Natural History Photography Blog – Page 6 – Natural History Photography Blog

Best Photographs of the Year

Natural History Photography – Best Photos of 2015

My Best Natural History Photographs of 2015 2015 offered opportunities for me to photograph the Sierra Nevada, the Sea of Cortez, California's Channel Islands, the coral reefs of the Fiji Islands, a Louisiana plantation, astrophotography landscapes in the Southwest, and as always America's Finest City, San Diego. I was finally…

adminDecember 28, 2015

Astrophotography and Night Scapes California Joshua Tree The American Southwest

Blood Red Moon Madness! A Tetrad of Total Lunar Eclipses

Lunar eclipse sequence, showing total eclipse (left) through full moon (right). While the moon lies in the full shadow of the earth (umbra) it receives only faint, red-tinged light refracted through the Earth's atmosphere. As the moon passes into the penumbra it receives increasing amounts of direct sunlight, eventually leaving…

adminDecember 23, 2015

Astrophotography and Night Scapes California Desert Joshua Tree The American Southwest

Perseid Meteor Shower over Joshua Tree National Park, August 2015

Each August the Perseid meteor shower takes place. This year it peaked during a new moon, which offered prime conditions for seeing many meteors. I photographed the Perseid meteor shower in Joshua Tree National Park using two compositions/locations: with Arch Rock as one feature and with a single joshua tree…

adminAugust 16, 2015

Astrophotography and Night Scapes California Desert Joshua Tree The American Southwest

Perseid Meteor Shower over Arch Rock, Joshua Tree National Park, 2015

The Perseid meteor shower occurs each August, peaking on the evenings of August 12 and 13. It happens because the Earth is plowing through the trail of dust left behind by comet Swift-Tuttle. The Perseid meteors are named for the constellation Perseus in the northern sky, from which the meteors…

adminAugust 14, 2015

Aerial Photography Beautiful Views of San Diego Panoramas San Diego

Aerial Panoramic Photo of Sunset Cliffs, San Diego, California

This past spring my daughters and I took a couple flights over San Diego to shoot panoramas while the conditions were good. This is one of my favorites, showing the beautifully scalloped coastline of Sunset Cliffs, north of Point Loma. You can even see the sandstone outcropping we jumped off…

adminAugust 5, 2015

California Underwater Photography

Underwater Photos of Southern California Oil Rigs

Recently I did some diving underneath three of Southern California's offshore oil rigs: oil rig Eureka, oil rig Ellen and oil rig Elly. It was a lot of fun, and I hope to do it again soon. The amount of invertebrate life on the oil rig beams was impressive --…

adminAugust 2, 2015

Kenya Maasai Mara

The Marsh Pride of Lions, Maasai Mara, Kenya

Of all the animals we saw during our safari in Kenya, the most fulfilling were the lions of the Maasai Mara. I say "fulfilling" because seeing these lions came at the end of 120 years (cumulatively, for my mom and I) of pondering Africa -- reading Edgar Rice Burroughs, watching…

adminJuly 30, 2015

California Underwater Photography

SCUBA Diving Beneath Oil Rigs Eureka, Ellen and Elly in Long Beach, California

I recently made a few dives underneath the oil rigs "Eureka", "Ellen" and "Elly", about 8 miles off Long Beach, California. Oil rig Eureka is located in about 700' of water, so from the perspective of recreational divers it is a bottomless dive. Ellen and Elly are in shallower water,…

adminJuly 28, 2015

Landscape Panoramas Trees

Beautiful Oaks and Perfect Sunrise at Oak Alley Plantation

Oak Alley Plantation, with its remarkable double row of 300-year-old southern live oaks (Quercus virginiana) is, I imagine, a near-ideal vision of what the old South once was. I photographed this amazing tunnel of oaks at both dusk and dawn and, after contemplating the images for a few weeks, have…

adminJuly 8, 2015

La Jolla Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Photographing Macrocystis in La Jolla’s Beautiful Forests of Giant Kelp

I have been photographing kelp forests in California with a passion for 25 years, from the Mexican border on up to Monterey including all the Channel Islands. Usually when I go diving in kelp its to San Clemente Island, which arguably has the most beautiful underwater scenery anywhere in California.…

adminJuly 6, 2015

Landscape Panoramas Trees

Oak Alley Plantation and Its Famous Tunnel of Old Oak Trees, Vacherie, Louisiana

While in New Orleans recently, I made a side-trip to visit Oak Alley Plantation. I love ancient, huge and gnarly trees, and when it comes to oak trees -- specifically the southern live oak, Quercus virginiana -- Oak Alley Plantation has some of the most photogenic in the South. Oak…

adminJuly 4, 2015

California San Diego

San Diego County Fair at Night, Del Mar, California

The Del Mar Fair -- or, for noobs, the "San Diego County Fair" -- has some great lights at night. My favorites are the ferris wheels and whirling rides. This year I added a new image to my collection, one in which the full moon is rising above the fairgrounds.…

adminJuly 3, 2015

Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Photography

Sport Diver Cover, June 2015, Sea Lion in the Sea of Cortez

I love diving in the Sea of Cortez in the Fall. The water is warm, the weather is often serene, the diving easy and fun. And there are some amazing rookeries of sea lions, including the world famous Los Islotes island in the Espiritu Santo Biosphere Reserve. So I was…

adminJune 12, 2015

Aerial Photography Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla San Diego

