Phil Colla

Brown Bear National Parks Wildlife Wyoming Yellowstone

Yellowstone Grizzly Kills Two Other Bears

Shortly before my visit to Yellowstone National Park this fall to photograph elk, I learned that not one but two female grizzly bears had been killed, presumably by other bears. Fratricide among adult grizzlies is not particularly unusual, but two killings within days of one another is strange. Since both…

Phil CollaOctober 29, 2007

Funny National Parks Wyoming Yellowstone

Poor Table Manners

Never went to finishing school: Bison. Image ID: 19610 Species: American bison, Bison bison Location: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA Because its there. A lick in time saves nine. A boog in hand is worth two in the nose.

Phil CollaOctober 28, 2007

California

Plumes

Another interesting shot of the smoke plumes viewed from space. Look, there's Guadalupe Island down there too! No, I didn't take this photo. NASA did. They have better cameras than me.

Phil CollaOctober 24, 2007

California San Diego Surf

Santa Anas — Good News, Bad News

Santa Anas whipped up strong yesterday, sending offshores out to meet the clean swells coming ashore. Every wave had a rainbow trailing it. Just as each wave was poised to break, the wind would rip the lip off with impressive sound, sending spray aloft only to fall back around me…

Phil CollaOctober 22, 2007

Surf

Cardiff Surf, Oct 21

Today things lined up in North County for some great surf. I got out shortly after the sun hit the water this morning in Cardiff. The sun was bright, the swell we've had for a few days was peaking, and we got the offshore winds that had the TV weatherman…

Phil CollaOctober 21, 2007

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Great White Shark Eyes The Camera

This is my favorite shot from my Shark Diver trip last week on the liveaboard boat Horizon to see great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) at Guadalupe Island. One shark in particular took to circling the boat clockwise and would pass very close to the starboard side cage. As it did…

Phil CollaSeptember 26, 2007

Photo of the Day

Photo of a Dolphin Jumping

Common dolphin leaping.Image ID: 19485Species: Common dolphin, Delphinus delphisLocation: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico This is a yet another photo of a common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), jumping alongside our liveaboard boat as we were making the one-day passage to Guadalupe Island.

Phil CollaSeptember 25, 2007

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Photo of a Great White Shark Dorsal Fin

This is the dorsal fin of a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) at Guadalupe Island, sticking above the water as the shark cruises at the surface. Dorsal fin of a great white shark breaks the surface as the shark swims just below. Image ID: 19493 Species: Great white shark, Carcharodon…

Phil CollaSeptember 24, 2007

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Great White Shark Photo

I was pretty lucky to get this photo. This is a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) that I photographed at Guadalupe Island while I was on a Shark Diver trip last week on the liveaboard boat Horizon. This one, a medium size (e.g, 12-13') male, surprised us all. We were…

Phil CollaSeptember 23, 2007

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Shredder

This is "Shredder", aka "Scar", a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) often seen at Guadalupe Island. In 2003 Shredder bit the anchor line of the Ocean Odyssey clean through, severing the boat from its anchor. He is named for his shredded dorsal fin. Shredder is about 13-14 feet long. Note…

Phil CollaSeptember 22, 2007

Guadalupe Island Mexico Panoramas

Guadalupe Island Panoramic Photo

I shot this panoramic photo, a series of six individual photographs, one morning last week, shortly after sunrise, from the upper deck of the boat Horizon. Guadalupe Island was covered in that great golden sunrise light that only lasts for a few minutes. The ocean surrounding the island was covered…

Phil CollaSeptember 21, 2007

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks

Guadalupe White Shark Trip 2007

Just back from a quick trip to Guadalupe Island to photograph great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias). I had heard that this season has been a particularly good one for white sharks at Guadalupe, and I managed to get a few days off to get down there for a look on…

Phil CollaSeptember 20, 2007

Surf

Ponto Sunrise Photos

Got to my favorite break at sunrise this morning. It was a short chance to cool off from the weird heat and humidity we've had. At 6:30 a mist was still hanging along the bluffs so that I could not see the sand from the water, just enough sun was…

Phil CollaSeptember 3, 2007

Surf

Ponto Sunset Photos

Finally some surf and I am tied up at soccer games all weekend. I got a short chance to get in the water just before sunset Sunday evening. Click here are a few more. A green wave breaking, with sunset light filtering through.Image ID: 19395Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California, USA Sunset…

