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…
Phil CollaFebruary 4, 2022
One any clear morning, about 20 minutes before sunrise, the Earth's shadow will appear. Here it is depicted against La Jolla's famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography research pier. The pinkish band is high enough above the horizon that the sun can reach it, and is actually dust lit by the…
Phil CollaFebruary 3, 2022
The Gold Coast of La Jolla is, at sunset, literally that: a long stretch of spectacular golden-hued beach and sea cliffs, extending from La Jolla Shores, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, north along Black's Beach and Torrey Pines State Reserve up towards Del Mar. Here the Gold Coast is seen in…
Phil CollaFebruary 2, 2022
One of my favorite coastline views is that of Point La Jolla at dawn, with the waves along La Jolla Shores beach blurred in the early morning light. The seawall at the Children's Pool is just seen at the extreme right side, and a few kayakers are headed out…
Phil CollaFebruary 1, 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
2021 continues the strangeness that started in 2020, however, my family is well and work is good so I consider myself fortunate. I have not been able to resume international travel (everything keeps getting cancelled) but I did make a number of trips east of the Mississippi, including one by…
Phil CollaDecember 28, 2021
My recommendations for the Canon R5 settings for birds in flight. The world doesn't need another image of a brown pelican in flight, but I enjoy trying to make different renditions of my favorite seabirds flying and it keeps me in practice during the winter between dive trips. Recently we…
Phil CollaDecember 28, 2021
The Yellow Variant, or Morph, of the California Brown Pelican I have noticed quite a few brown pelicans sporting yellow gular pouches (throats). As everyone knows, the gular pouch expands to catch water and prey, as much as three times the volume of the pelican's stomach. Not only is the…
Phil CollaDecember 27, 2021
I spend an inordinate amount of time photographing California Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) each winter. It's partly because I need the practice and they are a great subject upon which to hone my topside camera skills, and partly because mornings on the ocean in La Jolla, without summer tourists and…
Phil CollaDecember 22, 2021
This is the last 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 Each Fall I look forward to spending time in the shallow waters of a…
Phil CollaNovember 9, 2021
I managed to make four successful trips to Farnsworth Banks this year, with one more planned in a few weeks. I managed to take many photos, including a few that I was happy with. The top of Farnsworth Banks lies at a depth of about 60', with most of the…
Phil CollaSeptember 28, 2021
Farnsworth Banks, the notorious and spectacular offshore seamount on the backside of Catalina Island, offers something I have seen nowhere else in California -- an enormous monospecific wall of zoanthid anemones. This single colony is so impressive it has earned itself the moniker "Yellow Wall", and exhibits some of the…
Phil CollaSeptember 28, 2021
Corallimorphs, the coral-like and anemone-like members of the order Corallimorpharia, hold a special place in my underwater photography career. Circa 1990, when I began taking a water camera on my dives, I only had equipment to photograph tiny critters. Of those, ones that did not move were best suited to…
Phil CollaAugust 19, 2021
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