Photography

Aerial Photography California San Clemente Island

San Clemente Island Aerial Photograph

Aerial photograph of San Clemente Island, California San Clemente Island Pyramid Head, the distinctive pyramid shaped southern end of the island. San Clemente Island Pyramid Head, showing geologic terracing, underwater reefs and giant kelp forests Image ID: 26003 Location: San Clemente Island, California, USA San Clemente Island is where I…

adminSeptember 30, 2010

Aerial Photography California Catalina

Catalina Island Aerial Photograph

Aerial photograph of Catalina Island I was very fortunate recently to have the opportunity to fly over Catalina Island, and was able to take a few photographs of the West End of the island. Growing up in Newport Beach I used to visit Catalina fairly often as a kid, and…

adminSeptember 29, 2010

Astrophotography and Night Scapes

Photo of Jupiter and moons Europa, Callisto and Ganymede

Photo of Jupiter and its moons Europa, Callisto and Ganymede Last night as I put my daughter to bed, we looked out her window. The moon was bright and clear, and below and just to the right of the moon was an especially bright star. When we noticed smaller specks…

adminSeptember 23, 2010

Antarctica Penguin Southern Ocean Time 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…

adminJuly 20, 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…

adminJuly 14, 2010

Antarctica Penguin Southern Ocean Time Lapse Video

Paulet Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

Photos of Paulet Island, Antarctic Peninsula, and photos of Adelie penguins We arrive early in the morning at Paulet Island, our first taste of the Antarctic Peninsula. As we navigate our approach through ice-filled channels around the island, large groups of Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) are seen swimming in the…

adminJuly 11, 2010

California Death Valley Desert Infrared National Parks The American Southwest

Eureka Valley Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park

Stock photos of the Eureka Valley Sand Dunes and the Eureka Valley in Death Valley National Park. One of the goals of our recent Death Valley trip was to reach the wonderful Eureka Valley Sand Dunes. At almost 700' tall, these dunes are some of the tallest in the United…

adminJune 11, 2010

California San Clemente Island Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Sea Fans and Gorgonians at San Clemente Island

Photos of gorgonians and sea fans at San Clemente Island. I spent three days diving at one of my favorite spots on Earth: San Clemente Island. The island, about 60 miles offshore of southern California, is home to some of the world's most beautiful kelp forests. Swimming through these kelp…

adminJune 2, 2010

Death Valley National Parks Time Lapse Video

Milky Way Time Lapse Movie

This is a time lapse video of the Milky Way rising in the south east sky, viewed from Death Valley. The Milky Way is our own galaxy, a thick spinning disc of stars with arms that thin as they spiral outward. Our Sun is located in one of the arms.…

adminMay 18, 2010

Photography Wisdom

A Breath-Holding Exercise for Water Photographers

I finish my swim workouts with a few minutes of active breathholding exercises which I feel make me a better waterman and a better photographer. Photographers working in or under the water must often deal with chaotic, stressful or just plain physically demanding situations. I have found that being able…

adminApril 19, 2010

South Georgia Island Southern Ocean Time Lapse

Grytviken, South Georgia Island

Photos of the Grytviken Whaling Station, South Georgia Island Following our morning at Hercules Bay, we motor during lunch to Cumberland Bay and the whaling settlement of Grytviken. Grytviken lies below – you guessed it – scenic mountains that rise almost straight up. It is insanely windy at times today,…

adminApril 1, 2010

California Photography San Diego Time Lapse Video

Timelapse Movie of Oceanside Pier at Sunset

Timelapse video of dusk and sunset at the Oceanside Pier, California, as tourists play on the beach and surf fish. Shot with a still camera, my lucky flipflops, and a pack of Altoids. Finished on our new iMac. Gotta love coastal Southern California.

adminMarch 5, 2010

Antarctica Southern Ocean Time Lapse Video

Sunset Cruise Through Antarctic Ice

After spending a long day ashore on Paulet Island in the northern reaches of the Antarctic Peninsula, the captain took us on a sunset cruise through some nearby waters. Most of the guests were outside enjoying the mirror-flat waters and moody light. We passed one of the most beautiful tabular…

adminJanuary 29, 2010

Best Photographs of the Year

Best Photos of 2009

Best Photos of 2009 Looking back on 2009, I realize I was fortunate to spend a lot of time outdoors -- alone, with my family and with friends old and new -- pursuing photographs and adventure. During the course of those outings I brought back some images I am proud…