Aerial Panoramic Photo of Torrey Pines Golf Course and Black’s Beach

This aerial panorama of Torrey Pines Golf Course will print huge: up to about 4' high and 10' wide! In the center is seen Torrey Pines Golf Course south course, with the north course to the left. I played Torrey Pines often when I first moved to La Jolla and…

adminJune 1, 2015

California Underwater Photography

Underwater Photos of Marine Algae in Southern California and Baja California

I dive in Southern California and Baja California, and one of the most appealing things about the underwater landscapes I see are the many species of marine algae. Marine algae cover the reefs in most places with a lush, colorful, vibrant carpet of life. Following are photos of some of…

adminMay 31, 2015

Aerial Photography California San Clemente Island

The Disappearing Kelp Forests of San Clemente Island

I was recently diving at San Clemente Island. The profound lack of giant kelp forests was a striking contrast to what I am used to seeing over 25 years of diving at the island. Under ideal conditions, giant kelp can grow about 2' per day (the fastest growing plant on…

adminMay 30, 2015

Aerial Photography Beautiful Views of San Diego Panoramas San Diego

Aerial Panorama of Point Loma, Cabrillo Monument and San Diego Bay

This is a highly detailed aerial panoramic photo of the southern end of Point Loma, with Cabrillo Monument and both old and new lighthouses visible. The original Cabrillo lighthouse is seen atop the bluff, while the new lighthouse is down near the water's edge next to the green lawns. North…

adminMay 11, 2015

Aerial Photography California Panoramas San Diego

Aerial Panorama of the San Diego Coronado Bay Bridge

One of the images I wanted to add to my collection of San Diego aerial photos was a very wide, very detailed image of the San Diego Coronado Bay Bridge. I could have taken a single image with a very wide lens -- such as this image taken a few…

adminMay 6, 2015

Aerial Photography Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla San Diego

Aerial Panoramic Photo of La Jolla Cove and Scripps Park, San Diego

Panoramic aerial photograph of La Jolla Cove and Scripps Parks (center), with La Jolla's Mount Soledad rising above, La Jolla Shores and La Jolla Caves to the left and the La Jolla Coast with Children's Pool (Casa Cove) to the right. The undersea reefs of Boomer Beach are seen through…

adminApril 29, 2015

Aerial Photography California La Jolla Panoramas

Aerial Panorama of Bird Rock and the La Jolla Coastline

Aerial Panorama of La Jolla's Bird Rock, with surfers in the water at lower right. Submarine reefs, characteristic of the La Jolla coast, can be seen through the clear water. Mount Soledad rises above everything. This 180-degree panorama extends from Camp Pendleton in the extreme distance to the north to…

adminApril 28, 2015

Aerial Photography California San Diego

Aerial Photographic Survey of San Diego Marine Protected Areas for Lighthawk

I recently made a special flight with my pilot friend Steve Parker in collaboration with Lighthawk. Lighthawk's mission is "to accelerate conservation success through the powerful perspective of flight". On this flight, we were trying to produce new aerial images of several Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the San Diego…

adminApril 26, 2015

Astrophotography and Night Scapes Desert Joshua Tree The American Southwest

Lunar Eclipse April 4 2015 from Joshua Tree National Park

I went up to Joshua Tree National Park to watch the lunar eclipse of April 4, 2015. Photographically, I was not sure what I was going to do. I've made a series of lunar eclipse sequence images (lunar eclipse October 8, 2014 and April 14, 2014 version 2 version 3).…

adminApril 5, 2015

California Desert The American Southwest

Moonflowers – Desert Wildflowers at Night

"Moonflowers" - with a nod to my favorite rock band, and the best guitarist of all time. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and the small community of Borrego Springs contained within, have had a reasonably nice wildflower bloom this year. That's great news, since it has been awhile since the last…

adminMarch 12, 2015

Astrophotography and Night Scapes Elephant Seal Valley of Fire Wildlife

Elephants (Three Different Ones)

