January 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Photos of California Brown Pelicans in Flight, 2021/2022

This winter my bird photography goal was to make about a dozen strong images of California brown pelicans in flight. I've been out many mornings photographing them. In late December I had some productive days with a run of four straight mornings during which conditions were ideal. There was nobody…

Phil CollaJanuary 30, 2022

Beautiful Views of San Diego

Sunrise Over the Imperial Beach Pier

Sunrise at the Imperial Beach Pier (IB Pier). It’s one of my favorite piers. In winter, the beach is empty and there are just a few fishermen on the pier. It’s very peaceful.

Phil CollaJanuary 24, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird Wisdom

Photographing the Head Throw of the California Brown Pelican in La Jolla

I photograph brown California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis). A lot. I love them, they are at once both graceful and awkward. They surf. They dive. They eat fish. They live along the coast of California. All things I like to do too! Here are some of my favorite images, showing…

Phil CollaJanuary 23, 2022

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

Golden Winter Sunset along Torrey Pines State Beach and Sea Cliffs

Winter brings the finest coastal views in San Diego, and this evening's image of the Torrey Pines sea cliffs and beach, at sunset on a King Tide (the lowest of the low tides of the year), is an example. During the depths of winter, San Diego brings mild evening weather…

Phil CollaJanuary 23, 2022

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

Hotel Del Coronado with Holiday Lights and Glorietta Bay at Sunset

The famed Hotel Del Coronado, one of the gems of San Diego and which sports beautiful holiday lights each December, is seen here reflected in the still waters of Glorietta Bay at sunset.

Phil CollaJanuary 22, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

California Brown Pelican Portraits and Head Throws, 2021/2022

I usually photograph California brown pelicans in La Jolla from late December through February. I spent many mornings photographing them already this season, and am mainly interested in flight images. But it is hard to resist a beautiful portrait or head throw when a pelican decides to oblige, especially when…

Phil CollaJanuary 21, 2022

Birds

Allen’s Hummingbird, Adult Male, La Jolla

I came across this gorgeous tiny male Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) while walking the coast trail in La Jolla. I had actually seen this specific bird on one particular shrub repeatedly over several days, and one an overcast morning decided to stop and take its portrait. Cheers, and thanks for…

Phil CollaJanuary 20, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Ghost Pelicans

I photograph California brown pelicans often, and lately have been working on different ways to portray them besides being lit by the warm morning sun. Well before sunrise, I have been out trying to capture them as they glide over waves or approach the seaside cliffs of La Jolla. I…

Phil CollaJanuary 19, 2022

Beautiful Views of San Diego Carlsbad

Terramar Point, Carlsbad, Oceanside and Views to San Onofre and Southern Orange County

One of my favorite coastal views in North San Diego County looks past Terramar Point through South Carlsbad, past Oceanside and, on a really clear day, into southern Orange County. After sunset you can even see the individual lights on the Oceanside Pier and lights on homes in San Clemente…

Phil CollaJanuary 18, 2022

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

San Diego City Skyline at Dusk, Mountains and Bay

Each year I capture my favorite views of the San Diego City Skyline, from a variety of vantage points around town. This image was created on a very clear evening in December, when the mountains to the east of San Diego we clearly visible. The photograph is so crisp and…

Phil CollaJanuary 17, 2022

Beautiful Views of San Diego California

Low Tide and Winter Sunset on Moonlight Beach, Encinitas

New Year's Day coincided with spectacular winter weather and King Tides, with extremely low tide at sunset. Everyone in Encinitas was out walking on the beach, enjoying life in San Diego. Here is a view from Moonlight Beach looking north pass Stone Steps, Beacons, Grand View and up to Ponto…

Phil CollaJanuary 16, 2022

Catalina Underwater Photography

Torpedo Ray at Farnsworth Banks, Catalina Island, California

One of the best places in the world to see large Pacific torpedo rays (Tetronarce californica) is Farnsworth Banks, the notorious and spectacular underwater seamount a few miles off the backside of Catalina Island. Torpedo rays are often encountered cruising around the peaks and canyons of Farnsworth Banks. What draws…

Phil CollaJanuary 15, 2022

Seabird

Cormorant Coming in Hot

Cormorants are another of my favorite birds. I've spent a lot of time underwater with them, watching as they submerge -- up to 100' deep! -- and hunt through schools of bait, or pick around among detritus on the sea floor. Photographing them in flight is not one of strong…

Phil CollaJanuary 14, 2022

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

Spectacular Dawn over San Diego Bay and Downtown San Diego

Dawn glows over San Diego and Mount San Miguel as the waning lights of the downtown San Diego City Skyline are reflected in San Diego Bay. This was a sunrise to remember. If you like this image, please see more Beautiful Views of San Diego. This is an enormously detailed…

Phil CollaJanuary 13, 2022

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

Sunrise over Sheraton San Diego Hotel and San Diego Bay

A brilliant pastel sunrise glows above the Sheraton San Diego Hotel, located on Harbor Island in San Diego Bay. This is one of the most massively detail panoramas I have ever created. Shot with the awesome Canon R5 and the razor sharp Canon 200-400 lens, it will print up to…

Phil CollaJanuary 12, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla San Diego Seabird

Overcast Light, Pelican Portrait, Surf Background

It looks like our run of clear mornings may be coming to an end for a while. I knew this change brought the potential for a colorful sunrise, so I made my way downtown very early and caught some great light and clouds over the San Diego City Skyline. The…