Phil CollaSeptember 2, 2007

Landscape Oregon Photo of the Day

Photo of Ponytail Falls, Columbia River Gorge

My daughter and I took a hike in the Columbia River Gorge one morning to see three waterfalls. The four-mile roundtrip trail we walked was entirely within a cool, shady forest overlooking the Columbia River. The most striking of the falls was Ponytail Falls, also known as Upper Horsetail Falls…

Phil CollaSeptember 1, 2007

Landscape Oregon Photo of the Day

Derelict Pier Pilings in Astoria

Astoria, Oregon and the communities surrounding it, at the mouth of the Columbia River, have a long maritime history (since at least the time of Lewis and Clark). It seems like there are thousands of derelict, abandoned and decaying piers all over the place. Derelict pilings, remnants of long abandoned…

Phil CollaAugust 31, 2007

Landscape Oregon Panoramas

Columbia River Viewed From Vista House

Vista House was built in 1918 as a memorial to Oregon pioneers and as a comfort station for those traveling on the Historic Columbia River Highway. The octagonal stone structure towers 733 feet above the Columbia River and provides a spectacular view. Click it to see it larger, or see…

Phil CollaAugust 30, 2007

Landscape Panoramas Washington

Photo of North Head Lighthouse, Washington

While in Astoria recently, we took a little drive across to the Washington side of the Columbia River to see North Head Lighthouse. It was overcast, sort of pre-storm looking, perfect weather for walking around a blustery promontory high above the coast and checking out an old lighthouse. Below is…

Phil CollaAugust 29, 2007

Panoramas

Lunar Eclipse Photo

I took some photos of the total lunar eclipse last night from my backyard. At the peak of the eclipse, when the moon was totally in the Earth's shadow, no direct sunlight reached the moon so it was lit only faintly by light refracting (bending) through the relatively thin layer…

Phil CollaAugust 28, 2007

Alaska Brown Bear Lake Clark National Parks Photo of the Day Wildlife

Photo of a Brown Bear Digging For Clams

One of the interesting behaviors of coastal brown bears (Ursus arctos) is their interest in eating razor clams. Negative low tides expose broad tide flats along the Cook Inlet coast. Brown bears are quite tuned to the timing of these low tides and will arrive at the beach shortly before…

Phil CollaAugust 27, 2007

Alaska Brown Bear Lake Clark National Parks Photo of the Day Wildlife

Standing Tall

This coastal brown bear sow caught the scent of an approaching adult male. Nervous for her cubs, who could be attacked by the male, she stands in the deep sedge grass to get a better look around. A brown bear mother (sow) stands in tall sedge grass to look for…

Phil CollaAugust 18, 2007

California Panoramas

Lake Tahoe Panoramic Photo

Last summer we went to Lake Tahoe for a wedding. Lake Tahoe in summer is beautiful. I found a turnout on the highway above Incline Village which offered this view. This is a panoramic photograph obtained by stitching 6 separate images together on the computer. If you like this you…

Phil CollaAugust 17, 2007

Alaska Brown Bear Lake Clark National Parks Wildlife

Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska

In 2005 I received a recommendation to visit Silver Salmon Creek Lodge to see bears. I already had a trip planned to Brooks Camp so I didn't look into SSCL for a while. A week at Brooks in July 2006, with superb weather, company and bears, helped me to realize…

Phil CollaAugust 16, 2007

Landscape Panoramas Washington

Mount St. Helens Panoramic Photo

From the 2005 archives: I left Seattle in the late afternoon and began my speed run south, home to Carlsbad. I planned to stop at three spots: Mount St. Helens, Crater Lake and Oakland. I reached the Johnston Ridge viewpoint of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (say that three…

Phil CollaAugust 15, 2007

California Landscape National Parks Panoramas Sierra Nevada Yosemite

Tenaya Lake Panoramic Photo

In late summer a few years ago we took the kids to spend a few nights in Tuolumne Meadows and then drive over Tioga Pass to see Mono Lake. We stopped at Lake Tenaya for a swim and a picnic lunch on the way to the meadows. This is a…

Phil CollaAugust 14, 2007

Aerial Photography Alaska

Aerial Photos of Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

While out hiking around the Exit Glacier area I was so impressed by the weather that I decided to go to the airport and look for a pilot to take me flying. I love flying in the little planes, wheeled and float alike, in Alaska. For some reason I feel…

Phil CollaAugust 13, 2007

Photo of the Day

Le Barn Appetit, Seward, Alaska

Yvon van Driessche owns and runs Le Barn Appetit, a funky inn and delicious restaurant in Seward, Alaska. I was looking for a room in Seward and all the hotels I could find on the internet were full, but someone was kind enough to recommend Le Barn. Yup, its actually…