I am starting to post my images from a fantastic safari experience in Kenya in September, and searched on the term "elephant" in my own stock files and found these three came to the top. I immediately thought "Elephants (Three Different Ones)". Yes, I am a Pink Floyd fan, naturally.…

adminFebruary 24, 2015

San Diego

Paradise in February: San Diego

President's Weekend was nice here. The rest of the country is freezing, yup that's pretty bad. Southern California is in the midst of a bad drought and our Sierra Nevada is missing its usual snowpack which is going to hurt in the coming months, but at least the warm winter…

adminFebruary 18, 2015

Birds Pelicans of La Jolla San Diego Seabird

The Original Wind Surfers: Pelicans, Waves and Surf

Wikipedia describes the origins of wind surfing in the 1940s and 1950s. It couldn't be more wrong. For as long as they have existed, sea birds and their ancestors have plied the oceans, riding the updrafts of surf, waves and sea swells to gain efficiency and a free ride. My…

adminFebruary 16, 2015

Marine Life Sea Lion

Killer Whales (Orca) attacking California Sea Lion

I saw Wild Kingdom in action yesterday: killer whales preying upon California sea lions. Classified as Biggs transient orcas, these individuals are well known (CA51) for terrorizing other marine mammals along the Southern California coast. "Biggs transients" are one of four distinct populations (some insist they are species) of killer…

adminFebruary 9, 2015

Birds La Jolla Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

La Jolla Birds

La Jolla birds as of this morning. I had until 8:45 before catching the end of Sarah's practice so I went down the coast highway. There were some waves in Encinitas but nothing special. Spectacular clearing mist at Torrey Pines at sunrise. In La Jolla the light changed much and…

adminFebruary 7, 2015

Birds

Ring-Billed Gull, Larus Delawarensis, La Jolla

Once in a while I will photograph seagulls. I really should spend more time on them, since they can at times be beautiful in the right light and when in good condition. Unfortunately, gulls often they look like crap, and when I see them out on the water I invariably…

adminFebruary 6, 2015

Birds

Royal Tern Breaking Its Fast, La Jolla

This Royal Tern (Sterna maxima) manages a Exorcist-worthy head twist as it reaches for a small bug. See the tiny black bug? La Jolla, morning. Cheers, and thanks for looking!

adminFebruary 4, 2015

Birds

Heermann’s Gull, Larus heermanni

The Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni), photographed when I am out and about in La Jolla and North County. Lately I have been trying to frame seabirds against blue water, or have the ocean horizon in the image to anchor the composition and help tie the animal with the ocean. Cheers,…

adminFebruary 1, 2015

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla Surf

La Jolla Reefs, Surf and Clouds

This morning in coastal La Jolla was lacking in color but there is always something of beauty in the way waves come ashore and wrap around rocks and reefs. Cheers, and thanks for looking!

adminJanuary 31, 2015

Blue Whale Icons Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Blue Whale Full Body Photo

Blue Whale Full Body Photo For more, see Blue Whale Photos, Balaenoptera musculus I made my first underwater photo of a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) about 18 years ago, and over the intervening years I have struggled to make a perfect image of an entire blue whale, rostrum to fluke,…

adminJanuary 29, 2015

Astrophotography and Night Scapes California San Diego

Stars, A Galaxy and … Wind Turbines?

On a lark one evening in 2014, my buddy Garry McCarthy and I headed out to the desert to do some night photography with only one caveat: try someplace new (in other words, not Joshua Tree again). We headed east and somewhat south with sort of a plan but really…

adminJanuary 28, 2015

Arches The American Southwest Utah

Wild West Magazine – Shooting Star and Milky Way over Delicate Arch

A shooting star and the Milky Way over Delicate Arch at night, seen on the "parting shot" end page of Wild West Magazine. This is the first time I have had my work in Wild West which was nice! Cheers, and thanks for looking!

adminJanuary 11, 2015

Aerial Photography

Wildcoast Annual Report 2014

The Wildcoast annual report for 2014 has my aerial photograph of a mother and calf gray whale pair swimming off the coast of California on the cover. Wildcoast is a great environmental organization. Cheers and thanks for looking!

adminJanuary 11, 2015

Best Photographs of the Year

Natural History Photography – Best Photos of 2014

My Best Natural History Photographs of 2014 This is the eighth year in a row I have done an annual retrospective. 2014 held less "serious" photography for me than any of the previous 20 years. Life gets in the way, and running a photography business is 60% administrative, 25% photographic…

adminDecember 20, 2014

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla Surf

Dawn Patrol, Scripps Pier, La Jolla

Three guys head out for a surf, under leaden skies and rain, pre-dawn. Scripps Institute of Oceanography Research Pier, La Jolla, California. Scripps Pier and moving water, pre-dawn light, La Jolla Image ID: 30178 Location: La Jolla, California, USA

adminDecember 14, 2014

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

California Brown Pelicans, La Jolla, December 2014

A PDF guide to photographing these pelicans: Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla. If you like these photos, you can also see lots more blog posts from past sessions photographing California brown pelicans in La Jolla. Or, I've got a gallery of some keepers on my website, but most…

adminDecember 10, 2014

Astrophotography and Night Scapes California San Diego

Lunar Eclipse Photo Sequence, October 8 2014

Lunar Eclipse Sequence Over Broken Hill, Torrey Pines State Reserve. While the moon lies in the full shadow of the earth (umbra) it receives only faint, red-tinged light refracted through the Earth's atmosphere. As the moon passes into the penumbra it receives increasing amounts of direct sunlight, eventually leaving the…

adminNovember 10, 2014

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