Phil Colla

California Underwater Photography

SCUBA Diving the Southern California Oil Rigs

I've recently made a few more dives underneath the oil rigs (platforms) off Southern California. Platform Eureka stands alone in 700' of water and is my favorite. The twins, Platforms Ellen and Elly, lie in 260' of water. Depending on how recently the structure has been cleaned of invertebrate life, one…

Phil CollaDecember 20, 2018

North Carolina

Fall Colors on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina

Late October and early November had me in North Carolina for a look at fall colors on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville. It was beautiful, and I look forward to returning next autumn. Cheers, and thanks for looking! Blue Ridge Parkway Fall Colors, Asheville, North Carolina Image ID: 34635…

Phil CollaDecember 14, 2018

Blue Whale California Underwater Photography

A Few New Blue Whale Photos

A huge blue whale swims through the open ocean in this underwater photograph. The blue whale is the largest animal ever to live on Earth. Image ID: 34567 Species: Blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus Location: San Diego, California, USA Blue whales have been in our area recently. Not too long ago…

Phil CollaJuly 14, 2018

California National Parks Sierra Nevada Yosemite

Yosemite Valley in Spring, May 2018

I try to get into Yosemite Valley each Spring, usually in May since that is when Yosemite's waterfalls are at their most impressive. This year I spent a couple days photographing and hiking in early May. The dogwood bloom was peaking and, while I am not a wildflower photographer, I…

Phil CollaJune 24, 2018

Browning Pass Canada Underwater Photography

Diving British Columbia’s Browning Pass and God’s Pocket Provincial Marine Park

"The Best Cold Water Diving in the World" Strong words. True? Probably. I recently spent a week diving in and around Browning Pass, a spectacular underwater ecosystem at the very north tip of Vancouver Island on the West Coast of British Columbia. The area is home to many islands, islets,…

Phil CollaMay 7, 2018

Best Photographs of the Year

Natural History Photography – Best Photos of 2017

My Best Natural History Photographs of 2017 2017 offered opportunities for me to visit remote and seldom-seen Clipperton Island, frolic with enormous Steller Sea Lions in the chilly waters of British Columbia, photograph (again) the wonderful underwater and aerial views of the Sea of Cortez, hike among Southern California's technicolor…

Phil CollaDecember 17, 2017

Catalina Underwater Photography

Giant Black Sea Bass, Stereolepis gigas, in the California Kelp Forest

Giant black sea bass, endangered species, reaching up to 8' in length and 500 lbs, amid giant kelp forest Image ID: 33354 Species: Giant Black Sea Bass, Stereolepis gigas Location: Catalina Island, California, USA Giant black sea bass, gathering in a mating - courtship aggregation amid kelp forest, Catalina Island…

Phil CollaAugust 7, 2017

Aerial Photography Mexico Revillagigedos Islands Underwater Photography

Two Days in Las Islas Revillagigedo

On the return from Clipperton Island to Cabo San Lucas, we stopped for a few days to dive at Socorro Island and San Benedicto Island, two islands in the Revillagigedos Archipelago. These stark volcanic islands offer some of the best diving in the world, with spectacular encounters with sharks, manta…

Phil CollaJuly 25, 2017

Carlsbad Desert Joshua Tree San Diego The American Southwest Wildflowers

Photographs of Southern California’s Spring Wildflowers — the 2017 Super Bloom

During March and early April of this year I was chasing the wildflower bloom around the southernmost parts of California. The wildflower bloom was indeed spectacular and went on for weeks with vast displays of color. Was it a "super bloom"? I'm not sure. Somewhere during March the interwebs began…

Phil CollaJuly 16, 2017

Aerial Photography Clipperton Island Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Photographs of Clipperton Island, Ile de la Passion

In May of 2017 I was fortunate to join an expedition to Clipperton Island (more info on Wikipedia's Clipperton page). Organized by Michel Labrecque and Julie Ouimet and conducted under French permit HC / 1485 / CAB with generous support from Oris Watches and many others, our two-week trip used…

