All Posts By

Phil Colla

Seabird

Black Oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani, La Jolla

I don't have the discipline to be a real bird photographer, but when seabirds (which are my favorites) walk right up to me I will of course do my best to get an image. This black oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) was walking among the sea lions on Alligator Head one recent…
February 4, 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…
January 20, 2022
Pelicans of La JollaSeabird

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…
January 19, 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…
January 14, 2022
Pelicans of La JollaSeabird

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…
January 10, 2022
Beautiful Views of San DiegoLa 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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
January 9, 2022
Beautiful Views of San DiegoLa 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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
January 7, 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…
January 4, 2022
Beautiful Views of San DiegoLa 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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
January 3, 2022
CaliforniaCatalinaUnderwater Photography

Farnsworth Banks, Purple Hydrocoral, and Catalina Backside Kelp Forests

This is the fourth in my "Southern California Bight Sampler (Post-Covid?)" series: Coronado Islands Refresher San Clemente Island's Kelp Forests Catalina Island's West End Farnsworth Banks San Diego Wrecks Coronado Islands - Sea Lions in Fall JTNDaHIlMjAlMkYlM0U=JTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjIlMkZzcG90bGlnaHQucGhwJTNGaW1nJTNEMzcxODQlMjIlMjB0aXRsZSUzRCUyMkNhbGlmb3JuaWElMjByZWVmJTIwY292ZXJlZCUyMHdpdGglMjBwdXJwbGUlMjBoeWRyb2NvcmFsJTIwJTI4U3R5bGFzdGVyJTIwY2EuLi4lMjIlM0UlM0NpbWclMjBzcmMlM0QlMjIlMkZzdG9jay1waG90byUyRnB1cnBsZS1oeWRyb2NvcmFsLWZhcm5zd29ydGgtYmFua3MtcGhvdG8tMzcxODQtNDIyNjMuanBnJTIyJTIwYWx0JTNEJTIyQ2FsaWZvcm5pYSUyMHJlZWYlMjBjb3ZlcmVkJTIwd2l0aCUyMHB1cnBsZSUyMGh5ZHJvY29yYWwlMjAlMjhTdHlsYXN0ZXIlMjBjYWxpZm9ybmljdXMlMkMlMjBBbGxvcG9yYSUyMGNhbGlmb3JuaWNhJTI5JTJDJTIwU3R5bGFzdGVyJTIwY2FsaWZvcm5pY3VzJTJDJTIwQWxsb3BvcmElMjBjYWxpZm9ybmljYSUyQyUyMENhdGFsaW5hJTIwSXNsYW5kJTIyJTIwdGl0bGUlM0QlMjJDYWxpZm9ybmlhJTIwcmVlZiUyMGNvdmVyZWQlMjB3aXRoJTIwcHVycGxlJTIwaHlkcm9jb3JhbCUyMCUyOFN0eWxhc3RlciUyMGNhbGlmb3JuaWN1cyUyQyUyMEFsbG9wb3JhJTIwY2FsaWZvcm5pY2ElMjklMkMlMjBTdHlsYXN0ZXIlMjBjYWxpZm9ybmljdXMlMkMlMjBBbGxvcG9yYSUyMGNhbGlmb3JuaWNhJTJDJTIwQ2F0YWxpbmElMjBJc2xhbmQlMjIlMjBjbGFzcyUzRCUyMmFsaWduY2VudGVyJTIyJTJGJTNFJTNDJTJGYSUzRSUzQ3AlMjBzdHlsZSUzRCUyMnRleHQtYWxpZ24lM0ElMjBjZW50ZXIlM0IlMjIlM0VDYWxpZm9ybmlhJTIwcmVlZiUyMGNvdmVyZWQlMjB3aXRoJTIwcHVycGxlJTIwaHlkcm9jb3JhbCUyMCUyOFN0eWxhc3RlciUyMGNhbGlmb3JuaWN1cyUyQyUyMEFsbG9wb3JhJTIwY2FsaWZvcm5pY2ElMjkuJTNDYnIlMjAlMkYlM0VJbWFnZSUyMElEJTNBJTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjIlMkZzcG90bGlnaHQucGhwJTNGaW1nJTNEMzcxODQlMjIlM0UzNzE4NCUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0NiciUyMCUyRiUzRVNwZWNpZXMlM0ElMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMiUyRmh5ZHJvY29yYWxfcGhvdG8uaHRtbCUyMiUyMHRpdGxlJTNEJTIySHlkcm9jb3JhbCUyMHBob3RvcyUyMiUzRUh5ZHJvY29yYWwlM0MlMkZhJTNFJTJDJTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjIlMkZsaWdodGJveC5waHAlM0ZzcCUzRFN0eWxhc3Rlcl9jYWxpZm9ybmljdXMlMjIlMjB0aXRsZSUzRCUyMlN0eWxhc3RlciUyMGNhbGlmb3JuaWN1cyUyMHBob3RvcyUyMiUzRSUzQ2klM0VTdHlsYXN0ZXIlMjBjYWxpZm9ybmljdXMlM0MlMkZpJTNFJTNDJTJGYSUzRSUyQyUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyJTJGbGlnaHRib3gucGhwJTNGc3AlM0RBbGxvcG9yYV9jYWxpZm9ybmljYSUyMiUyMHRpdGxlJTNEJTIyQWxsb3BvcmElMjBjYWxpZm9ybmljYSUyMHBob3RvcyUyMiUzRSUzQ2klM0VBbGxvcG9yYSUyMGNhbGlmb3JuaWNhJTNDJTJGaSUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0NiciUyMCUyRiUzRUxvY2F0aW9uJTNBJTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjIlMkZsaWdodGJveC5waHAlM0Zsb2NhdGlvbiUzRGNhdGFsaW5hX2lzbGFuZCUyNnN0YXRlJTNEY2FsaWZvcm5pYSUyNmNvdW50cnklM0R1c2ElMjIlM0VDYXRhbGluYSUyMElzbGFuZCUzQyUyRmElM0UlMkMlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMiUyRmxpZ2h0Ym94LnBocCUzRnN0YXRlJTNEY2FsaWZvcm5pYSUyNmNvdW50cnklM0R1c2ElMjIlM0VDYWxpZm9ybmlhJTNDJTJGYSUzRSUyQyUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyJTJGbGlnaHRib3gucGhwJTNGY291bnRyeSUzRHVzYSUyMiUzRVVTQSUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0MlMkZwJTNFJTBBI had not been to Farnsworth Banks, a seamount on the backside of Catalina,…
July 21, 2021