adminDecember 31, 2009

California Catalina Marine Life Underwater Photography

California Golden Gorgonian, Muricea californica

The California golden gorgonian (Muricea californica) is a common gorgonian species in southern California. It is typically found growing on rocky reefs from 40' to 200' deep. The California golden gorgonian is a colonial organism composed of thousands of individual polyps, each of which secretes calcium to form the structure…

adminNovember 28, 2009

Ocean Realm Rose Atoll

Rose Atoll, A World Treasure in Peril

by Phillip Colla and Harrison "Skip" Stubbs, Ph.D. This blog post is now available as a downloadable PDF article. This post was originally published in Ocean Realm Magazine in the Spring 1997 issue, one of a series of articles I contributed to Ocean Realm in the '90s. In August 1995…

adminNovember 8, 2009

California Ocean Realm San Clemente Island

Kelp Forest Reminiscing

Kelp forest underwater photography. This story was originally published as a pictorial in Ocean Realm Magazine in the Spring 2001 issue, the last of a series of articles I contributed to Ocean Realm in the '90s. This blog post is now available as a downloadable PDF article. My…

adminNovember 7, 2009

Hawaii Humpback Whale Icons Ocean Realm

Heat Run: Humpback Whale Behavior Photos

Humpback whale underwater photography. Originally titled "Heat Run", this appeared in Ocean Realm Magazine in April 1995, the first of a series of articles I authored for Ocean Realm in the '90s. This blog post is now available as a downloadable PDF article. Each winter North Pacific humpback whales (Megaptera…

adminNovember 1, 2009

California Infrared Joshua Tree Sierra Nevada

Natural History Photography with Infrared Light

I have recently taken to shooting infrared photos while I am out on photo excursions. The motivation for me is that, if I can easily and inexpensively produce a different type of photo from what I normally shoot, all the while not affecting my ability to shoot traditional color photos,…

adminOctober 2, 2009

California Infrared National Parks Sierra Nevada Trees Yosemite

Infrared Photo of a Giant Sequoia Tree

One tree in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) is my favorite. Its huge, reasonably symmetric, and sits somewhat alone in meadow clearing so that morning light can illuminate almost the entire tree nicely. Plus, its a nice 2 mile run up through the grove from the…

adminOctober 1, 2009

Bahamas Sharks Underwater Photography Wildlife

Tiger Shark Pictures (Galeocerdo cuvier)

See my new tiger shark photos! My first tiger shark pictures (Galeocerdo cuvier) are were made with friends Skip Stubbs, Ken Howard, Keith Grundy and Jim Abernethy. These tiger sharks are really impressive fish, capable predators and in control of their surroundings. It was a real pleasure spending hours in…

adminSeptember 21, 2009

Bahamas Sharks Underwater Photography Wildlife

Caribbean Reef Shark Pictures (Carcharhinus perezi)

My Caribbean reef shark pictures (Carcharhinus perezi) are now on this website. These were also taken on the same trip with Skip, Ken Howard, Keith Grundy and Jim Abernethy. These dives were a lot of fun. Jim took down a few milk crates filled with fish heads, put them on…

adminSeptember 20, 2009

Bahamas Sharks Underwater Photography Wildlife

Lemon Shark Pictures (Negaprion brevirostris)

My lemon shark pictures (Negaprion brevirostris) are now on this website. I spent about 10 days in the Bahamas with Skip, Ken Howard, Keith Grundy and Jim Abernethy to shoot a few different kinds of sharks. When we got to the tiger shark spot, we found more lemon sharks than…

adminSeptember 18, 2009

Bahamas Sharks Underwater Photography

Bull Shark Pictures (Carcharhinus leucas)

My bull shark pictures (Carcharhinus leucas) are now on Photoshelter (in addition to the bull shark photos on this website). These underwater photos were taken in the Bahamas. And if you are curious, the answer is "yes"; the bull shark is one of the more dangerous sharks in the world…

adminSeptember 17, 2009

Aerial Photography

Alien Spaceport Discovered In California

Last year on my flight home from Albuquerque (where I went to photograph birds at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge), our plane was driven off-course by a strange stream of magno-gravitronic pulses, and we found ourselves over an area of California not normally seen from commercial planes. The pilot…

adminAugust 1, 2009

Aerial Photography California San Diego

San Diego Pictures

My San Diego pictures are now organized into a gallery of photos of San Diego on this website. San Diego Coronado Bridge, known locally as the Coronado Bridge, links San Diego with Coronado, California. The bridge was completed in 1969 and was a toll bridge until 2002. It is 2.1…