Phil CollaJuly 13, 2017

Canada Hornby Island Sea Lion Underwater Photography

Steller Sea Lions, Eumetopias jubatus, Hornby Island, British Columbia

Steller sea lion underwater, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada Image ID: 32660 Species: Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus Location: Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada I have a real love for pinnipeds (seals and sea lions). I've been in the water with many big animals including whales, sharks, dolphins,…

Phil CollaFebruary 17, 2017

Best Photographs of the Year

Natural History Photography – Best Photos of 2016

My Best Natural History Photographs of 2016 2016 offered opportunities for me to photograph underwater and aerial views in the Sea of Cortez, sharks in the Bahamas, stingrays in the Cayman Islands, astrophotography landscapes in Grand Teton National Park, summer in Lake Tahoe, autumn in Mineral King, the Zion Narrows…

Phil CollaDecember 29, 2016

Aerial Photography Mexico Sea of Cortez Video

Aerial Video of Archipelago Espiritu Santo and the Sea of Cortez

In October I was fortunate to be a guest aboard a friend's boat for 9 days, diving the islands north of La Paz, Mexico. One of our goals was to obtain visuals of the Archipelago Espiritu Santo as part of an effort to support legislative proposals seeking greater environmental protections…

Phil CollaNovember 23, 2016

Hawaii Humpback Whale

Humpback Whale Underwater Bubble Streaming Among Rowdy Groups in Hawaii

During the years I worked for Dan Salden and Hawaii Whale Research Foundation studying humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Hawaii, we usually looked for surface active groups ("rowdy groups") when possible, since these groups offered the greatest potential for collecting the social affiliation information that was the focus of Dan's…

Phil CollaMay 7, 2016

Islas Coronado Mexico Sea Lion Underwater Life Underwater Photography

California Sea Lions, Coronado Islands, Mexico

Some of my favorite diving with California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) has taken place at Mexico's Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado). The Coronados are a small group of undeveloped rocky islands just offshore of Tijuana, Mexico and only about an hour boat ride south of San Diego. Seemingly barren, the islands…

Phil CollaMay 5, 2016

Fiji Seascapes Underwater Photography

Photographs of Namena Marine Reserve, Fiji Islands

The Namena Marine Reserve is one of the most spectacular marine areas in the Fiji Islands. Since it is located between the two main islands Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, Namena Marine Reserve is bathed with strong ocean currents that pass through that gap. It was established in 1997 and…

Phil CollaApril 14, 2016

Fiji Seascapes Underwater Photography Vatu i Ra Passage

The Spectacular Coral Reef Walls of Mount Mutiny, Bligh Waters, Fiji

One of most spectacular underwater sights I saw while in Fiji was the incredible wall at Mount Mutiny, a huge coral bommie in the Bligh Waters near the middle of the Fiji Islands. Mount Mutiny is surrounded by deep water and typically bathed in strong ocean currents rich with plankton,…

Phil CollaFebruary 3, 2016

Mexico Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Photography

California Sea Lions at Los Islotes, Espiritu Santo Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico

California sea lions underwater, Sea of Cortez, Mexico Image ID: 31205 Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus Location: Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico In October, Tracy and I joined our friends Mike and Sherry, Skip, Shirley, Barb and Walt for 9 wonderful days diving in the Sea of Cortez…

Phil CollaJanuary 29, 2016

Fiji Seascapes Underwater Photography

Dendronephthya Soft Corals

In my experience Dendronephthya soft corals are the most spectacular and photogenic of the myriad invertebrate denizens of tropical coral reefs. "Soft coral" is a broad term, often used to describe gorgonians, leather corals, cup corals, sea whips, octocorals, etc etc that are found in all oceans of the world. The…

Phil CollaJanuary 24, 2016

Alaska Antarctica Bald Eagle California Fiji Hawaii Mexico Ocean Sunfish Penguin Surf Underwater Photography

Seven of my Favorite Images #challengeonnaturephotography

In December a Facebook "challenge" was making the rounds named #challengeonnaturephotography. One of my favorite underwater photographers, Allison Vitsky Sallmon, nominated me to give it a try, and these are the seven images I plucked from my files to share. Each bears a special place in my personal history of…

