California photos

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Brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
Brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 28333  
Mesquite Dunes sunrise, dawn, clouds and morning sky, sand dunes, Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley National Park, California
Mesquite Dunes sunrise, dawn, clouds and morning sky, sand dunes.
Location: Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley National Park, California
Image ID: 28689  
San Diego city skyline at sunrise, showing the buildings of downtown San Diego rising above San Diego Harbor, viewed from Harbor Island
San Diego city skyline at sunrise, showing the buildings of downtown San Diego rising above San Diego Harbor, viewed from Harbor Island.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 27889  
Panorama dimensions: 3497 x 12426
California brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs. Note the classic winter breeding plumage, with bright red throat, yellow and white head and neck, and brown hind neck. Other pelicans and cormorants at the periphery of the image hint at how crowded the cliff is with other birds, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla
California brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs. Note the classic winter breeding plumage, with bright red throat, yellow and white head and neck, and brown hind neck. Other pelicans and cormorants at the periphery of the image hint at how crowded the cliff is with other birds.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 36679  
Dusk settles on downtown San Diego with snow-covered Mount Laguna in the distance
Dusk settles on downtown San Diego with snow-covered Mount Laguna in the distance.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 26716  
Approaching sunrise and star trails over the San Diego Downtown City Skyline. In this 60 minute exposure, stars create trails through the night sky over downtown San Diego
Approaching sunrise and star trails over the San Diego Downtown City Skyline. In this 60 minute exposure, stars create trails through the night sky over downtown San Diego.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 28386  
Childrens Pool Reef Exposed at Extreme Low Tide, La Jolla, California. Aerial panoramic photograph
Childrens Pool Reef Exposed at Extreme Low Tide, La Jolla, California. Aerial panoramic photograph.
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 37946  
Panorama dimensions: 6176 x 11395
Half Dome and Clouds Rest, Sunset, Yosemite National Park
Half Dome and Clouds Rest, Sunset, Yosemite National Park.
Location: Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 34541  
Full Moon Rises over the San Diego City Skyline and Mount Laguna, viewed from Point Loma, panoramic photograph
Full Moon Rises over the San Diego City Skyline and Mount Laguna, viewed from Point Loma, panoramic photograph.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 36634  
Panorama dimensions: 5276 x 16167
Milky Way at Night over Arch Rock, Joshua Tree National Park
Milky Way at Night over Arch Rock, Joshua Tree National Park.
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, California
Image ID: 30220  
Panorama dimensions: 4709 x 9140
San Diego Bay and Downtown City Skyline at Dawn, spectacular clouds light up over the city. Mount San Miguel in the distance
San Diego Bay and Downtown City Skyline at Dawn, spectacular clouds light up over the city. Mount San Miguel in the distance.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 37636  
Panorama dimensions: 5305 x 14631
A perfect Brown Pelican Head Throw with Distant Ocean in Background, bending over backwards, stretching its neck and gular pouch, winter adult non-breeding plumage coloration, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California
A perfect Brown Pelican Head Throw with Distant Ocean in Background, bending over backwards, stretching its neck and gular pouch, winter adult non-breeding plumage coloration.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38935  
California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla, surfing huge waves close to shore at Boomer Beach, Zalophus californianus
California sea lion bodysurfing in La Jolla, surfing huge waves close to shore at Boomer Beach.
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38970  
Killer whale attacking sea lion. Biggs transient orca and California sea lion, Orcinus orca, Zalophus californianus, Palos Verdes
Killer whale attacking sea lion. Biggs transient orca and California sea lion.
Species: California sea lion, Killer whale, Orcinus orca, Zalophus californianus
Location: Palos Verdes, California
Image ID: 30428  
Double side-eye from two young California sea lions resting on a reef in La Jolla, Zalophus californianus
Double side-eye from two young California sea lions resting on a reef in La Jolla.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 34273  
Cathedral Range peaks reflected in the still waters of Townsley Lake at sunrise, Yosemite National Park, California
Cathedral Range peaks reflected in the still waters of Townsley Lake at sunrise.
Location: Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 25756  
San Clemente Island Pyramid Head, the distinctive pyramid shaped southern end of the island. San Clemente Island Pyramid Head, showing geologic terracing, underwater reefs and giant kelp forests
San Clemente Island Pyramid Head, the distinctive pyramid shaped southern end of the island. San Clemente Island Pyramid Head, showing geologic terracing, underwater reefs and giant kelp forests.
