California

La Jolla Sea Lion

Photo of La Jolla Sea Lions

There is a big spawning aggregation of market squid assembled on the sand flats at about 60' off of La Jolla Shores beach right now. As a consequence, many California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) are now in the area, feeding on the squid and hauling out on rocks to rest…

adminJanuary 23, 2008

California Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird Wildlife

Beautiful Morning in La Jolla

A morning dentist appointment in La Jolla meant a short visit beforehand to shoot pelicans before I submitted myself to my semi-annual tooth cleaning (no cavities). I met David Osborn, a wonderful photographer from England who is currently in California to shoot a variety of natural history subjects for a…

adminJanuary 15, 2008

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla

Photo of UCSD Library at Night

This is Geisel Library, the central library at University of California, San Diego (alma mater). These two particular photos are composites, each consisting of three images with varying exposures, combined on the computer. Without using this approach, known as HDR (high dynamic range), the shadows would be totally black and…

adminJanuary 11, 2008

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla San Diego

Photo of Geisel Library at Dusk

This is Geisel Library, the central library at University of California, San Diego (alma mater). Photos taken at dusk when the light emanating from the library are about equal with sunset. Since the light is balanced, a decent photograph can be achieved with just a single frame. Tomorrow I'll post…

adminJanuary 10, 2008

California Joshua Tree National Parks Photo of the Day The American Southwest

Photo of Joshua Trees at Sunrise

We went out to La Quinta last weekend to visit our new baby niece. A big storm system was passing over California but the Coachella Valley got very little rain from it. I made a sunrise run out to Joshua Tree National Park and did a little exploring as the…

adminJanuary 8, 2008

California San Clemente Island Underwater Photography

Photo of a Giant Kelp Forest with Clean Blue Water

I used to do an awful lot of diving at San Clemente Island, primarily to spend my time hovering in the middle of the water column amidst a thick forest of kelp. San Clemente Island combines the most magnificent kelp forests (Macrocystis pyrifera) in the world with pretty clean water.…

adminDecember 15, 2007

California San Clemente Island Underwater Photography

Photo of Macrocystis Kelp Fronds

These kelp fronds are at the tip of a stalk of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) which is anchored to the ocean bottom and grows up toward the ocean surface. New growth such as this occurs at the tip of the stalk. Gas filled pneumatocysts provide bouyancy to the kelp plant,…

adminDecember 12, 2007

California Photo of the Day Wildlife

Double-Crested Cormorants Go To War

These two juvenile double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) are fighting by clicking their beaks against each another. A tempest in a teapot. Juvenile double-crested cormorants sparring with beaks.Image ID: 19932Species: Double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritusLocation: La Jolla, California, USA

adminDecember 11, 2007

California San Clemente Island Underwater Photography

Photo of an Underwater Photographer in a Kelp Forest

Here is a snap of my good friend Mike Johnson swimming through a forest of kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) at San Clemente Island. Most underwater photographers like to spend their time diving alone, pursuing their own particular subjects and angles and not wanting to be bothered with keeping track of a…

adminDecember 10, 2007

California Carlsbad Photo of the Day

Surf Check

We went for a walk on the beach yesterday late afternoon, getting back to the car just before sundown. There were no good waves but the tide was out and the beach nearly deserted, so it was good to be there. The pullout just south of Palomar Airport Road almost…

adminNovember 22, 2007

California

Plumes

Another interesting shot of the smoke plumes viewed from space. Look, there's Guadalupe Island down there too! No, I didn't take this photo. NASA did. They have better cameras than me.

