Natural History Photography Blog – Page 19 – Natural History Photography Blog

La Jolla Pelicans

I went down to La Jolla last week to check out the brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus). There is a fence blocking access to the cliffs now, which is unfortunate and a real shame. When I was going to UCSD (many years ago) we would leap into the ocean from…

adminDecember 20, 2008

Birds Bosque del Apache New Mexico

Snow Geese on Pond, Bosque del Apache

Each morning I would watch the predawn blast off of snow geese from Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge's main impoundment. Each time was impressive. Afterward, I would move to the crane pools, hoping to watch the cranes take off as the sun reached them and warmed them up. One…

adminDecember 19, 2008

Birds Bosque del Apache New Mexico

Blastoff, Bosque del Apache

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is famous for its early morning "blast off", a stunning event in which thousands of snow geese (Chen caerulescens) take to the skies. It does not happen every morning, nor does it happen at the same time on those mornings on which it takes…

adminDecember 18, 2008

California Joshua Tree National Parks The American Southwest

Joshua Tree National Park Sunrise

On Thanksgiving morning I made a quick sunrise run into Joshua Tree National Park. Fortunately the Starbucks near my mom's in La Quinta opens at 5am so I was fully caffeinated for the drive. I got into my favorite part of the park about 45 minutes before sunrise, parked and…

adminDecember 17, 2008

Birds Bosque del Apache New Mexico

Snow Goose in Flight, Bosque del Apache

Our first few days at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge did not yield great opportunities to photograph individual snow geese (Chen caerulescens) in flight, primarily because the geese were spending the bulk of their day in the far northern corn fields, far out of reach of even the longest…

adminDecember 16, 2008

Birds Bosque del Apache New Mexico

Sandhill Cranes, Bosque del Apache

Each evening while we were at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge we positioned ourselves at one of the two northern "crane pools", the ones located on the west side of the road as one approaches the main entrance to the refuge. For 30-40 minutes before and after sunset, sandhill…

adminDecember 15, 2008

Bosque del Apache New Mexico

Coyote, Bosque del Apache

One afternoon, after arriving at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, we planned to make a circuit of the Farm Loop in late afternoon before finishing at the crane pools. While transiting the center of the refuge we came upon this coyote (Canis latrans), surveying some marsh area from near…

adminDecember 14, 2008

Birds Bosque del Apache New Mexico

Snow Geese on a Crane Pool in Afternoon, Bosque del Apache

Midday at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is, for photographers, pretty slow. The bird flight activity seems rather low and the light is harsh. We would return to Socorro for midday, to have lunch, clean up, and catch up on reading the news or having a nap. We would…

adminDecember 13, 2008

Birds Bosque del Apache New Mexico

Photo of Sandhill Cranes at Sunset, Bosque del Apache

On our recent trip to Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Skip, Ken and I were treated to several fantastic sunsets as we watched the sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) flying in from nearby corn fields to roost for the night in shallow ponds, where they are protected from coyotes. These…

adminDecember 12, 2008

Bosque del Apache New Mexico

Histogram Check, Sunset, Bosque del Apache

A photographer checks the histogram on his camera, making sure not to blow the highlights in this crazy sunset. Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) are silhouetted in one of the crane pools at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. A photographer looks on the back of his camera to…

adminDecember 11, 2008

California Monterey Wildlife

Sea Otter Photos

Check out our selection of sea otter stock photos. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is found along the coasts of the northeastern Pacific ocean. Sea otters are marine mammals. Adult sea otters weigh about 30 to 100 lb. Sea otters are the largest species in the weasel family, but are…

adminNovember 20, 2008

California Carlsbad Surf

Indian Summer, or, Why We Live Here

Hit the water this morning at 7am. Full sun, deep blue sky, not a cloud, mild warm offshore breezes, glassy sea, small but fun waves. Went for a walk with my daughter at Moonlight Beach at sunset tonight, deep orange-red sky, not a cloud, mild warm offshore breezes, glassy sea,…

adminNovember 16, 2008

California Carlsbad Surf

Ponto Surf, 11-15-2008

Fun surf at Ponto this morning. Nice offshore wind, shoulder high sets once in a while. It got crowded about 8am, and the high tide softened the waves up so I got out by 9am and off to a soccer game. Wave breaking in early morning sunlight.Image ID: 21779Location: Ponto,…