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 26003  
Yosemite Falls reflected in flooded meadow. The Merced River floods its banks in spring, forming beautiful reflections of Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite Falls reflected in flooded meadow. The Merced River floods its banks in spring, forming beautiful reflections of Yosemite Falls.
Location: Yosemite National Park, California
Image ID: 26887  
Panorama dimensions: 5256 x 11469
California reef covered with purple hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus, Allopora californica), Farnsworth Banks, Allopora californica, Stylaster californicus, Catalina Island
California reef covered with purple hydrocoral (Stylaster californicus, Allopora californica), Farnsworth Banks.
Species: Hydrocoral, Allopora californica, Stylaster californicus
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37177  
Pacific torpedo ray Tetronarce californica, amidst huge schools of fish and baitfish, Farnsworth Banks, Catalina Island. This electric ray will shock the hell out of you if you are not careful, Tetronarce californica, Torpedo californica
Pacific torpedo ray Tetronarce californica, amidst huge schools of fish and baitfish, Farnsworth Banks, Catalina Island. This electric ray will shock the hell out of you if you are not careful.
Species: Pacific torpedo ray, Tetronarce californica, Torpedo californica
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 37231  
Parasitic zoanthid anemones cover, encrust and overwhelm a golden gorgonian. The gorgonian on the left has been completely parasitized by zoanthid anemones, while the gorgonian to the right remains free of zoanthids (for now). A garibaldi swims below the two sea fans. The golden gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Each individual polyp is a distinct animal, together they secrete calcium that forms the structure of the colony. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by, Muricea californica, Parazoanthus lucificum, Savalia lucifica, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island
Parasitic zoanthid anemones cover, encrust and overwhelm a golden gorgonian. The gorgonian on the left has been completely parasitized by zoanthid anemones, while the gorgonian to the right remains free of zoanthids (for now). A garibaldi swims below the two sea fans. The golden gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Each individual polyp is a distinct animal, together they secrete calcium that forms the structure of the colony. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: California golden gorgonian, Luminescent parazoanthid, Zoanthid anemone, Giant kelp, Muricea californica, Parazoanthus lucificum, Savalia lucifica, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38493  
The Kelp Forest and Rocky Reef of San Clemente Island. 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 throughout California's Southern Channel Islands, Macrocystis pyrifera
The Kelp Forest and Rocky Reef of San Clemente Island. 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 throughout California's Southern Channel Islands.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38494  
The Kelp Forest and Rocky Reef of San Clemente Island. 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 throughout California's Southern Channel Islands, Macrocystis pyrifera
The Kelp Forest and Rocky Reef of San Clemente Island. 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 throughout California's Southern Channel Islands.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38495  
Red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are typically oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis, San Clemente Island
Red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are typically oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: Red gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38496  
Red Gorgonians form a lush colorful garden below a submarine arch, while two scuba divers pass through the opening to the cavern, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis, San Clemente Island
Red Gorgonians form a lush colorful garden below a submarine arch, while two scuba divers pass through the opening to the cavern.
Species: Red gorgonian, Leptogorgia chilensis, Lophogorgia chilensis
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 38497  
Scythe-mark butterflyfish, Prognathodes falcifer, Catalina Island, Prognathodes falcifer
Scythe-mark butterflyfish, Prognathodes falcifer, Catalina Island.
Species: Scythe-mark butterflyfish, Prognathodes falcifer
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 40516  
Giant black sea bass, endangered species, reaching up to 8' in length and 500 lbs, amid giant kelp forest, Stereolepis gigas, Catalina Island
Giant black sea bass, endangered species, reaching up to 8' in length and 500 lbs, amid giant kelp forest.
Species: Giant black sea bass, Stereolepis gigas
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 33354  
Sunlight streams through giant kelp forest. Giant kelp, the fastest growing plant on Earth, reaches from the rocky reef to the ocean's surface like a submarine forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, Catalina Island
Sunlight streams through giant kelp forest. Giant kelp, the fastest growing plant on Earth, reaches from the rocky reef to the ocean's surface like a submarine forest.
Species: Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera
Location: Catalina Island, California
Image ID: 33433  
Sunrise over the San Diego City Skyline
Sunrise over the San Diego City Skyline.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 28858  
Panorama dimensions: 4522 x 18776
A California Brown Pelican flying over the Pacific Ocean, spreads its large wings wide to slow down as it banks, turns in midair, to land on seacliffs in La Jolla. Winter adult non-breeding plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis
A California Brown Pelican flying over the Pacific Ocean, spreads its large wings wide to slow down as it banks, turns in midair, to land on seacliffs in La Jolla. Winter adult non-breeding plumage.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 39791  
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All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.