Ocean and Light

When water meets light, fascinating scenes are the result. Twenty years of pondering the intersection of light and water with a camera.

Sunrise glints yellow on breaking wave, dawn surf, The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
Sunrise glints yellow on breaking wave, dawn surf.
Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts.
Sunrise breaking wave, dawn surf, The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
Sunrise breaking wave, dawn surf.
Sunrise breaking wave, dawn surf
Sunrise breaking wave, dawn surf.
Breaking wave, fast motion and blur. The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
Breaking wave, fast motion and blur. The Wedge.
Breaking wave, morning, barrel shaped surf, California, The Wedge, Newport Beach
Breaking wave, morning, barrel shaped surf, California.
Surf grass on the rocky reef -- appearing blurred in this time exposure -- is tossed back and forth by powerful ocean waves passing by above.  San Clemente Island, Phyllospadix
Surf grass on the rocky reef -- appearing blurred in this time exposure -- is tossed back and forth by powerful ocean waves passing by above. San Clemente Island.
Waves rush in at sunset, Carlsbad beach sunset and ocean waves, seascape, dusk, summer
Waves rush in at sunset, Carlsbad beach sunset and ocean waves, seascape, dusk, summer.
A large, powerful wave breaks with offshore winds at the Wedge in Newport Beach, The Wedge
A large, powerful wave breaks with offshore winds at the Wedge in Newport Beach.
Sunrise breaking wave at the Wedge, dawn surf, The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
Sunrise breaking wave at the Wedge, dawn surf.
Breaking wave, morning, barrel shaped surf, California, The Wedge, Newport Beach
Breaking wave, morning, barrel shaped surf, California.
Three Sisters Springs depicted in an underwater landscape with sand, clear water and trees, Crystal River, Florida
Three Sisters Springs depicted in an underwater landscape with sand, clear water and trees.
Waves rush in at sunset, Carlsbad beach sunset and ocean waves, seascape, dusk, summer
Waves rush in at sunset, Carlsbad beach sunset and ocean waves, seascape, dusk, summer.
Breaking wave at the Wedge, The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
Breaking wave at the Wedge.
Breaking wave, early morning surf, Ponto, Carlsbad, California
Breaking wave, early morning surf.
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.
Breaking wave, morning, barrel shaped surf, California
Breaking wave, morning, barrel shaped surf, California.
Torrey Pines State Beach, sandstone cliffs rise above the beach at Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California
Torrey Pines State Beach, sandstone cliffs rise above the beach at Torrey Pines State Reserve.
Earth Shadow lies over Point La Jolla at dawn
Earth Shadow lies over Point La Jolla at dawn.
Sunrise breaking wave, dawn surf, The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
Sunrise breaking wave, dawn surf.
Sponger and backlit barrel, The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
Sponger and backlit barrel.
Sunrise at the Wedge.  The Wedge, a notorious and famous shorebreak at the end of the Newport Peninsula, is seen here under a huge dawning sky and sporting a small but fun swell, Newport Beach, California
Sunrise at the Wedge. The Wedge, a notorious and famous shorebreak at the end of the Newport Peninsula, is seen here under a huge dawning sky and sporting a small but fun swell.
A kelp forest.  Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy.  Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest.  Lush forests of kelp are found through California's Southern Channel Islands, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
A kelp forest. Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy. Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest. Lush forests of kelp are found through California's Southern Channel Islands.
Waves wash over sandstone reef, clouds and sky, La Jolla, California
Waves wash over sandstone reef, clouds and sky.
Research pier at Scripps Institution of Oceanography SIO, sunset, La Jolla, California
Research pier at Scripps Institution of Oceanography SIO, sunset.
Ocean surface panorama, glassy calm ocean water offshore of California, clouds and sky
Ocean surface panorama, glassy calm ocean water offshore of California, clouds and sky.
A kelp forest.  Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy.  Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest.  Lush forests of kelp are found through California's Southern Channel Islands, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
A kelp forest. Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy. Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest. Lush forests of kelp are found through California's Southern Channel Islands.