Phil CollaJanuary 16, 2016

Fiji Seascapes Underwater Photography

Chironephthya, Fiji’s “Other” Soft Coral

Fiji's Coral Reefs are known as the "Soft Coral Capital of the World" for good reason. Spectacular displays of colorful soft coral, usually Dendronepthya, are found on Fiji's coral reefs in abundance. I had done a fair bit of research before the trip and thought I knew what types of…

Phil CollaJanuary 6, 2016

Fiji Seascapes Underwater Photography Vatu i Ra Passage

Diving the Vatu-I-Ra Passage in Fiji’s Bligh Waters

See also: Photos of Fiji's Beautiful Coral Reefs The ocean waters between Fiji's Viti Levu and Vanua Levu islands are called the Bligh Waters after Captain William Bligh and his flight from mutineers. The Bligh Waters are famous among divers as they are home to some of the most spectacular…

Phil CollaJanuary 4, 2016

Best Photographs of the Year

Natural History Photography – Best Photos of 2015

My Best Natural History Photographs of 2015 2015 offered opportunities for me to photograph the Sierra Nevada, the Sea of Cortez, California's Channel Islands, the coral reefs of the Fiji Islands, a Louisiana plantation, astrophotography landscapes in the Southwest, and as always America's Finest City, San Diego. I was finally…

Phil CollaDecember 28, 2015

Astrophotography and Night Scapes California Joshua Tree The American Southwest

Blood Red Moon Madness! A Tetrad of Total Lunar Eclipses

Lunar eclipse sequence, showing total eclipse (left) through full moon (right). While the moon lies in the full shadow of the earth (umbra) it receives only faint, red-tinged light refracted through the Earth's atmosphere. As the moon passes into the penumbra it receives increasing amounts of direct sunlight, eventually leaving…

Phil CollaDecember 23, 2015

Astrophotography and Night Scapes California Desert Joshua Tree The American Southwest

Perseid Meteor Shower over Joshua Tree National Park, August 2015

Each August the Perseid meteor shower takes place. This year it peaked during a new moon, which offered prime conditions for seeing many meteors. I photographed the Perseid meteor shower in Joshua Tree National Park using two compositions/locations: with Arch Rock as one feature and with a single joshua tree…

Phil CollaAugust 16, 2015

Astrophotography and Night Scapes California Desert Joshua Tree The American Southwest

Perseid Meteor Shower over Arch Rock, Joshua Tree National Park, 2015

The Perseid meteor shower occurs each August, peaking on the evenings of August 12 and 13. It happens because the Earth is plowing through the trail of dust left behind by comet Swift-Tuttle. The Perseid meteors are named for the constellation Perseus in the northern sky, from which the meteors…

Phil CollaAugust 14, 2015

Aerial Photography Beautiful Views of San Diego Panoramas San Diego

Aerial Panoramic Photo of Sunset Cliffs, San Diego, California

This past spring my daughters and I took a couple flights over San Diego to shoot panoramas while the conditions were good. This is one of my favorites, showing the beautifully scalloped coastline of Sunset Cliffs, north of Point Loma. You can even see the sandstone outcropping we jumped off…

Phil CollaAugust 5, 2015

California Underwater Photography

Underwater Photos of Southern California Oil Rigs

Recently I did some diving underneath three of Southern California's offshore oil rigs: oil rig Eureka, oil rig Ellen and oil rig Elly. It was a lot of fun, and I hope to do it again soon. The amount of invertebrate life on the oil rig beams was impressive --…

Phil CollaAugust 2, 2015

Kenya Maasai Mara

The Marsh Pride of Lions, Maasai Mara, Kenya

Of all the animals we saw during our safari in Kenya, the most fulfilling were the lions of the Maasai Mara. I say "fulfilling" because seeing these lions came at the end of 120 years (cumulatively, for my mom and I) of pondering Africa -- reading Edgar Rice Burroughs, watching…

Phil CollaJuly 30, 2015

California Underwater Photography

SCUBA Diving Beneath Oil Rigs Eureka, Ellen and Elly in Long Beach, California

I recently made a few dives underneath the oil rigs "Eureka", "Ellen" and "Elly", about 8 miles off Long Beach, California. Oil rig Eureka is located in about 700' of water, so from the perspective of recreational divers it is a bottomless dive. Ellen and Elly are in shallower water,…