adminNovember 15, 2008

Astrophotography and Night Scapes California Sierra Nevada

Photo of Mobius Arch, Alabama Hills

Mobius Arch Photograph I made a banzai run up to the Alabama Hills last weekend. The weather forecast looked favorable, and I had not been up along the Eastern Sierra for some years, so it just seemed like the thing to do. I got up early to photograph Mobius Arch…

adminNovember 10, 2008

California Monterey Wildlife

Not Impressed

We came to Monterey packing some serious photo schwag to photograph the otters. Between Jon and I, we had two 50Ds and at least one each of 5D, 1DIIN, 1DsII, 300/2.8, 400/DO and 500/4 lenses, plus a nice medium format film rig. This sea otter (Enhydra lutris) was nevertheless quite…

adminNovember 5, 2008

California Monterey Underwater Life

Sea Nettles

When I visit Monterey I always make a stop by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Always. My kids love it, and I can get a better look at some of the undersea life by visiting the aquarium than if I went to the hassle of actually diving. (I used to dive…

adminNovember 4, 2008

California Monterey

Great Egret Fishing, Cannery Row

A great egret (Ardea alba) stands on a floating patch of kelp, picking fish out of the water that are unfortunate enough to swim too close. Monterey's famous Cannery Row stands in the background. Great egret catches a fish while standing on floating kelp in front of Cannery Row buildings,…

adminNovember 3, 2008

California Monterey Wildlife

Otter Paparazzi

Here is one of the cuter sea otters (Enhydra lutris) I managed to photograph in Monterey recently. After shooting one afternoon's worth of otters, both Jon and I decided that it was not worth spending time taking pictures of the dark-faced otters -- their deep brown fur made it tough…

adminNovember 2, 2008

California Monterey Wildlife

Rough Sex Redux

I was recently up in Monterey to join Jon Cornforth trying to photograph sea otters (Enhydra lutris). We saw a few. In this photo, Casanova (the male sea otter on the left) is holding his lady friend (the female, inverted on the right, apparently not enjoying it) by HER NOSE…

adminOctober 30, 2008

Guadalupe Island Mexico

Guadalupe 2008: Day’s End

Sunset comes at the end of a day of shark diving at Guadalupe Island. What lurks below? This is the dark water that gave the island one of its nicknames: "Monster Island". Dark water, clouds at days end, cliffs, sunset. Image ID: 21382 Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California,…

adminOctober 12, 2008

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Guadalupe 2008: Great White Shark Portrait, Horizontal

This is one of my favorites from this year's trip on the M/V Horizon to photograph great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) at Guadalupe Island. A great white shark swims underwater through the ocean at Guadalupe Island. Image ID: 21346 Species: Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe),…

adminOctober 7, 2008

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Guadalupe 2008: Great White Shark Face

Here is the face of a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). Check out the detail in the shark's eye, he is looking straight back into the camera. This was shot with a 24mm lens, full frame sensor, no crop. Pretty tight. A great white shark swims underwater through the ocean…

adminOctober 6, 2008

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Guadalupe 2008: Satellite Tags on a Great White Shark

Many of the great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) at Guadalupe Island are known to researchers and appear in the white shark ID database. Some of the sharks have even been "tagged" and now sport small pop-up satellite transmitter tags that collect data about the shark's environment and behavior, eventually transmitting…

adminOctober 5, 2008

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Vertical Photo of Great White Shark

When a Guadalupe Island great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) first approaches the boat, it is often deep. If there are divers in the cage they typically get a look at the shark as it swims slowly beneath the boat. It seems the shark is surveying things before making a decision…

adminOctober 4, 2008

Guadalupe Island Mexico

Guadalupe 2008: Approaching the Island

Last week I made another trip to Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe) on my favorite boat, M/V Horizon, captained by Greg Grivetto. The trip was conducted in collaboration with Patric Douglas and SharkDiver.com. Of all the boats and captains working at Guadalupe Island, the Horizon and Captain Greg have to have…

adminOctober 2, 2008

Skip's Trips

Ile de la Cite, Paris, France

A last piece of eye candy from Skip and Bonnie's evening wanderings in the City of Lights. To see more great shots of Paris from their trip, click here.

adminSeptember 24, 2008

Skip's Trips

Cassis, France

Another of Skip's nighttime views of southern France, this time of Cassis. To see more of Skip and Bonnie's photographs from Provence, click here.