Phil CollaAugust 12, 2007

Alaska Brown Bear Lake Clark National Parks Photo of the Day Wildlife

Brown Bear Portrait

My goal in July was to shoot portraits of bears. I scheduled my visit before the arrival of salmon so that the bears would be in the meadows eating sedge grass and staging in the area, waiting for salmon to arrive. Next trip will be a bit later to coincide…

Phil CollaAugust 11, 2007

Alaska Brown Bear Lake Clark National Parks Photo of the Day Wildlife

Pretty Young Thing

This young female coastal brown bear (Ursus arctos) was often around when I was visiting Lake Clark National Park in Alaska. We saw her clamming on the tide flats and grazing on sedge grass in the meadows. She is a really good looking bear, with a thick blond coat and…

Phil CollaAugust 10, 2007

Panoramas Sierra Nevada

Minarets Panorama

On our way to a wedding in Tahoe last summer we stopped for a bit of fishing at Mammoth Lakes. I got up early and made a sunrise visit to the Minarets overlook, and got this view. This is a panoramic photograph, composed of 10 separate images stitched (on the…

Phil CollaAugust 9, 2007

Alaska Brown Bear Lake Clark National Parks Photo of the Day Wildlife

Lazy Bear

On my recent trip to photograph coastal brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Lake Clark National Park, I experienced nearly perfect weather for a full week, with just one day of light drizzle and only a few overcast days. About half the time we had full sun, with hardly a cloud…

Phil CollaAugust 4, 2007

Alaska Panoramas

Exit Glacier Panoramic Photo

While visiting Kenai Fjords National Park recently, I spent the morning taking an easy hike up to the terminal end (terminus?) of Exit Glacier. This is a popular spot, since it is a gentle hike and it is the main attraction of the only road that enters the national park.…

Phil CollaAugust 3, 2007

Surf

Moonlight Morning Glass

Dropped my daughter off at junior lifeguard class this morning and got in a quick swim before starting work for the day. The skies were overcast and the waves were small, but so glassy. Combination of the flat light and glassy water made it difficult to discern swells coming in…

Phil CollaAugust 2, 2007

Grand Teton National Parks Panoramas Wyoming

Schwabacher Landing Panoramic Photograph

Schwabacher Landing is one of the "must get" spots for photographers visiting Grand Teton National Park. There is a beaver pond a short ways up a fisherman's trail in which the Teton Range is nicely reflected in a mirror-calm sidewater of the Snake River, making for a postcard view. I…

Phil CollaAugust 1, 2007

Crater Lake Landscape Oregon Panoramas

Crater Lake Panoramic Photograph

I had always wanted to see Crater Lake and finally got a chance when I was returning to southern California from Washington. I reached the north rim of Crater Lake just as the sun was rising. There was no one else around, even on the drive through the dark leading…

Phil CollaJuly 31, 2007

Guadalupe Island Mexico

Guadalupe Island Reminiscing

Skip Stubbs has been the main force behind many (most?) of the noteworthy diving trips to Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe) during the last two decades. The trips Skip has led began in '91 and '92 on the Bottom Scratcher, and continued annually since '94 on the Horizon, and preceded the…

Phil CollaJuly 24, 2007

Surf

Ponto July 7

Another overcast morning. What happened to the sun? Overcast morning surfImage ID: 18993

Phil CollaJuly 7, 2007

California Carlsbad Photo of the Day

Fireworks at the Aviara Four Seasons 2007

We went around the corner to the golf course below Aviara Four Seasons and watched their fireworks last night. It was a pretty good show, just like last year. Fireworks.Image ID: 18991Location: Aviara, Carlsbad, California, USA Fireworks.Image ID: 18992Location: Aviara, Carlsbad, California, USA

Phil CollaJuly 5, 2007

Surf

Tabletop Tiny Afternoon

Got out for a quick swim while my daughter was in soccer practice. Not much going on, surf was tiny, had to get right up on the reef in order to find anything that was remote hollowish. The water was warm, summer is here. Bored photographer takes own pictureImage ID:…

Phil CollaJuly 2, 2007

Photo of the Day

Photos of Eastern Fox Squirrels in Los Angeles

Got up to Los Angeles for a family gathering at my dad's new place. While we were sitting in the kitchen at brunch I saw a fat red squirrel out the window, just sitting there munching on something. After 10 minutes of watching him I figured I should go take…

Phil CollaJuly 1, 2007

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