La Jolla Photos

By January 19, 2011January 8th, 2022Beautiful Views of San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego

La Jolla Photos

I have been having fun recently making new photographs of one of my favorite cities in California: La Jolla. I spent about 10 years living in La Jolla, first in undergrad and graduate school at UCSD then a while longer before moving to North County (Del Mar, Carlsbad). Tracy and I love La Jolla since many of our favorite restaurants are there, and Tracy works in La Jolla. La Jolla’s rocky coastline really is the jewel of San Diego. Included in these images are some from Coast Boulevard, Children’s Pool, Goldfish Point, Scripps Pier and Torrey Pines, plus a few aerial and UCSD photos shot in 2010:

Torrey Pines seacliffs, rising up to 300 feet above the ocean, stretch from Del Mar to La Jolla. On the mesa atop the bluffs are found Torrey pine trees, one of the rare species of pines in the world, Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California

Torrey Pines seacliffs, rising up to 300 feet above the ocean, stretch from Del Mar to La Jolla. On the mesa atop the bluffs are found Torrey pine trees, one of the rare species of pines in the world.
Image ID: 22285
Location: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California, USA

SIO Pier. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography research pier is 1090 feet long and was built of reinforced concrete in 1988, replacing the original wooden pier built in 1915. The Scripps Pier is home to a variety of sensing equipment above and below water that collects various oceanographic data. The Scripps research diving facility is located at the foot of the pier. Fresh seawater is pumped from the pier to the many tanks and facilities of SIO, including the Birch Aquarium. The Scripps Pier is named in honor of Ellen Browning Scripps, the most significant donor and benefactor of the Institution, La Jolla, California

SIO Pier. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography research pier is 1090 feet long and was built of reinforced concrete in 1988, replacing the original wooden pier built in 1915. The Scripps Pier is home to a variety of sensing equipment above and below water that collects various oceanographic data. The Scripps research diving facility is located at the foot of the pier. Fresh seawater is pumped from the pier to the many tanks and facilities of SIO, including the Birch Aquarium. The Scripps Pier is named in honor of Ellen Browning Scripps, the most significant donor and benefactor of the Institution.
Image ID: 22286
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, USA

Pacific harbor seal, an sand at the edge of the sea, Phoca vitulina richardsi, La Jolla, California

Pacific harbor seal, an sand at the edge of the sea.
Image ID: 26315
Species: Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Sunset falls upon Torrey Pines State Reserve, viewed from the Torrey Pines glider port. La Jolla, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Scripps Pier are seen in the distance

Sunset falls upon Torrey Pines State Reserve, viewed from the Torrey Pines glider port. La Jolla, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Scripps Pier are seen in the distance.
Image ID: 26436
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

California brown pelican, showing characteristic winter plumage including red/olive throat, brown hindneck, yellow and white head colors, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla

California brown pelican, showing characteristic winter plumage including red/olive throat, brown hindneck, yellow and white head colors.
Image ID: 26462
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Earth Shadow lies over Point La Jolla at dawn

Earth Shadow lies over Point La Jolla at dawn.
Image ID: 26444
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Western gull, Larus occidentalis, La Jolla, California

Western gull.
Image ID: 26465
Species: Western gull, Larus occidentalis
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

The Children's Pool in La Jolla, also known as Casa Cove, is a small pocket cove protected by a curving seawall, with the rocky coastline and cottages and homes of La Jolla seen behind it

The Children’s Pool in La Jolla, also known as Casa Cove, is a small pocket cove protected by a curving seawall, with the rocky coastline and cottages and homes of La Jolla seen behind it.
Image ID: 22302
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

UCSD Library glows at sunset (Geisel Library, UCSD Central Library), University of California, San Diego, La Jolla

UCSD Library glows at sunset (Geisel Library, UCSD Central Library).
Image ID: 14780
Location: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA

Sea Caves, the famous La Jolla sea caves lie below tall cliffs at Goldfish Point. Sunrise

Sea Caves, the famous La Jolla sea caves lie below tall cliffs at Goldfish Point. Sunrise.
Image ID: 26442
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

UCSD Library glows at sunset (Geisel Library, UCSD Central Library), University of California, San Diego, La Jolla

UCSD Library glows at sunset (Geisel Library, UCSD Central Library).
Image ID: 14777
Location: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA

Bear is another of the odd outdoor "art" pieces of the UCSD Stuart Collection. Created by Tim Hawkinson in 2001 of eight large stones, it sits in the courtyard of the UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla

Bear is another of the odd outdoor “art” pieces of the UCSD Stuart Collection. Created by Tim Hawkinson in 2001 of eight large stones, it sits in the courtyard of the UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering.
Image ID: 20851
Location: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA

La Jolla Coast Boulevard at sunset, ocean and sea bluffs

La Jolla Coast Boulevard at sunset, ocean and sea bluffs.
Image ID: 26424
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Scripps Pier, sunrise, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California

Scripps Pier, sunrise.
Image ID: 26427
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, USA

Scripps Pier, sunrise, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California

Scripps Pier, sunrise.
Image ID: 26430
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, USA

Fisherman at dawn along the La Jolla coastline, waves blur as they crash upon the Boomer Beach boulders

Fisherman at dawn along the La Jolla coastline, waves blur as they crash upon the Boomer Beach boulders.
Image ID: 26447
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Waves and beach boulders, abstract study of water movement, La Jolla, California

Waves and beach boulders, abstract study of water movement.
Image ID: 26449
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Waves wash over sandstone reef, clouds and sky, La Jolla, California

Waves wash over sandstone reef, clouds and sky.
Image ID: 26453
Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Scripps Pier, predawn abstract study of pier pilings and moving water, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California

Scripps Pier, predawn abstract study of pier pilings and moving water.
Image ID: 26457
Location: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, USA

See also: San Diego photos, La Jolla photos.

Thanks for Garry McCarthy who showed me a nice spot to shoot rocky coastline photos in La Jolla.

About Phil Colla

I am a natural history photographer. I enjoy making compelling images in the ocean, on land, and in the air. I have maintained the Natural History Photography blog since 2005 and my searchable Natural History Photography Library since 1997. Here are some tear sheets and behind the scenes views. Thanks for looking!