A boy's best friend is his mother.

The Second Wave at Sunset, North Coyote Buttes. The Second Wave, a curiously-shaped sandstone swirl, takes on rich warm tones and dramatic shadowed textures at sunset. Set in the North Coyote Buttes of Arizona and Utah, the Second Wave is characterized by striations revealing layers of sedimentary deposits, a visible historical record depicting eons of submarine geology, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness
The Second Wave at Sunset, North Coyote Buttes. The Second Wave, a curiously-shaped sandstone swirl, takes on rich warm tones and dramatic shadowed textures at sunset. Set in the North Coyote Buttes of Arizona and Utah, the Second Wave is characterized by striations revealing layers of sedimentary deposits, a visible historical record depicting eons of submarine geology.
Location: North Coyote Buttes, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Arizona
Image ID: 20606  
Tiger shark and horse-eye jacks, Galeocerdo cuvier
Tiger shark and horse-eye jacks.
Species: Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier
Location: Bahamas
Image ID: 31880  
Scripps Pier solstice, sunset aligned perfectly with the pier, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Scripps Pier solstice, sunset aligned perfectly with the pier.
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
Image ID: 28475  
Brown pelican in flight, softly lit by flash against pink predawn sky, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Brown pelican in flight, softly lit by flash against pink predawn sky.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 28346  
Vogelsang Peak (11516') at sunset, reflected in a small creek near Vogelsang High Sierra Camp in Yosemite's high country, Yosemite National Park, California
Vogelsang Peak (11516') at sunset, reflected in a small creek near Vogelsang High Sierra Camp in Yosemite's high country.
Location: Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 23202  
Bigeye Barracuda schooling in Nigali Pass, Fiji, Nigali Passage, Gau Island, Lomaiviti Archipelago
Bigeye Barracuda schooling in Nigali Pass, Fiji.
Location: Nigali Passage, Gau Island, Lomaiviti Archipelago, Fiji
Image ID: 31329  
Blue whale aerial photo, with the shadow of the survey plane providing scale as to how huge the whale really is, Balaenoptera musculus
Blue whale aerial photo, with the shadow of the survey plane providing scale as to how huge the whale really is.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Image ID: 02168  
Dendronephthya soft corals and schooling Anthias fishes, feeding on plankton in strong ocean currents over a pristine coral reef. Fiji is known as the soft coral capitlal of the world, Dendronephthya, Pseudanthias, Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island
Dendronephthya soft corals and schooling Anthias fishes, feeding on plankton in strong ocean currents over a pristine coral reef. Fiji is known as the soft coral capitlal of the world.
Species: Anthias, Dendronephthya soft coral, Dendronephthya, Pseudanthias
Location: Namena Marine Reserve, Namena Island, Fiji
Image ID: 31338  
Corynactis anemone polyp, a corallimorph, extends its arms into passing ocean currents to catch food, Corynactis californica, San Diego, California
Corynactis anemone polyp, a corallimorph, extends its arms into passing ocean currents to catch food.
Species: Strawberry anemone, Corynactis californica
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 33476  
Triple Falls, in the upper part of Oneonta Gorge, fall 130 feet through a lush, beautiful temperate rainforest, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon
Triple Falls, in the upper part of Oneonta Gorge, fall 130 feet through a lush, beautiful temperate rainforest.
Location: Triple Falls, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon
Image ID: 19326  
Sunrise Clouds and Surf, Hospital Point, La Jolla
Sunrise Clouds and Surf, Hospital Point, La Jolla.
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 28830  
Milky Way arches over Delicate Arch, as stars cover the night sky. (Note: this image was created before a ban on light-painting in Arches National Park was put into effect. Light-painting is no longer permitted in Arches National Park)
Milky Way arches over Delicate Arch, as stars cover the night sky. (Note: this image was created before a ban on light-painting in Arches National Park was put into effect. Light-painting is no longer permitted in Arches National Park).
Location: Arches National Park, Utah
Image ID: 27850  
California Brown Pelican flying over a breaking wave, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
California Brown Pelican flying over a breaking wave.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 30374  
Racetrack Playa, an ancient lake now dried and covered with dessicated mud, Death Valley National Park, California
Racetrack Playa, an ancient lake now dried and covered with dessicated mud.
Location: Racetrack Playa, Death Valley National Park, California
Image ID: 25263  
Live Oak and Milky Way, rocks and stars, Joshua Tree National Park at night
Live Oak and Milky Way, rocks and stars, Joshua Tree National Park at night.
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 28417  
Panorama dimensions: 4848 x 7431
Yosemite Valley and stars lit by full moon, evening, Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite Valley and stars lit by full moon, evening.
