the subject.  The keeper ratio is way way down this year as a result :) Bubbles are the new Backscatter.
Reef Structure, La Jolla Reef Structure, La Jolla
- Because I was inverted. - (cough) Bullshit. - No - Because I was inverted.
- (cough) Bullshit.
- No, he was, man. It was a really great move. He was inverted.
You there ... fetch me my sea cucumber You there ... fetch me my sea cucumber
El Capitan reflected in still Merced River El Capitan reflected in still Merced River
Black Oaks in fall, Yosemite National Park Black Oaks in fall, Yosemite National Park
A path in the woods A path in the woods
More Yellow Mellow More Yellow Mellow
Mellow Yellow. Mellow Yellow.
Japanese Olympic medalist Mikako Kotani and spotte Japanese Olympic medalist Mikako Kotani and spotted dolphins, Bahamas, mid-90s.
El Capitan in #Yosemite before and during the #Cre El Capitan in #Yosemite before and during the #CreekFire
Fiji details Fiji details
Oil rig details Oil rig details
Sand Harbor, NV Sand Harbor, NV
Second breakfast? Always. Second breakfast? Always.
Cathedral Lakes late afternoon yesterday, this was Cathedral Lakes late afternoon yesterday, this was my spot to rest my legs and cook my freeze dried dinner (gross) before hiking back to my car at dusk. I did not see a single person on my return hike, crazy empty for Yosemite.
New blog post: “So you want to dive with Steller New blog post: “So you want to dive with Steller Sea Lions? This is what you have to look forward To” see link in bio. #canada #britishcolumbia #underwaterphotograpy #sealion
Labyrinthine sandstone in Antelope Canyon, from my Labyrinthine sandstone in Antelope Canyon, from my trip there in December. There were no light beams as those are only in summer, but it's still a fun place to visit.
Middle Island, Coronados, Baja California, late fa Middle Island, Coronados, Baja California, late fall.
Young California sea lions playing underwater, Cor Young California sea lions playing underwater, Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico
Late light on the Yosemite high country Late light on the Yosemite high country
Comet over La Costa, viewed from Carlsbad Comet over La Costa, viewed from Carlsbad
El Capitan morning. El Capitan morning.
I lined up the comet over Tracy's house at Bass La I lined up the comet over Tracy's house at Bass Lake. Luckily it came out nicely, the bright moon helped. I'll try again with a better camera the next time it lines up like this in 6800 years. Bass Lake, California #comet #neowise
Sunfish Sunfish
Giant black sea bass in kelp. I spent several dive Giant black sea bass in kelp. I spent several dives with a courting aggregation of giant sea bass a few years ago. The most I could get in any one photo was 6 but there were at least a dozen animals that I could identify later looking at all the photos. Often I was surrounded by them, sometimes being nudged on the shoulder by one or another. It was great, one of the best California diving experiences I've ever had. After this marathon 10 days of posting ocean photos and all this editing of old diving photos I'm sort of burned out on underwater photography. I'm not really a photographer, I'm a diver who happens to have a camera most of the time. It's time to stop looking at pictures and just go diving.
You are looking at greatest muscles in the animal You are looking at greatest muscles in the animal kingdom. Here is a shot of a fin whale showing how seriously massive is its penducle and caudal stem. This group of muscles is, among the great whales, the most powerful musculature in the animal kingdom. Did you see how I said great twice? And also that I was redundant about it, multiple times? That’s called SEO. I posted a few other views courtesy of a few other cooperative whales on my website: https://www.oceanlight.com/log/the-greatest-muscles-in-the-animal-kingdom.html
Longbill hawkfish in black coral, Sea of Cortez. M Longbill hawkfish in black coral, Sea of Cortez. Mike and Sherry took us to Mike's Reef, a secret spot north of La Paz with spectacularly lush life-covered reefs, a consequence of the large tidal currents to pass over the area twice a day. It's a difficult spot to anchor but Mike dialed it in and dropped us on the reef close to slack. Leonardo had shown me some of his beautiful hawkfish photos in black coral earlier in the day that inspired me to give it a shot, knowing I would have to forego guaranteed beautiful wide reefscape images in exchange for a single macro photo. I found a perfect patch of black coral with several hawkfish, and went about getting my photos. Thanks Mike, Sherry and Leo!!
West Maui mountains and the Olowalu gap, with a fe West Maui mountains and the Olowalu gap, with a few snorkel boats enjoying a nice day on Turtle Reef.
Wedge dawn. A late summer swell from the south had Wedge dawn. A late summer swell from the south had me out at the Wedge before sunrise. Noone else was in the water and there was no wind so the waves were clean and empty. I got some shots with the rising sun just peaking over Corona del Mar.
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