Waves rush in at sunset, Carlsbad beach sunset and ocean waves, seascape, dusk, summer
Waves rush in at sunset, Carlsbad beach sunset and ocean waves, seascape, dusk, summer.
Iceberg panoramic photo.  Iceberg, ocean, light and clouds. Light plays over icebergs and the ocean near Coronation Island
Iceberg panoramic photo. Iceberg, ocean, light and clouds. Light plays over icebergs and the ocean near Coronation Island.
Sunrise light on clouds
Sunrise light on clouds.
Sunset and incoming surf, gorgeous colors in the sky and on the ocean at dusk, the incoming waves are blurred in this long exposure, Carlsbad, California
Sunset and incoming surf, gorgeous colors in the sky and on the ocean at dusk, the incoming waves are blurred in this long exposure.
Surf grass on the rocky reef -- appearing blurred in this time exposure -- is tossed back and forth by powerful ocean waves passing by above.  San Clemente Island, Phyllospadix
Surf grass on the rocky reef -- appearing blurred in this time exposure -- is tossed back and forth by powerful ocean waves passing by above. San Clemente Island.
Waves rush in at sunset, Carlsbad beach sunset and ocean waves, seascape, dusk, summer
Waves rush in at sunset, Carlsbad beach sunset and ocean waves, seascape, dusk, summer.
Abstract colors and water patterns on the ocean surface
Abstract colors and water patterns on the ocean surface.
Bubbles rise from the depths of the ocean.  Black and white / grainy
Bubbles rise from the depths of the ocean. Black and white / grainy.
Bubbles rise from the depths of the ocean.  Black and white / grainy
Bubbles rise from the depths of the ocean. Black and white / grainy.
Abstract colors and water patterns on the ocean surface
Abstract colors and water patterns on the ocean surface.
Molokai summit and cloud, viewed from west Maui
Molokai summit and cloud, viewed from west Maui.
Sunset, clouds and ocean, Sea of Cortez
Sunset, clouds and ocean, Sea of Cortez.
Sunset and water, Sea of Cortez
Sunset and water, Sea of Cortez.
Ocean surface
Ocean surface.
Sand, water and light
Sand, water and light.
Water patterns
Water patterns.
Water patterns
Water patterns.
Water patterns
Water patterns.
Water patterns
Water patterns.
Clouds, ocean and sand plains, no land in sight
Clouds, ocean and sand plains, no land in sight.
Water and light, steel gray reflections, ripples and patterns, Frederick Sound
Water and light, steel gray reflections, ripples and patterns.
Water, sand and light, Sea of Cortez, La Paz, Baja California, Mexico
Water, sand and light.
Clouds and sunlight, La Jolla, California
Clouds and sunlight.
Clouds and sunlight, Maui
Clouds and sunlight.
Clouds and sunlight, Maui
Clouds and sunlight.
Clouds and sunlight, Maui
Clouds and sunlight.
Sand ripples
Sand ripples.
Clouds
Clouds.
Sunlight spreads across broad sand plains, trochoidal patterns
Sunlight spreads across broad sand plains, trochoidal patterns.
Sunlight filters through the ocean surface and penetrates to the depths below
Sunlight filters through the ocean surface and penetrates to the depths below.
Clouds and sunlight, Maui
Clouds and sunlight.
West Indian manatee at Three Sisters Springs, Florida, Trichechus manatus, Crystal River
West Indian manatee at Three Sisters Springs, Florida.
Cloud formations at sunset
Cloud formations at sunset.
Cloud formations at sunset
Cloud formations at sunset.
Surf grass on the rocky reef -- appearing blurred in this time exposure -- is tossed back and forth by powerful ocean waves passing by above.  San Clemente Island, Phyllospadix
Surf grass on the rocky reef -- appearing blurred in this time exposure -- is tossed back and forth by powerful ocean waves passing by above. San Clemente Island.
Sunset light is reflected on the placid waters of the Bahamas
Sunset light is reflected on the placid waters of the Bahamas.
Sunlight and clouds are visible through the clear ocean waters of the Northern Bahamas
Sunlight and clouds are visible through the clear ocean waters of the Northern Bahamas.