adminOctober 24, 2007

California San Diego Surf

Santa Anas — Good News, Bad News

Santa Anas whipped up strong yesterday, sending offshores out to meet the clean swells coming ashore. Every wave had a rainbow trailing it. Just as each wave was poised to break, the wind would rip the lip off with impressive sound, sending spray aloft only to fall back around me…

adminOctober 22, 2007

California Panoramas

Lake Tahoe Panoramic Photo

Last summer we went to Lake Tahoe for a wedding. Lake Tahoe in summer is beautiful. I found a turnout on the highway above Incline Village which offered this view. This is a panoramic photograph obtained by stitching 6 separate images together on the computer. If you like this you…

adminAugust 17, 2007

California Landscape National Parks Panoramas Sierra Nevada Yosemite

Tenaya Lake Panoramic Photo

In late summer a few years ago we took the kids to spend a few nights in Tuolumne Meadows and then drive over Tioga Pass to see Mono Lake. We stopped at Lake Tenaya for a swim and a picnic lunch on the way to the meadows. This is a…

adminAugust 14, 2007

Panoramas Sierra Nevada

Minarets Panorama

On our way to a wedding in Tahoe last summer we stopped for a bit of fishing at Mammoth Lakes. I got up early and made a sunrise visit to the Minarets overlook, and got this view. This is a panoramic photograph, composed of 10 separate images stitched (on the…

adminAugust 9, 2007

California Carlsbad Photo of the Day

Fireworks at the Aviara Four Seasons 2007

We went around the corner to the golf course below Aviara Four Seasons and watched their fireworks last night. It was a pretty good show, just like last year. Fireworks.Image ID: 18991Location: Aviara, Carlsbad, California, USA Fireworks.Image ID: 18992Location: Aviara, Carlsbad, California, USA

adminJuly 5, 2007

California Photo of the Day San Diego

Photos of Common Dolphins

Common dolphin.Image ID: 00071Species: Common dolphin, Delphinus delphisLocation: San Diego, California, USA These common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) are gathered just under the surface of the water in front of my boat. We'll motor slowly, leaning over the bow, trying to get a good picture of them without it looking like…

adminJune 27, 2007

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

Del Mar Cobblestones

We used to live a few miles from Torrey Pines and Del Mar, and walked on the beach there fairly often. As they erode, the cliffs above the sand supply the beach with cobblestones. Depending on the season and recent surf energy, the beach ranges from nearly stone-free to being…

adminJune 24, 2007

California Photo of the Day San Diego

Common Dolphin Gliding

Common dolphin.Image ID: 00066Species: Common dolphin, Delphinus delphisLocation: San Diego, California, USA This is a common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), sometimes called a short-beaked saddleback dolphin, gliding under a glassy ocean just in front of the bow of my boat, with overcast skies reflecting back.

adminJune 5, 2007

California Desert The American Southwest

Photo of the Borrego Badlands from Fonts Point

From Font's Point in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, one can look across the Borrego Badlands (Carrizo Badlands), once an ancient lake but now a corrugated, tortured, barren wasteland (e.g., Mordor). Carrizo Badlands viewed from Fonts Point. Image ID: 05530 Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Anza Borrego, California, USA Carrizo Badlands…

adminMay 24, 2007

California Desert The 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…

adminMay 23, 2007

California Morro Bay Photo of the Day

Photo of Morro Rock, Morro Bay

Morro Rock, also known as the Gibralter of the Pacific, is an extinct volcanic peak rising 576' above the ocean on the north side of Morro Bay, California. It was first charted by Juan Cabrillo in 1542. It is now a protected home for the endangered peregrine falcon. Morro Rock…

adminMay 9, 2007

California La Jolla Photo of the Day Sea Lion Wildlife

Photos of Sea Lions in La Jolla

La Jolla is well known for its population of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi), but it boasts California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) as well. When the movable feast of market squid (Loligo opalescens) arrives to lay its carpets of eggs on the edge of the undersea La Jolla Canyon, California…

adminMay 8, 2007

California Photo of the Day Wildlife

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

adminMay 7, 2007

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

Photo of the Point Loma Lighthouse

The old Point Loma lighthouse, situated at the top of Cabrillo Monument at the end of Point Loma, puts forth a speck of light beneath a summertime sunset. Cabrillo Monument lighthouse at sunset, Point Loma. Image ID: 05511 Location: San Diego, California, USA The original Point Loma lighthouse was built…

