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Wildlife

Goldfish Point Pelicans: the Gift that Keeps on Giving, Winter 2022/2023, Part V Pelicans of La JollaSeabird

Goldfish Point Pelicans: the Gift that Keeps on Giving, Winter 2022/2023, Part V

I'm shooting the La Jolla pelicans often this winter; see recent blog posts about La Jolla Pelicans as well as a gallery of my favorite brown pelican photos. Our wonderful weather and bird activity continues. It's the day after Christmas and the rest of the country remains freezing and in…
December 27, 2022
A Huge Mellow California Sea Lion Bull, and a Sea Lion Pup’s Odd Coat Islas CoronadoSea LionUnderwater Photography

A Huge Mellow California Sea Lion Bull, and a Sea Lion Pup’s Odd Coat

My efforts to photograph California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) this fall were not as productive as in the past, due to a combination of cancelled trips, poor weather, dirty water and a lack of sunshine.  But on my last scheduled day diving in the Coronados this year I did have a…
December 23, 2022
California Brown Pelicans in La Jolla, Winter 2022/2023, Part II Pelicans of La JollaSeabird

California Brown Pelicans in La Jolla, Winter 2022/2023, Part II

The first few weeks in December were generally great for photographing a variety of subjects in La Jolla with the exception of La Jolla's California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), at least on the mornings I was there. The pelicans seemed to be mostly gone, perhaps offshore foraging or just occupying cliffs that…
December 21, 2022
California Brown Pelican, plumage variety
Interesting Variations in California Brown Pelican Plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Winter 2022/2023 Part I Pelicans of La JollaSeabird

Interesting Variations in California Brown Pelican Plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Winter 2022/2023 Part I

This is the time of year that I photograph in La Jolla often, and California brown pelicans are one of my favorite subjects.  Adult brown pelicans are now entering the period when they display vibrant breeding and non-breeding winter plumage. And there is a variety of juvenile plumage to be…
December 20, 2022
Guadalupe Fur Seal Photos Underwater, Isla Guadalupe, Mexico Fur SealGuadalupe IslandMexicoUnderwater Photography

Guadalupe Fur Seal Photos Underwater, Isla Guadalupe, Mexico

Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus townsendi) can be found in small colonies along Guadalupe Island, resting in shallow water and hauled out on rocks. In fact, their coloration is such a fine match for the dark volcanic rocks that make up the coastline of Guadalupe Island that they are often hard to…
November 10, 2022
New Photos of Southern Right Whales in Argentina, Eubalaena australis ArgentinaUnderwater PhotographyWhales

New Photos of Southern Right Whales in Argentina, Eubalaena australis

After a three year break, I made it back to Peninsula Valdes with friends in September for another visit with Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis). There were two sessions planned and I was looking forward to both. The first was filled with sunny weather, inquisitive whales and generally great conditions.…
November 8, 2022
South American Sea Lions, Otaria flavescens, Peninsula Valdes, Argentina ArgentinaSea LionUnderwater Photography

South American Sea Lions, Otaria flavescens, Peninsula Valdes, Argentina

When I was in Argentina recently to photograph southern right whales, one of our secondary goals was to also photograph South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens), aka "southern sea lions".   In 2019 we had spent a little time with them near Puerto Madryn, but that rookery is heavily visited…
October 24, 2022
Ghost Pelicans Pelicans of La JollaSeabird

Ghost Pelicans

I photograph California brown pelicans often, and lately have been working on different ways to portray them besides being lit by the warm morning sun.  Well before sunrise, I have been out trying to capture them as they glide over waves or approach the seaside cliffs of La Jolla. I…
January 19, 2022
Cormorant Coming in Hot Seabird

Cormorant Coming in Hot

Cormorants are another of my favorite birds. I've spent a lot of time underwater with them, watching as they submerge -- up to 100' deep! -- and hunt through schools of bait, or pick around among detritus on the sea floor. Photographing them in flight is not one of strong…
January 14, 2022
Front Lit Portraiture, or Why I Point My Shadow at My Subject Pelicans of La JollaSea LionWisdom

Front Lit Portraiture, or Why I Point My Shadow at My Subject

I unabashedly use front lighting on my subjects, especially those photographed with long lenses where separation between subject and background can be achieved through depth of field.  Side- and back-lighting have their places, and are often effective at rendering a subject in an interesting or compelling way.  But I tend…
January 1, 2022
Corynactis Californica, the Strawberry “Anemone”, California’s only Corallimorph CaliforniaInvertebrateNatural WorldUnderwater Photography

Corynactis Californica, the Strawberry “Anemone”, California’s only Corallimorph

Corallimorphs, the coral-like and anemone-like members of the order Corallimorpharia, hold a special place in my underwater photography career. Circa 1990, when I began taking a water camera on my dives, I only had equipment to photograph tiny critters. Of those, ones that did not move were best suited to…
August 19, 2021
Western Grebes and Clark’s Grebes Rushing on Lake Hodges BirdsSan Diego

Western Grebes and Clark’s Grebes Rushing on Lake Hodges

Western Grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark's Grebes (Aechmophorus clarkii) exhibit some of the most elaborate and impressive courtship behavior found in the animal world, including various vocalizations, swimming movements, the exchange of nesting material ("weed ceremony") and, most notably, the "rushing ceremony".  When grebes rush, they rise entirely out of…
March 9, 2021