Phil CollaJuly 28, 2015

Landscape Panoramas Trees

Beautiful Oaks and Perfect Sunrise at Oak Alley Plantation

Oak Alley Plantation, with its remarkable double row of 300-year-old southern live oaks (Quercus virginiana) is, I imagine, a near-ideal vision of what the old South once was. I photographed this amazing tunnel of oaks at both dusk and dawn and, after contemplating the images for a few weeks, have…

Phil CollaJuly 8, 2015

La Jolla Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Photographing Macrocystis in La Jolla’s Beautiful Forests of Giant Kelp

I have been photographing kelp forests in California with a passion for 25 years, from the Mexican border on up to Monterey including all the Channel Islands. Usually when I go diving in kelp its to San Clemente Island, which arguably has the most beautiful underwater scenery anywhere in California.…

Phil CollaJuly 6, 2015

Landscape Panoramas Trees

Oak Alley Plantation and Its Famous Tunnel of Old Oak Trees, Vacherie, Louisiana

While in New Orleans recently, I made a side-trip to visit Oak Alley Plantation. I love ancient, huge and gnarly trees, and when it comes to oak trees -- specifically the southern live oak, Quercus virginiana -- Oak Alley Plantation has some of the most photogenic in the South. Oak…

Phil CollaJuly 4, 2015

California San Diego

San Diego County Fair at Night, Del Mar, California

The Del Mar Fair -- or, for noobs, the "San Diego County Fair" -- has some great lights at night. My favorites are the ferris wheels and whirling rides. This year I added a new image to my collection, one in which the full moon is rising above the fairgrounds.…

Phil CollaJuly 3, 2015

Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Photography

Sport Diver Cover, June 2015, Sea Lion in the Sea of Cortez

I love diving in the Sea of Cortez in the Fall. The water is warm, the weather is often serene, the diving easy and fun. And there are some amazing rookeries of sea lions, including the world famous Los Islotes island in the Espiritu Santo Biosphere Reserve. So I was…

Phil CollaJune 12, 2015

Aerial Photography Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla San Diego

Aerial Panoramic Photo of Torrey Pines Golf Course and Black’s Beach

This aerial panorama of Torrey Pines Golf Course will print huge: up to about 4' high and 10' wide! In the center is seen Torrey Pines Golf Course south course, with the north course to the left. I played Torrey Pines often when I first moved to La Jolla and…

Phil CollaJune 1, 2015

California Underwater Photography

Underwater Photos of Marine Algae in Southern California and Baja California

I dive in Southern California and Baja California, and one of the most appealing things about the underwater landscapes I see are the many species of marine algae. Marine algae cover the reefs in most places with a lush, colorful, vibrant carpet of life. Following are photos of some of…

Phil CollaMay 31, 2015

Aerial Photography California San Clemente Island

The Disappearing Kelp Forests of San Clemente Island

I was recently diving at San Clemente Island. The profound lack of giant kelp forests was a striking contrast to what I am used to seeing over 25 years of diving at the island. Under ideal conditions, giant kelp can grow about 2' per day (the fastest growing plant on…

Phil CollaMay 30, 2015

Aerial Photography Beautiful Views of San Diego Panoramas San Diego

Aerial Panorama of Point Loma, Cabrillo Monument and San Diego Bay

This is a highly detailed aerial panoramic photo of the southern end of Point Loma, with Cabrillo Monument and both old and new lighthouses visible. The original Cabrillo lighthouse is seen atop the bluff, while the new lighthouse is down near the water's edge next to the green lawns. North…

Phil CollaMay 11, 2015

Aerial Photography California Panoramas San Diego

Aerial Panorama of the San Diego Coronado Bay Bridge

One of the images I wanted to add to my collection of San Diego aerial photos was a very wide, very detailed image of the San Diego Coronado Bay Bridge. I could have taken a single image with a very wide lens -- such as this image taken a few…

Phil CollaMay 6, 2015

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