adminMay 4, 2007

Beautiful Views of San Diego California Carlsbad

Photo of Batiquitos Lagoon

Batiquitos Lagoon borders Carlsbad and La Costa in northern San Diego County. As the lagoon is practically in our backyard we go walking there often, especially in spring when the tadpoles turn to frogs in the little creeks. I have taken my girls running there, in their jogger stroller, at…

adminMay 3, 2007

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla San Diego Seascapes

Black’s Beach Sunset

Black's Beach, famous for its isolation, surf and fashion sense, assumes a sublime evening glow. Viewed from top of the Indian Trail, north of the hang glider port. A bit of Torrey Pines golf course is visible in the upper right. The beach below was one of my favorite runs…

adminMay 2, 2007

California Photo of the Day San Diego

San Diego Crew Classic 2007

Spent a few hours this morning -- a beautiful April morning once the fog burned off -- riding my bike around Mission Bay, watching the main races of this year's San Diego Crew Classic. Good to see my alma mater UCSD win the Cal Cup, those guys have brawn to…

adminApril 1, 2007

Pelicans of La Jolla San Diego Seabird

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…

adminMarch 7, 2007

California La Jolla Photo of the Day Wildlife

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…

adminFebruary 16, 2007

California Photo of the Day Wildlife

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

adminFebruary 15, 2007

California Elephant Seal Wildlife

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…

adminFebruary 14, 2007

California La Jolla Surf

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…

adminFebruary 2, 2007

California Ocean Sunfish Photo of the Day San Diego Wildlife

Photo of a Mola Mola and Diver

Here's my friend Mike Johnson photographing a large ocean sunfish (Mola mola) offshore of San Diego. Ocean sunfish and freediving photographer, open ocean.Image ID: 03491Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola molaLocation: San Diego, California, USA More ocean sunfish photos.

adminJanuary 31, 2007

California Carlsbad Surf

Jetties, Carlsbad, December 23

Sunny and offshores, beautiful morning. Got to a spot I have wanted to try for a while but just never got around to it before. There was some size this morning. As I checked the surf from shore it seemed that most of the larger barrels went empty (perhaps they…

adminDecember 23, 2006

California Icons Trees White Mountains

Photos of Ancient Bristlecone Pine Trees

Ancient Bristlecone pine trees (Pinus longaeva) live in a relatively restricted area of eastern California, Nevada and Utah, typically at altitudes above 9500'. The ancient bristlecone pine tree is considered to be the world's oldest species of tree (and indeed the world's oldest sexually reproducing, nonclonal lifeform). A number of…

adminOctober 8, 2006

California Sierra Nevada Trees

Fall Comes to the Eastern Sierra

For a few years I have been interested in witnessing the famous fall colors of the Eastern Sierra, but never had the time to drive up Highway 395 and take a look. I finally managed to squeeze 36 hours out of my schedule recently and get up to Bishop, and…

adminSeptember 30, 2006

California Carlsbad Stories Surf

South Carlsbad Reminiscing

When I was a kid, my family would drive down from Newport Beach to spend a week or two each summer camping at South Carlsbad State Beach with two other families. This was going on 30+ years ago. Back then we just had fun and didn't ruminate over things too…

adminSeptember 25, 2006

California Carlsbad Surf

Fire Breathing Dragon

**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.** More surf photos. My approach to photography is not particularly rigorous or diligent.…

adminSeptember 24, 2006

Birds California San Diego

Black Skimmer, San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge

The last light of the day caught the underside of this black skimmer (Rynchops niger): Black skimmer forages by flying over shallow water with its lower mandible dipping below the surface for small fish.Image ID: 17420Species: Black skimmer, Rynchops nigerLocation: San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California, USA

adminSeptember 23, 2006

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