Phil CollaJanuary 11, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Preening, Seabirds and the Uropygial Gland

On Preening, Seabirds and the Uropygial Gland Many birds, including most seabirds, preen their feathers. This involves spreading a substance known as "preen oil", secreted from the uropygial gland (preen gland) near the base of the bird's tail, to feathers all over the body. The preen oil protects the feathers…

Phil CollaJanuary 10, 2022

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla

Children’s Pool (Casa Cove) and Seal Rock at Dawn

Children's Pool (Casa Cove) and the seawall and lifeguard tower, in pre-dawn light, viewed from Point La Jolla. Click to see it larger. Cheers, and thanks for looking!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

Phil CollaJanuary 9, 2022

Catalina San Clemente Island Underwater Photography

Kelp Forest Redux – San Clemente and Catalina Islands, and My Circular Fisheye

"Redux" is a bit of an overstatement, since Southern California's giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), which has not looked good in recent years, is certainly not recovered. Spotty, stands of kelp here and there, but much of the vast, magnificent underwater forests at San Clemente Island and Catalina have been in…

Phil CollaJanuary 8, 2022

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla

Scripps Institution of Oceanography Pier – Abstract Study at Dawn

A compressed pre-dawn study of Scripps Institution of Oceanography pier, in La Jolla. In this image, a very long exposure and long focal length compress the tunnel of cement pilings and turn the waves into wisps of blue and white. Cheers, and thanks for looking!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

Phil CollaJanuary 7, 2022

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

San Diego City Skyline at Dawn

Each year I reshoot views of the San Diego City Skyline to keep them current and to improve on what I have shot in the past. These two views are from a couple of my favorite locations, at dawn rather than the more common sunset timing. In one, a cruise ship…

Phil CollaJanuary 6, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird Wisdom

On Instability, or, A Small Change in Perspective Goes a Long Way

Instability: the characteristic of a system in which a small change in inputs leads to relatively much larger change in output. I was first introduced to the formal idea of instability as a graduate student at UCSD in a series of lectures offered by William Nachbar, one of my favorite…

Phil CollaJanuary 5, 2022

Trees

Incredible Oak Alley at Wormsloe Plantation, Savannah, Georgia

Wormsloe Plantation in Savannah, Georgia has one of the most impressive oak alleys anywhere in the South. 400 Southern Live Oak trees (Quercus virginiana) line a 1.5 mile long promenade leading to the Georgia's oldest plantation. I have a long-term project to visit and photograph the grandest oak alleys in…

Phil CollaJanuary 4, 2022

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla

Children’s Pool and Torrey Pines in Pre-Dawn Light

I was in La Jolla early recently and caught this beautiful pastel dawn breaking over the Children's Pool seawall and lifeguard tower. The cliffs of Torrey Pines State Reserve are seen through morning mist in the distance.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

Phil CollaJanuary 3, 2022

Beautiful Views of San Diego

Del Mar Sunset, Train Tracks, and Views to Saddleback

Taking advantage of our the cool, crisp air and incredible visibility we have had lately, I have been out photographing my favorite views on the coastline of North County. Here we are looking north along the coast of Del Mar, with Solana Beach and Encinitas in the distance, with golden…

Phil CollaJanuary 2, 2022

Pelicans of La Jolla Sea Lion Wisdom

Front Lit Portraiture, or Why I Point My Shadow at My Subject

I unabashedly use front lighting on my subjects, especially those photographed with long lenses where separation between subject and background can be achieved through depth of field. Side- and back-lighting have their places, and are often effective at rendering a subject in an interesting or compelling way. But I tend…

Phil CollaJanuary 1, 2022

Photos of California Brown Pelicans in Flight, 2021/2022

Sunrise Over the Imperial Beach Pier

Photographing the Head Throw of the California Brown Pelican in La Jolla

Golden Winter Sunset along Torrey Pines State Beach and Sea Cliffs

Hotel Del Coronado with Holiday Lights and Glorietta Bay at Sunset

California Brown Pelican Portraits and Head Throws, 2021/2022

Allen’s Hummingbird, Adult Male, La Jolla

Ghost Pelicans

Terramar Point, Carlsbad, Oceanside and Views to San Onofre and Southern Orange County

San Diego City Skyline at Dusk, Mountains and Bay

Low Tide and Winter Sunset on Moonlight Beach, Encinitas

Torpedo Ray at Farnsworth Banks, Catalina Island, California

Cormorant Coming in Hot

Spectacular Dawn over San Diego Bay and Downtown San Diego

Sunrise over Sheraton San Diego Hotel and San Diego Bay

Overcast Light, Pelican Portrait, Surf Background

Preening, Seabirds and the Uropygial Gland

Children’s Pool (Casa Cove) and Seal Rock at Dawn

Kelp Forest Redux – San Clemente and Catalina Islands, and My Circular Fisheye

Scripps Institution of Oceanography Pier – Abstract Study at Dawn

San Diego City Skyline at Dawn

On Instability, or, A Small Change in Perspective Goes a Long Way

Incredible Oak Alley at Wormsloe Plantation, Savannah, Georgia

Children’s Pool and Torrey Pines in Pre-Dawn Light

Del Mar Sunset, Train Tracks, and Views to Saddleback

Front Lit Portraiture, or Why I Point My Shadow at My Subject

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