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California San Diego

Tijuana River Pollution, San Diego

The Tijuana River Valley, which skirts the U.S. - Mexico border, has a huge pollution problem. The Tijuana River, which passes through Tijuana before crossing into the United States, collects huge amounts of trash and debris with each winter's storms. The plastic bottles, cans, tires, garbage bags, clothes, and sewage…

adminFebruary 27, 2009

Galapagos Diaries

Galapagos Sea Lion and Puffer Fish, Cousins Rock

One of the best dives I ever had in the Galapagos Islands occurred while freediving during our 1998 trip there, at Cousins Rock. It was a beautiful sunny day, we were eating lunch al fresco on the deck of the Lammer Law after a late morning dive. I convinced our…

adminFebruary 26, 2009

Galapagos Diaries

Galapagos Sea Lion, Cousins Rock

The last time I dove Cousins Rock, one of the finer dive sites in the Galapagos Islands, I was set up to photograph sea horses. I rarely shoot macro, but on this trip I was burned out from two weeks of diving and swimming long distances (the currents are strong…

adminFebruary 25, 2009

Galapagos Diaries

Galapagos Sea Lion Pup

Of all marine animals -- I have seen many different kinds, large and small -- the most appealing to me are pinnipeds (sea lions, fur seals, seals). Here is one, a cute little Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus californianus wollebacki) pup photographed on North Seymour Island just a few yards away…

adminFebruary 24, 2009

Galapagos Diaries

Photo of a Magnificent Frigatebird, Galapagos

One of the great surprises I had the first time I visited the Galapagos Islands was how much I enjoyed the bird life there. Seabirds seabirds everywhere! The most enjoyable to watch are the frigatebirds (Fregata sp.). Pirates of the air and sea, frigatebirds don't catch their own food, rather…

adminFebruary 23, 2009

California

Geothermal Power Generation Plant, Imperial County

If one is along the southern or eastern sides of the Salton Sea, one simply cannot miss the plumes of steam that are released from the several geothermal power generation plants that are there. These facilities tap the heat that resides deep in the Earth's crust to produce electricity. A…

adminFebruary 22, 2009

California

Burrowing Owl, Salton Sea

My friend Jim Campbell told me about a nest of burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) he found near the Salton Sea. So while I was driving around out there, I went by to see if I could find them. I honestly didn't think I would find any. Yet there they were,…

adminFebruary 21, 2009

California

Bombay Beach, Salton Sea

Bombay Beach is a small community on the edge of the Salton Sea. When I say "on the edge", I mean literally, to the point that the community is in danger of being flooded if the water level in the Salton Sea rises even just a few feet. In spite…

adminFebruary 20, 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…

adminFebruary 19, 2009

Blue Whale

Blue Whale Photo in National Geographic Magazine

I am very fortunate to have one of my blue whale photos (Balaenoptera musculus) appear in the March 2009 issue of National Geographic Magazine. It is an image of a whale's dorsal ridge and fluke, taken underwater, in the "Inside Geographic" section near the end of the magazine which describes…

adminFebruary 18, 2009

California

Atascadero Hills

The rolling hills of Atascadero, decorated with power transmission lines and signal towers, sunrise. Hills between Morro Bay and Atascadero, early morning light, power transmission lines and signal attenae.Image ID: 22222Location: Morro Bay, California, USA

adminFebruary 17, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego California San Diego

Downtown San Diego and USS Midway

One more photo of San Diego, then on to other things. Seen here are the high rise office buildings along the waterfront of downtown San Diego, lit with warm sunset light. Dominating the foreground is the USS Midway, a US Navy aircraft carrier that is now permanently docked in San…

adminFebruary 14, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego California San Diego

Coast Highway 101

The Coast Highway, also known as Highway 101 or Coast Blvd, is one of the gems of San Diego County. It takes on somewhat different names as it passes through the beachside communities of La Jolla, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas and Carlsbad. It passes spectacular ocean views, funky cafes…

adminFebruary 13, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego California San Diego

