All Posts By

Phil Colla

AntarcticaHumpback WhaleSouthern Ocean

Neko Harbor, Antarctica

Photos of Neko Harbor, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica I awoke this morning to find us in the calm anchorage of Paradise Bay. The water was glass, and bergs were slowly drifting by the boat, riding tidal currents. I set up a time lapse sequence on the stern of the boat and…
December 20, 2010
AntarcticaSouthern Ocean

Peterman Island, Antarctica

Photos of Peterman Island, Antarctica Soon after passing through the Lemaire Channel we arrive at Peterman Island. Peterman Island is a relatively low-lying, somewhat flattish granite island with scattered gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) colonies and some small ponds. Rounded rocks along the edge of the island are awash with small…
December 18, 2010
AntarcticaSouthern Ocean

Lemaire Channel, Antarctica

Soon after leaving Port Lockroy in our wake, we arrive at the famous Lemaire Channel, noted for its narrow confines and spectacular cliffs rising on each side. About six miles long, the LeMaire Channel takes about one hour to navigate (depending on how much ice is in the channel). Conditions…
December 17, 2010
AntarcticaSouthern Ocean

Port Lockroy, Antarctica

Photos of Port Lockroy, Antarctica It was quite early in the morning that our day began, traveling down the Neumayer Channel to tiny Goudier Island on which the Port Lockeroy base resides. The skies were heavily overcast, so we did not have an opportunity to see the magnificent surroundings that…
December 16, 2010
Skip's Trips

Skip Stubbs in the Sea of Cortez (2010)

Once again my friend Skip Stubbs has been diving in the Sea of Cortez with his pals. It seems like that's all he does! This time he was shooting underwater panoramas (in addition to his usual video) Yes, the same multiple-image stitched panoramas that all of us are shooting these…
October 20, 2010
Sierra Nevada

Bishop Creek Canyon Fall Colors

Photos of Eastern Sierra Fall Colors and Aspen Trees in Bishop Creek Canyon Like moths to the flame, Garry and I made a banzai run* up to Bishop Creek Canyon to get some fresh air and check out the fall colors last weekend. The quaking aspen trees (Populus tremuloides) had…
October 12, 2010
AntarcticaPenguinSouthern Ocean

Cuverville Island, Antarctica

Photos of Gentoo Penguins on Cuverville Island, Antarctica Gentoo penguin tending to its two chicks. The nest is made of small stones.Image ID: 25551Species: Gentoo penguin, Pygoscelis papuaLocation: Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica We are gradually working our way south along the western flanks of the Antarctica Peninsula. This afternoon…
September 22, 2010
AntarcticaHumpback WhaleSouthern Ocean

Cierva Cove, Antarctica

Photos of Cierva Cove, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica We begin our morning today in Cierva Cove, directly south from yesterday’s landing at Bailey Head on Deception Island. Cierva Cove is said to be a good location to see marine mammals. However, this morning the skies are dark and the air is…
September 20, 2010
CaliforniaRedwoodTrees

Coast Redwood Tree, Sequoia sempervirens

Stock photos of Sequoia sempervirens, the Coast Redwood Tree. Sequoia sempervirens, also known as the Coast Redwood, Giant Redwood, or simply Redwood Tree, is the tallest species of tree in the world. The Coast Redwood tree is the only member of the genus Sequoia, part of the Cypress tree family.…
September 17, 2010
ElkRedwood

Roosevelt Elk, Cervus canadensis roosevelti

Photos of Roosevelt Elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) in Redwood National Park The Roosevelt Elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) is the largest of the four surviving subspecies of elk in North America. Roosevelt elk are found in temperate rainforests and meadows of the Pacific Northwest, including Olympic and Redwood National Park. Only…
September 15, 2010
CaliforniaRedwoodTrees

Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Redwood National Park

Lady Bird Johnson Grove in Redwood National Park is gorgeous. From clover and ferns covering the soil to tall rhododendron bushes at eye level to the coast redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens) and Douglas firs towering above, this grove seems to harbor countless shades of green and brown. I spent two…
September 8, 2010
ElkNational ParksRedwoodVideo

Redwood National Park Video

Redwood National Park Video We spent a few days relaxing in Orick, California, in the heart of Redwood National Park. We enjoyed some great hikes among the towering coastal redwood trees, a little horseback riding, some uncrowded and beautiful beaches, and lots of Roosevelt elk that reside in the meadows…
August 16, 2010
AntarcticaPenguinSouthern Ocean

Bailey Head, Deception Island, Antarctica

Bailey Head, Deception Island, Antarctic Peninsula Chinstrap penguins at Bailey Head, Deception Island. Chinstrap penguins enter and exit the surf on the black sand beach at Bailey Head on Deception Island. Bailey Head is home to one of the largest colonies of chinstrap penguins in the world.Image ID: 25455Species: Chinstrap…
August 8, 2010
Skip's Trips

Skip Stubbs at Guadalupe Island 2010

My good friend and diving partner Skip Stubbs recently returned another trip to Guadalupe Island, Mexico. Skip shot some nice still photographs in addition to his usual video footage. They make me long to be back down at the island again. Skip comments: After an unfortunate 4 year hiatus, we…
August 4, 2010
AntarcticaPenguinSouthern Ocean

Brown Bluff, Antarctica

Photos of Brown Bluff, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica Our approach to Brown Bluff took us across a broad sound complete with blue sky and many scenic bergs, then into a thick fog bank as we left the sound and entered a narrower passage with clouds and cold air pouring down to…
July 23, 2010
AntarcticaPenguinSouthern OceanTime Lapse

Devil Island, Antarctica

Photos of Devil Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica Arriving at Devil Island, the morning presented the most spectacular blue-sky weather we experienced during our entire voyage. Devil Island rose above us after we anchored, twin peaks about 800’ high framing a saddle about half that. On the slope of the island…
July 20, 2010
AntarcticaPenguinSouthern Ocean

Zodiac Cruising in Antarctica

Photos of Zodiac Cruising in Antartica I was able to spend quite a bit of time sightseeing and photographing from a Zodiac (inflatable) while in Antarctica. These hours were some of the most special of the trip. In some ways, one has more freedom of movement while in a zodiac…
July 16, 2010
Guadalupe IslandMexico

Guadalupe Island :: First Impressions

First Impressions: Guadalupe Island, Mexico September 1994. Our early expeditionary trips to Guadalupe Island on the Horizon were wild affairs. Each year Skip assembled a superb mix of skilled spearfishermen looking for giant tuna and intrepid SCUBA divers seeking to explore the scarcely seen underwater environment of remote Guadalupe Island.…
July 15, 2010
Tear Sheets

International Conservation Photography Awards 2010

The 2010 occasion of the International Conservation Photography Awards was held recently in Seattle, with winners being announced June 19 and an exhibit of many of images running until September 6 at The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Washington. You can view online photos…
July 14, 2010
CaliforniaDeath ValleyDesertFloraNational ParksThe American SouthwestWildflowers

Eureka Valley Evening Primrose, Oenothera californica eurekensis

Stock photos of the Eureka Valley Dune Evening Primrose, Oenothera californica eurekensis, in Death Valley National Park. The Eureka Valley Evening Primrose (Oenothera californica eurekensis) is a federally endangered wildflower found only on and near the sand dune habitat of the Eureka Valley, in the far northern reaches of Death…
June 4, 2010