adminSeptember 23, 2008

Skip's Trips

Aigue Mortes, France

Today is the first of three guest entries from our good friend Skip Stubbs, who just returned from an extended trip to Paris and Provence. Here is a nighttime view of Aigue Mortes. To see more of Skip's shots from Provence, click here.

adminSeptember 22, 2008

Aerial Photography Islas Coronado Mexico

South Island, Coronado Islands, Mexico

Here is a shot of South Island, part of the Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado) not far from San Diego and Tijuana, just south of the border. South Coronado Island, north end viewed from the north. Image ID: 21324 Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico

adminSeptember 17, 2008

Aerial Photography Islas Coronado Mexico

Middle Island, Coronado Islands, Mexico

Here is a shot of Middle Island, part of the Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado) not far from San Diego and Tijuana, just south of the border. Partially obscured by Middle Island is "Middle Rock", to the left and behind. Middle Coronado Island, viewed from the south. Image ID: 21322 Location:…

adminSeptember 15, 2008

Aerial Photography Blue Whale California San Diego

Aerial Photo of a Blue Whale

Here is another blue whale aerial photo shot from our recent flight over the Coronado Islands and Nine Mile Bank. More blue whale aerial photos. Blue whale. The sleek hydrodynamic shape of the enormous blue whale allows it to swim swiftly through the ocean, at times over one hundred miles…

adminSeptember 14, 2008

Aerial Photography Islas Coronado Mexico

North Island, Coronado Islands, Mexico

From a recent flight over Islas Coronados (Coronado Islands, Mexico) recently, seen here is the western exposure of North Coronado Island viewed from the southwest. Do you see the crack between the rightmost tip of the island and the main island? There is a narrow submerged passageway through that crack…

adminSeptember 12, 2008

Aerial Photography Blue Whale California Wildlife

Blue Whale Aerial Photograph

I had a chance to go flying with a pilot friend whom I had not seen in a few years, and jumped at the opportunity. Flying in small planes is a lot of fun, and it allows us to see the ocean in ways one cannot from the coast or…

adminSeptember 11, 2008

Elk National Parks Wildlife Wyoming Yellowstone

Elk Photos

It's the time of year when the bugling of rutting elk echoes around Yellowstone National Park. Here is our collection of elk photos (Cervus candensis), all from Yellowstone National Park, most taken in the fall during the elk rut but a few in summer as the elk antlers are still…

adminSeptember 1, 2008

California GeoBlog

Map of Catalina Island Dive Sites and Locations

In the course of geotagging some old photos from Catalina Island, I realized it was simple to display the popular Catalina Island dive locations in Google Earth, Google Maps and Live Search Maps. So here they are. The map below is a small version of the Google Earth display, click…

adminAugust 24, 2008

Canada Vancouver

Totem Pole, British Columbia

We saw many totem poles in British Columbia. There are First People (Native American) communities throughout British Columbia, and the totem is one of their most visible and well-known cultural and artistic products. I should have taken a few more photos of them while we were there! Totem pole.Image ID:…

adminAugust 11, 2008

California Sierra Nevada

Photo of Mono Lake

A few photos from Mono Lake showing its famous tufa towers rising above its alkaline waters. The tufa towers are clustered in "groves" in several places around the lake. We checked out the South Grove. While we were walking around the edge of Mono Lake, we had low dense clouds…

adminAugust 10, 2008

Canada Vancouver

Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia. It's a fun outing, especially for kids. Be advised, however, that you should arrive early if you wish to walk the bridges and through the forested sides of Capilano Gorge in peace. For once the tour buses arrive --…

adminAugust 9, 2008

Canada

Lost Lake, Whistler, British Columbia

Whistler is plugged with mountain bike trails, like a huge web running through the woods. I made a few outings to Lost Lake and the trails around there, running one morning and biking with my kids the next. We would often see shadowy figures moving deep in the forest on…

adminAugust 8, 2008

Canada

Ilanaaq on Whistler Mountain, British Columbia

While in Whistler, we saw a few unusual stone structures. One was at the top of the gondola station, near the patio overlooking Whistler Village. The other was larger and situated on a clearing on the summit of Whistler Mountain. After asking around, we learned that these were statues of…

adminAugust 7, 2008

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