San Diego Convention Center

We made several loops over downtown as the sun dropped to the horizon, eventually passing by the San Diego Covention Center. It is really a big facility and looks quite different from the air than when I have seen it from the entrance near the Gaslamp District. Just a few…

adminFebruary 12, 2009

California La Jolla

San Clemente Island and Mount Soledad, La Jolla

The sun had set and we were en route back to land the helicopter. Rather than spacing out as I am wont to do, for some reason I was paying attention and just happened to notice this juxtaposition of La Jolla's Mount Soledad and distant San Clemente Island. I rattled…

adminFebruary 11, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

Petco Park and Downtown San Diego

Here is a view of Petco Park and downtown San Diego with San Diego Bay in the background. Downtown San Diego and Petco Park, viewed from the southeast. Image ID: 22300 Location: San Diego, California, USA See more of our San Diego Photos.

adminFebruary 10, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego California San Diego

Coronado Bridge, San Diego

One of the most striking sights during our flight over San Diego was the San Diego - Coronado Bridge. Arching high over San Diego Bay, the Coronado Bridge connects San Diego with the "island" community of Coronado and North Island Naval Air Station. Coronado is not truly an island as…

adminFebruary 9, 2009

National Parks Panoramas Photography Wyoming Yellowstone

Midway Geyser Basin Panorama, Yellowstone

Midway Geyser Basin is one of my favorite parts of Yellowstone National Park. Early mornings and cold days are great here. The Firehole River steams as it flows through the basin, and numerous hot springs on either side of the river create shifting fogs and mists. In this panorama, formed…

adminFebruary 8, 2009

Aerial Photography California San Diego

Hotel del Coronado, San Diego

An aerial photo of the Hotel del Coronado, known affectionately as the Hotel Del. It was once the largest hotel in the world, and is one of the country's few remaining wooden Victorian beach resorts. It sits on the beach on Coronado Island, seen here with downtown San Diego in…

adminFebruary 7, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego California San Diego

Old Point Loma Lighthouse, San Diego

The original Point Loma lighthouse was built in 1855 and operated until 1891. It was one of the original 8 lighthouses built on the West Coast and was designed in the Cape Cod style common to all of them at the time. East Coast lighthouses were then built on promontories…

adminFebruary 6, 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…

adminFebruary 5, 2009

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Open Wide

When I first viewed the shots from the day this was taken, I nearly tossed this one. "Sick and ugly" I thought. However, Skip said he thought it was the best shot of that day. I still think it is rather hard on the eyes, but I'll hold on to…

adminFebruary 4, 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…

adminFebruary 3, 2009

Canada Panoramas

Cathedral Grove, Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is covered with trees (at least those parts that have not been logged out yet). One particularly notable grove is Cathedral Grove, part of MacMillan Provincial Park. In Cathedral Grove enormous Douglas fir and Western hemlock trees are found, not yet taken by the logging industry and recently…

adminFebruary 2, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego Panoramas San Diego

Torrey Pines State Beach

A panorama of the view from Flat Rock at sunset, viewed with your back to the sun facing the tall sandstone seacliffs that tower over Torrey Pines State Beach. This was shot from the place where yesterday's Oranjeboom couple was standing. This panoramic photo is a composite of 10 separate…

adminFebruary 1, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego California San Diego

Flat Rock, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

A couple more photos of Torrey Pines today and tomorrow, then on to other things. One of the main trails in Torrey Pines State Reserve leads down to the beach, to a flat rock that is surprisingly named "Flat Rock." As we flew over Flat Rock a couple was enjoying…

adminJanuary 31, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla San Diego

Children’s Pool, La Jolla

Children's Pool, also known as Casa Cove, is a pretty contentious place these days. The Children's Pool is a simple pocket cove protected by a manmade seawall. It has a fine sand beach, calm waters and fairly good snorkeling. And harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) are often found on the beach,…

adminJanuary 30, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego California San Diego

