Inspirational photos

North Pacific humpback whales, a mother and calf pair swim closely together just under the surface of the ocean. The calf will remain with its mother for about a year, migrating from Hawaii to Alaska to feed on herring, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
North Pacific humpback whales, a mother and calf pair swim closely together just under the surface of the ocean. The calf will remain with its mother for about a year, migrating from Hawaii to Alaska to feed on herring.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 00140  
Humpback whale breaching, near Molokai, Hawaii. Megaptera novaeangliae. It is suspected the breaching often has a communicative purpose which depends on the behavioral context of the moment, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
Humpback whale breaching, near Molokai, Hawaii. Megaptera novaeangliae. It is suspected the breaching often has a communicative purpose which depends on the behavioral context of the moment.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 00205  
Two blue whales, a mother and her calf, swim through the open ocean in this aerial photograph. The calf is blowing (spouting, exhaling) with a powerful column of spray. The blue whale is the largest animal ever to live on Earth, Balaenoptera musculus, San Diego, California
Two blue whales, a mother and her calf, swim through the open ocean in this aerial photograph. The calf is blowing (spouting, exhaling) with a powerful column of spray. The blue whale is the largest animal ever to live on Earth.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 02304  
Half Dome and storm clouds at sunset, viewed from Sentinel Bridge, Yosemite National Park, California
Half Dome and storm clouds at sunset, viewed from Sentinel Bridge.
Location: Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 22744  
Vernal Falls at peak flow in late spring, with a rainbow appearing in the spray of the falls, viewed from the Mist Trail, Yosemite National Park, California
Vernal Falls at peak flow in late spring, with a rainbow appearing in the spray of the falls, viewed from the Mist Trail.
Location: Vernal Falls, Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 12634  
Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 00627  
Yosemite Falls at peak flow in late spring, viewed from Cooks Meadow, Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite Falls at peak flow in late spring, viewed from Cooks Meadow.
Location: Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 12631  
Blue whale fluking up (raising its tail) before a dive to forage for krill, Baja California (Mexico), Balaenoptera musculus
Blue whale fluking up (raising its tail) before a dive to forage for krill, Baja California (Mexico).
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Image ID: 03332  
El Capitan and Merced River, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California
El Capitan and Merced River, Yosemite Valley.
Location: El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 05413  
Clouds light up with blazing colors at sunset, La Jolla, California
Clouds light up with blazing colors at sunset.
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 04819  
North Pacific humpback whale raising its fluke before diving underwater to forage for herring in southeast Alaska, Megaptera novaeangliae, Maui
North Pacific humpback whale raising its fluke before diving underwater to forage for herring in southeast Alaska.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 02154  
Kelp fronds, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp fronds.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 03423  
Kelp forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp forest.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 04660  
An enormous blue whale raises its fluke (tail) high out of the water before diving. Open ocean offshore of San Diego, Balaenoptera musculus
An enormous blue whale raises its fluke (tail) high out of the water before diving. Open ocean offshore of San Diego.
Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 07519  
Unicorn Peak at sunset, seen from Tuolumne Meadows. Cockscomb Peak rises in the distance, Yosemite National Park, California
Unicorn Peak at sunset, seen from Tuolumne Meadows. Cockscomb Peak rises in the distance.
Location: Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 09945  
Sunrise light on clouds
Sunrise light on clouds.
Image ID: 06225  
Sunset reflections in the Tuolumne River, Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, California
Sunset reflections in the Tuolumne River.
Location: Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 09975  
Fern Springs, a small natural spring in Yosemite Valley near the Pohono Bridge, trickles quietly over rocks as it flows into the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California
Fern Springs, a small natural spring in Yosemite Valley near the Pohono Bridge, trickles quietly over rocks as it flows into the Merced River.
Location: Fern Springs, Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 12648  
Mountain dogwood, or Pacific dogwood, Yosemite Valley, Cornus nuttallii, Yosemite National Park, California
Mountain dogwood, or Pacific dogwood, Yosemite Valley.
Species: Mountain dogwood, Cornus nuttallii
Location: Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 12672  
Ocean surface
Ocean surface.
Location: Bahamas
Image ID: 00303  
Sand, water and light
Sand, water and light.
Location: Bahamas
Image ID: 00304  
Atop Haleakala volcano, Maui
Atop Haleakala volcano.
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05609  
Clouds and sunlight, Maui
Clouds and sunlight.
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05644  
Old Faithful geyser at peak eruption, Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Old Faithful geyser at peak eruption.
Location: Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Image ID: 07182  
The Teton Range is reflected in a calm sidewater of the Snake River near Blacktail Ponds, summer, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
The Teton Range is reflected in a calm sidewater of the Snake River near Blacktail Ponds, summer.
Location: Blacktail Ponds, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Image ID: 07382  
Water patterns
Water patterns.
Image ID: 03184  
Giant Sequoia tree, Sequoiadendron giganteum, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California
Giant Sequoia tree.
Species: Giant sequoia tree, Sequoiadendron giganteum
Location: Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 03644  
A parent and child admire the fascinating kelp forest tank at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Diego, California, Macrocystis pyrifera
A parent and child admire the fascinating kelp forest tank at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Diego, California.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Image ID: 10310  
Dune primrose blooms in spring following winter rains. Dune primrose is a common ephemeral wildflower on the Colorado Desert, growing on dunes. Its blooms open in the evening and last through midmorning. Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Oenothera deltoides, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Dune primrose blooms in spring following winter rains. Dune primrose is a common ephemeral wildflower on the Colorado Desert, growing on dunes. Its blooms open in the evening and last through midmorning. Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
Species: Dune evening primrose, Dune primrose, Oenothera deltoides
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California
Image ID: 10479  
Aspens, a small creek and an old barn along Mormon Row below the Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Aspens, a small creek and an old barn along Mormon Row below the Teton Range.
Location: Mormon Row, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Image ID: 07377  
All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.