Location: Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 28697  
Magellanic penguins, coming ashore on a sandy beach. Magellanic penguins can grow to 30" tall, 14 lbs and live over 25 years. They feed in the water, preying on cuttlefish, sardines, squid, krill, and other crustaceans, Spheniscus magellanicus, New Island
Magellanic penguins, coming ashore on a sandy beach. Magellanic penguins can grow to 30" tall, 14 lbs and live over 25 years. They feed in the water, preying on cuttlefish, sardines, squid, krill, and other crustaceans.
Species: Magellanic penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus
Location: New Island, Falkland Islands, United Kingdom
Image ID: 23924  
California sea lions and school of sardines underwater, Baja California, Sea of Cortez, Zalophus californianus
California sea lions and school of sardines underwater, Baja California, Sea of Cortez.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 31236  
Spectacularly colorful dendronephthya soft corals on South Pacific reef, reaching out into strong ocean currents to capture passing planktonic food, Fiji, Dendronephthya, Nigali Passage, Gau Island, Lomaiviti Archipelago
Spectacularly colorful dendronephthya soft corals on South Pacific reef, reaching out into strong ocean currents to capture passing planktonic food, Fiji.
Species: Dendronephthya soft coral, Dendronephthya
Location: Nigali Passage, Gau Island, Lomaiviti Archipelago, Fiji
Image ID: 31382  
Schooling fish over coral reef, Grand Cayman Island
Schooling fish over coral reef, Grand Cayman Island.
Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Image ID: 32053  
Blacksmith Chromis and California golden gorgonian on underwater rocky reef, San Clemente Island. The golden gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Each individual polyp is a distinct animal, together they secrete calcium that forms the structure of the colony. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by, Chromis punctipinnis, Muricea californica
Blacksmith Chromis and California golden gorgonian on underwater rocky reef, San Clemente Island. The golden gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Each individual polyp is a distinct animal, together they secrete calcium that forms the structure of the colony. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: Blacksmith, California golden gorgonian, Chromis punctipinnis, Muricea californica
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 30956  
Large competitive group of humpback whales seen underwater, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Large competitive group of humpback whales seen underwater.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 04462  
Eureka Dunes. The Eureka Valley Sand Dunes are California's tallest sand dunes, and one of the tallest in the United States. Rising 680' above the floor of the Eureka Valley, the Eureka sand dunes are home to several endangered species, as well as "singing sand" that makes strange sounds when it shifts. Located in the remote northern portion of Death Valley National Park, the Eureka Dunes see very few visitors
Eureka Dunes. The Eureka Valley Sand Dunes are California's tallest sand dunes, and one of the tallest in the United States. Rising 680' above the floor of the Eureka Valley, the Eureka sand dunes are home to several endangered species, as well as "singing sand" that makes strange sounds when it shifts. Located in the remote northern portion of Death Valley National Park, the Eureka Dunes see very few visitors.
Location: Eureka Dunes, Death Valley National Park, California
Image ID: 25241  
San Diego harbor and skyline, viewed at sunset
San Diego harbor and skyline, viewed at sunset.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 27146  
San Diego City Skyline at Sunrise
San Diego City Skyline at Sunrise.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 28381  
California sea lion, Zalophus californianus, Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado)
California sea lion.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 02943  
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, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
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.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 28969  
Torrey Pines balloon aerial survey photo. Torrey Pines seacliffs, rising up to 300 feet above the ocean, stretch from Del Mar to La Jolla. On the mesa atop the bluffs are found Torrey pine trees, one of the rare species of pines in the world. Peregrine falcons nest at the edge of the cliffs. This photo was made as part of an experimental balloon aerial photographic survey flight over Torrey Pines State Reserve, by permission of Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California
Torrey Pines balloon aerial survey photo. Torrey Pines seacliffs, rising up to 300 feet above the ocean, stretch from Del Mar to La Jolla. On the mesa atop the bluffs are found Torrey pine trees, one of the rare species of pines in the world. Peregrine falcons nest at the edge of the cliffs. This photo was made as part of an experimental balloon aerial photographic survey flight over Torrey Pines State Reserve, by permission of Torrey Pines State Reserve.
Location: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California
Image ID: 27288  
The Wave at Night, under a clear night sky full of stars. 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
The Wave at Night, under a clear night sky full of stars. 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.
Location: North Coyote Buttes, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Arizona
Image ID: 28623  
Seacliffs, La Jolla and evening lights, dusk, Pacific Ocean surf
Seacliffs, La Jolla and evening lights, dusk, Pacific Ocean surf.
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 28988  
All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.