Torrey Pines Golf Course

I used to play Torrey Pines Golf Course on Friday afternoons with some buddies when I was a student at UCSD. We played both north and south courses, whichever had an earlier slot available when we got there. Each semester we would plan our class schedules so that we would…

adminJanuary 28, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego California San Diego

Torrey Pines State Reserve

Torrey Pines State Reserve is a special place for me. When I was a kid, we drove down from Newport Beach to hike the winding dirt trails from the mesa to the beach, squeezing through the notorious and now-closed "Fat Man's Misery" (a politically-incorrectly-named narrow trail which discriminates against the…

adminJanuary 27, 2009

Aerial Photography California GeoBlog Photography San Diego

Aerial Photos of San Diego

Here are a couple of new aerial photos from our recently updated collection of San Diego Photos. New Point Loma Lighthouse, situated on the tip of Point Loma Peninsula, marks the entrance to San Diego Bay. The lighthouse rises 70' and was built in 1891 to replace the "old" Point…

adminJanuary 26, 2009

Photography

Marine Mammal Commission 2007 Annual Report to Congress

Each year, the Marine Mammal Commission prepares its annual report to the United States Congress. For the 2007 edition of the report, which is the most recent, all of the photos on the front and back cover are mine. When the report was presented at a special Joint Session of…

adminJanuary 14, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego Carlsbad

Batiquitos Lagoon Sunset

Tracy and I went for a walk along Batiquitos Lagoon near our home in Carlsbad. This is the sunset we saw. Sunset reflected in the still waters of Batiquitos Lagoon. Image ID: 22284 Location: Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, California, USA

adminJanuary 13, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego Panoramas San Diego

San Diego Waterfront from Coronado Island

Here is the last shot of the San Diego city skyline, over San Diego Bay, taken about an hour after the first one and the middle one, viewed from Coronado Island: San Diego city skyline at night, showing the buildings of downtown San Diego reflected in the still waters of…

adminJanuary 12, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego Panoramas San Diego

San Diego City Lights from Harbor Island

Here is another shot of the San Diego city skyline, over San Diego Bay, viewed a little while after the first one and from a different vantage point on Harbor Island. There just a bit of after-sunset color left in the sky. San Diego city skyline at sunset, showing the…

adminJanuary 11, 2009

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

San Diego Skyline from Point Loma

We have had some mild Santa Ana winds the last few days, blowing the haze out to sea and leaving behind fantastic visibility. I went down to a few of my favorite spots around San Diego Bay to get some new photos of the San Diego city skyline, including some…

adminJanuary 10, 2009

Arizona Landscape Panoramas The American Southwest The Wave

Panorama of the Wave, North Coyote Buttes

The Wave, that much-photographed geological oddity on the border between Arizona and Utah. I spent some time there on my last visit trying to shoot appealing panoramas, but was not entirely satisfied, it is a tough landscape to capture that way. This was one of panorama photos I was happy…

adminJanuary 8, 2009

California Morro Bay Panoramas

Morro Bay Panorama

I got up early one morning while we were in Morro Bay to photograph the view from Morro Bay State Park, around the bay and north to Morro Rock. There was a slight offshore breeze and the air was cold and dry giving clear views in every direction. My father-in-law's…

adminJanuary 7, 2009

Rose Atoll

Rose Atoll Marine National Monument

President Bush today created Rose Atoll Marine National Monument, along with two other enormous marine national monuments in the Pacific Ocean. With the stroke of a pen, President Bush has protected more marine habitat by far (measured in square miles) that any person in history. This is particularly exciting for…

adminJanuary 6, 2009

California

Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa

If you are a third grader in California, chances are that you are doing your Mission Project this year, and my third grade daughter is no exception. Each student is assigned one of the California missions upon which to report. My daughter reported on Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa…

adminJanuary 4, 2009

California

Snow on San Jacinto

Mount San Jacinto had a lot of snow over the Christmas holiday, the result of a couple of really cold storms passing through recently. Here San Jacinto is seen with some of the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm wind turbines (windmills) at its base. Wind turbines, rise above the flat…

adminJanuary 3, 2009

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