All Posts By

Phil Colla

Guadalupe IslandMexico

Isla Guadalupe :: Restauracion Y Conservacion

Finally, an authoritative book has been published about Guadalupe Island, our favorite eastern Pacific island and one of Mexico's finest ecological wonders. Published in December 2005 by Instituto Nacional de Ecologia (INE-SEMARNAT) and compiled by editors Karina Santos del Prado and Eduardo Peters, Isla Guadalupe, Restauracion Y Conservacion describes the…
March 21, 2006
Beautiful Views of San DiegoCaliforniaSan Diego

Between Showers

Downtown San Diego viewed from Point Loma. A storm system passed through Southern California last weekend dumping rain, hail and snow. However, the sun was able to peek through the clouds for a moment at sunset, lighting up the San Diego skyline while the surrounding harbor and mountains in the…
March 13, 2006
CaliforniaElephant SealWildlife

Piedras Blancas Elephant Seals

We have been visiting the Piedras Blancas rookery of northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) since early 1991, when it was newly colonized by animals from the San Miguel, San Nicholas and Ano Nuevo rookeries, and have watched it grow to its current size. We have had the good fortune to…
March 1, 2006
Funny

Psycho Bird

Check out this crazed seagull. Until today I had no idea that birds actually had tongues. Learn something new (and useful) every day it seems. Larus psychobirdus. Western gull, open mouth.Image ID: 15563Species: Western gull, Larus occidentalisLocation: La Jolla, California, USA
February 21, 2006
Central CoastSurf

Mavericks Surf Contest 2006

The Mavericks Surf Contest 2006 photos are now online. I shot the 2006 running of the Mavericks Surf Contest, held February 7, 2006 at Half Moon Bay, California. The event went off very well, with great organization, beautiful weather and near perfect waves. The Mavericks Surf Contest is about big…
February 7, 2006
Pelicans of La JollaSeabird

Pelican Head Throw

See my Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla. Here are a few photos of California brown pelicans performing the pelican head throw, also known as the pelican bill throw. It looks painful. The brown pelican lifts its large bill up, arches its neck back until the throat gular pouch…
February 1, 2006
Surf

Carlsbad Morning Glass

I got a few fun photos in South Carlsbad recently, it was glassy and sunny, did not feel like winter: Surf, wave, winter, morning, Ponto, South Carlsbad.Image ID: 14980Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California, USA Surf, wave, winter, morning, Ponto, South Carlsbad.Image ID: 14978Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California, USA Surf, wave, winter, morning,…
January 9, 2006
California

Recent California Snaps

A few recent images. Click on any one to see others that are related. Beach cliffs at Torrey Pines State Reserve: Sandstone cliffs rise above the beach at Torrey Pines State Reserve.Image ID: 14725Location: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California, USA Broken Hill at Torrey Pines State Reserve: Broken…
January 5, 2006
HaleakalaHawaii

Atop Haleakala

We used to spend 6-8 weeks in Maui each winter as part of a humpback whale research team. One of the fringe benefits of that work was a chance to make a trip to the summit of Haleakala volcano each year, the mass of which comprises most of the island…
January 3, 2006
Surf

Salt Creek Surf

When the sun finally burned through the morning haze some nice waves appeared at Salt Creek, leftovers from Big Wednesday. Salt Creek surf, pretty big day, winter, morning.Image ID: 14851Location: Salt Creek, Laguna Niguel, California, USA Salt Creek surf, pretty big day, winter, morning.Image ID: 14852Location: Salt Creek, Laguna Niguel,…
December 22, 2005
CaliforniaSurf

Big Wednesday

Big Wednesday : December 21 2005. All of Southern California and Baja gets bombed with good surf, some of the best we've seen in 20+ years. Most excellent. I got away for a few hours and saw some guys tackle what is probably an 18 foot La Jolla Cove left.…
December 21, 2005
Surf

Del Mar Surf Camera Housing

**As of August 2012, I am using Delmar Housing Projects for my Canon 5D Mark III. The lens I prefer to use is the 16-35 f/2.8 II. The first couple sessions with this rig: first and second.** **As of September 2006, I am using an even newer, better, more killer…
December 14, 2005
CaliforniaDesertWildlife

Photo of Desert Bighorn Sheep

The Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) found in southwestern California, is a subspecies of the North American desert bighorn sheep that occupies the rocky and arid Mojave and Senoran deserts of the American southwest and northern Mexico. Desert bighorn sheep, male ram. The desert bighorn sheep occupies dry, rocky…
November 22, 2005
CaliforniaLa JollaSan Diego

Photos of Birch Aquarium, La Jolla

The Birch Aquarium is located at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Completed in 1992, the aquarium was named for benefactors Stephen and Mary Birch. The Birch Aquarium contains over 60 tanks, including a 70,000 gallon kelp forest exhibit and 13,000 gallon shark tank. It is located on a bluff overlooking…
November 7, 2005
Skip's Trips

Skip Stubbs in the Sea of Cortez (2005)

My good friend and diving partner Skip Stubbs recently returned from his annual October visit to La Paz. As usual, the focus of the trip was underwater video of the excellent schools of fish that inhabit the reefs in the Sea of Cortez. For those of you who do not…
October 24, 2005
Washington

Seattle Skyline Photo

While in Seattle this past summer, I made a quick trip to Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill to catch a view of the downtown Seattle City Skyline. I was hoping to get some nice Space Needle photos. When I arrived I was surprised to find 50+ photographers there, at…
October 14, 2005
Surf

The Wedge, Newport Beach

A wave, breaking with powerful energy, at the Wedge in Newport Beach. Image ID: 16988 Location: The Wedge, Newport Beach, California, USA September swell at the Wedge. Image ID: 14416 Location: The Wedge, Newport Beach, California, USA Wave breaking, tube, Newport Beach. Image ID: 16802 Location: Newport Beach, California, USA…
September 21, 2005