All Posts By

Phil Colla

CaliforniaDesertThe American Southwest

Photo of 17 Palms Oasis

17 Palms Oasis is located in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, several miles down the lunar-looking Arroyo Salado wash. The drive along Arroyo Salado is fun and relatively simple, although a four-wheel drive car is recommended. Seventeen Palms Oasis, consisting of (not surprisingly) 17 palms, appears out of nowhere as you…
May 23, 2007
Photo of the Day

Sunset Colors

Over the years I have had the good fortune to spend many weeks on liveaboard boats, in remote locations, diving and shooting photos. Typical trips will schedule some night dives, however we are not hard core on the diving and usually prefer to stay dry in favor of happy hour…
May 22, 2007
AbstractBahamasUnderwater Photography

Underwater Light

Much of my time underwater is spent looking for simple, available light photographs. These are not sexy photos, but they tend to sell well and are typically used as backgrounds or screened back with text or inset photos laid over the top. The best part is they are simple to…
May 21, 2007
EgyptIconsPhoto of the Day

Photo of the Egyptian Pyramids

We wrapped up our stay in Egypt with some time at my brother's house in Cairo, touring the older parts of the city and seeing some off-the-beaten-path markets, mosques, and other amazing stuff. One highlight of our time in Cairo was a day at the Giza necropololis to see the…
May 20, 2007
EgyptPhoto of the Day

Photo of Egyptian Hieroglyphics

Everywhere we went in Egypt, we saw hieroglyphics. I never got tired of looking at them. The richest area for seeing hieroglyphic carvings was in the necropolis of ancient Thebes, most notably the Luxor and Karnak Temple complexes, Ramesseum and at Medinet Habu. We also saw some hieroglyphic carvings in…
May 19, 2007
EgyptPhoto of the Day

Photo of the Valley of the Kings

While we were in Luxor, we spent an afternoon visiting the Valley of the Kings, site of the tombs of the New Kingdom pharoahs from the 16th to 11th centuries BC, including the most famous one of all, that of Tutankhamun. The valley itself is quite stark and barren, with…
May 18, 2007
HawaiiPhoto of the Day

Molokai Reflections

For those winters I worked with Dan Salden and his whale research team in Maui, I stayed with my friend Skip at his surf pad, a quiet condo just yards from the water on Honokeana Cove, in Napili, not far from Kapalua. Most mornings before we drove into town to…
May 17, 2007
EgyptPhoto of the Day

Photo of Karnak Temple

The Karnak Temple complex is part of the necropolis of ancient Thebes, across the Nile River from what is now Luxor, Egypt. Built over a period of 1300 years, Karnak is actually a group of ancient temples and buildings, the assemblage of which is the largest example of a single-location…
May 16, 2007
HawaiiPhoto of the Day

Photo of the West Maui Mountains

We spent a good part of seven winters working with Dan Salden, studying humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the basin and channels between Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe islands, occasionally visiting the weather side of Lanai or the rugged, waterfall-laden backside of Molokai. Each morning we would set out from…
May 15, 2007
Photo of the Day

Underwater Photos of Roatan, Honduras

Some years ago I spent two weeks diving on the Honduran island of Roatan with some friends, checking out the corals and walls and just relaxing. The diving was pretty tame, with not much going on underwater. The place was nice for Caribbean corals, with lots of healthy displays of…
May 14, 2007
EgyptPhoto of the Day

Photo of the Mosque of Ibn Tulun

The Mosque of Ibn Tulun was built in 879 by Ahmad ibn Tulun who, though born the son of a Turkish slave, rose to become the independent governor of Egypt and whose family continued to rule until 905. The mosque bears design elements of his childhood home of Samarra. Unusual…
May 13, 2007
EgyptPhoto of the Day

Photo of the Hand of Ozymandias

The classic sonnet "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley has within it two stark ironies. Can you discern them both? I met a traveller from an antique land Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand, Half sunk, a shatter'd visage…
May 12, 2007
EgyptPhoto of the Day

Photo of The Citadel, Cairo, Egypt

The Citadel, also referred to as the Saladin Citadel or Mohamed Ali Citadel, is one of the principal attractions of Cairo, Egypt. Originally built by Saladin in the late 1100's for protection against invading Crusaders, the Citadel is located on a spur of limestone that is now detached from its…
May 10, 2007
CaliforniaPhoto of the DayWildlife

Bad Hair Day

This double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is displaying typical winter mating plumage. Sweet do. Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), mating plumage.Image ID: 18549Species: Double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritusLocation: La Jolla, California, USA
May 7, 2007
Skip's Trips