adminJuly 30, 2009

California GeoBlog Photography

Bodie Ghost Town: A Geocoding Example

I recently made a banzai road trip run up to Bodie State Historic Park, near Mono Lake, to make some photos. There is some danger that certain state parks in California may close soon due to budget cuts. I've wanted to see the Bodie ghost town for a while and…

adminJuly 2, 2009

Abstract

Fluid Carpet, Abstract Photo

OK, I admit it, my youngest daughter shot this image. I let her loose with our uber-mikro-digi-kamera one day while we were crashed at a hotel. I set the camera up for long exposures, and this is one of the images she came up with. Kids don't know any rules…

adminJune 19, 2009

Abstract Mexico

Sunset Reflections, Sea of Cortez, Abstract Photo

The sun sets on the Sea of Cortez. Today's abstract photo, #12 of 15. Sunset and water, Sea of Cortez.Image ID: 00285

adminJune 17, 2009

Abstract La Jolla

Layers, Abstract Photo

Another abstract cloud photo. I like using a medium telephoto lens to isolate landscape elements, and patterns in clouds are no exception. This was probably shot with a 70-200 on Velvia film, vintage. Moments after the green flash, orange skies over La Jolla. Today's abstract photo, #12 of 15. Clouds…

adminJune 16, 2009

Abstract Galapagos Diaries

Sunset Booby, Abstract Photo

Our days at Darwin Island in the Galapagos islands have been fantastic. On each of our trips we spent several days, sometimes almost a week, at this usually spectacular, remote and wild place. The diving can be, of course, unsurpassed which is one reason that virtually all visitors to Darwin…

adminJune 15, 2009

Abstract Hawaii

Clouds on Fire, Abstract Photo

Resuming the series of abstracts (before it was so rudely interrupted with bird pics): today's abstract photo is an image of clouds on fire, taken from the lanai of Skip's seaside surf pad in Napili, looking out over Lanai and Molokai. Wow, did we ever have some epic sunsets in…

adminJune 14, 2009

Photography

Hammerhead Shark Photo on the cover of Zoology

One of my hammerhead shark photos was chosen for the cover of Zoology to accompany the article "Response of juvenile scalloped hammerhead sharks to electric stimuli" by Stephen Kajiura and Timothy Fitzgerald. See lots more scalloped hammerhead photos (Sphyrna lewini).

adminMay 22, 2009

Abstract

Water and Stones, Abstract Photo

This was shot on a drizzly overcast morning at Ruby Beach in Washington's Olympic National Park. Fresh water flows over cobblestones on its way across the beach and into the sea. Today's abstract photo, #9 of 15: Water flows past beach cobblestones, blur.Image ID: 13794Location: Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park,…

adminMay 19, 2009

Abstract

Strange Clouds, Abstract Photo

This strange set of clouds appeared at sunset one time, as viewed from our home. Today's abstract photo, #8 of 15: Cloud formations at sunset.Image ID: 07470

adminMay 18, 2009

Abstract Bahamas Underwater Photography

Beneath the Sea, Abstract Photo

As a compliment to the photo of the ocean floor I posted a few days ago, here is a view taken from the same location and depth but instead looking up toward to the surface. A simple enough image, but unfortunately it is a view that too few people experience,…

adminMay 7, 2009

Abstract

Predawn Flock of Snow Geese, Abstract Photo

Last winter I joined friends Skip Stubbs and Ken Howard for a few days of bird photography at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. I would get up early each morning to watch the enormous flocks of snow geese that overnight on the ponds take off in a massive predawn…

adminMay 6, 2009

Abstract Bahamas Underwater Photography

Light Rays on Ocean Bottom, Abstract Photo

I made a number of trips to the Bahamas to film Olympic champion swimmers and wild dolphins. While we were roasting in the Bahamian sun, waiting for dolphins to appear, we could swim as much as we wanted in the clear shallow waters of the Little Bahama Banks. I really…

adminMay 1, 2009

Abstract Galapagos Diaries

Underwater Bubbles Rise to the Surface, Abstract Photo

Today's abstract photo, this time from the distant island of Darwin (aka, Culpepper) in the Galapagos. A safety stop after a good dive in Galapagos is sort of like the aftermath of good sex: one drifts along lazily, quite relaxed, tuned out and somewhat befuddled, thinking "whoa, that was pretty…

adminApril 29, 2009

Abstract San Clemente Island

Surf Grass and Underwater Motion, Abstract Photo

Today's abstract photo was photographed at San Clemente Island. Early one overcast, dark morning at the south end of the island, I found myself drifting along the reef about 30' deep, over a huge expanse of surf grass. Given the dim light the exposures were long and blurry, so I…

adminApril 28, 2009

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