Kayaking in Thailand

More from Skip: Before our 12 day Ocean Rover diving trip a few of us did a custom 8-day kayaking, jungle hiking trip with Paddle Asia to Khao Sok National Park (remarkably biting insect free!) and to Phang Nga Bay. The former is a vast 165 square kilometers lake created…
May 6, 2007
Skip's Trips

Skip Stubbs in Thailand (2007)

This just in from my good friend and diving partner Skip Stubbs, who has just returned from another of his excellent dive expeditions, this time to Thailand: We are just back from 12 great days on the Ocean Rover out of Phuket Thailand. This liveaboard diving vessel is in my…
May 5, 2007
Photo of the Day

Photo of Bixby Bridge, Big Sur, California

Bixby Bridge is perhaps Big Sur's most recognizable manmade landmark. It crosses Bixby Canyon where Bixby Creek exits the Santa Lucia Mountains and empties into the Pacific Ocean. Built as part of the massive Coast Highway public works project of the Great Depression, Bixby Bridge was completed in 1932 with…
May 1, 2007
Surf

Wedge, Newport Beach, April 12

A southern hemi swell kicked up the surf the past couple days. Biggest was in Orange County with it's southern exposure. I could not get up there until this morning and I missed the peak of the swell. I tried Ponto yesterday and got in double-overhead waves with a lens…
April 12, 2007
AlaskaBrown BearKatmai

Brooks Lodge Bear Viewing, Katmai, Alaska

Some Thoughts on Visiting Brooks Camp, Katmai National Park, Alaska to See Coastal Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) Coastal brown bear (Ursus arctos), near the bridge, Brooks Camp, Katmai National Park, Alaska Brooks Camp is located in the heart of Katmai National Park, Alaska. Long famous for its world-class fishing, spectacular…
March 30, 2007
Photo of the Day

Sea Turtle Tattoo

I've had a dozen or so requests over the years to use my photos as source material for a tattoo, but only recently was the recipient of the tattoo kind enough to send me some snaps of what it looked like. Its pretty cool. I think one of the shots…
March 28, 2007
Galapagos Diaries

Wolf Island, Galapagos

Wolf Island is one of the two northernmost islands in the Galapagos archipelago. Along with Darwin Island, Isla Wolf is famous for its rich undersea and seabird life. There are no land visits on the island, so the few visitors to the island are almost entirely divers or research scientists.…
March 18, 2007
Pelicans of La JollaSan DiegoSeabird

Photo of a Brown Pelican Soaring

See our Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla. This brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is soaring over the ocean, riding the morning updrafts along the cliffs of La Jolla, California. Brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the…
March 7, 2007
Pelicans of La JollaSeabird

Photo of a Brown Pelican Landing

See our Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla. This brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is spreading its wings to slow down, just before landing on seacliffs. Early morning, La Jolla, California. California brown pelican spreads its wings wide as it slows before landing on seacliffs. Image ID: 18228 Species: Brown…
March 2, 2007
CaliforniaLa JollaPhoto of the DayWildlife

Photos of Cormorants in Flight

Cormorants (Phalacrocorax sp.) flying low over the ocean, speeding offshore before sunrise to forage for food before returning to rest on cliffs later in the day. La Jolla. Double-crested cormorants in flight at sunrise, long exposure produces a blurred motion.Image ID: 15280Species: Double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritusLocation: La Jolla, California, USA…
February 16, 2007
CaliforniaPhoto of the DayWildlife

Sunrise Seagull

A Western gull (Larus occidentalis) in pink predawn light, 30 minutes before sunrise, La Jolla. Western gull, early morning pink sky.Image ID: 18394Species: Western gull, Larus occidentalisLocation: La Jolla, California, USA
February 15, 2007
CaliforniaElephant SealWildlife

Happy Valentines Day

Elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) showing extreme sexual dimorphism (difference between sexes). Male elephant seals can be 3-4 times as massive as females. Central California. Elephant seals in the surf, showing extreme dimorphism, males (5000 lb) are triple the size of females (1700 lb). Central California.Image ID: 15497Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga…
February 14, 2007
CaliforniaLa JollaSurf

Boomer Beach Bodysurf

Some heavy surf this morning in La Jolla. It's difficult to get a good shot of this wave as it is crumbly and not particularly attractive, the angle from shore is straight on and the wave is not hollow. Here are a couple guys who took off while I was…
February 2, 2007
Surf

Mavericks Surf Photo

Grant "Twiggy" Baker, on his way to winning the 2006 running of the Mavericks Surf Contest. This was one of my two favorite frames of the day. I hope to get up there again for the 2007 contest. These guys are superb athletes taking on a truly impressive wave in…
February 1, 2007