La Jolla

Birds La Jolla

Warblers, Whimbrels and Hummingbirds on the Coast Walk in La Jolla

I recently acquired a 600mm lens which I plan to use with 1.4x teleconverter often, probably for birds much of the time I suspect, and have been out practicing with it. The combination is too long for pelicans and sea lions, so I have been seeking smaller subjects. This time…

Phil CollaFebruary 27, 2024

La Jolla Sea Lion

Wildlife Portrait Photography on Point La Jolla; Year-Round Closure Makes This a Thing of the Past

For many years I photographed wildlife on Point La Jolla, usually at sunrise. I'm referring to the flat tabletop reef below the walkway to the west of La Jolla Cove. That was a prime ocean entry for divers, spearfishermen and bodysurfers (I used it for 30+ years to access the…

Phil CollaFebruary 19, 2024

Bodysurfing Sea Lions La Jolla Sea Lion

California Sea Lions Bodysurfing at La Jolla Cove

I've been waiting and watching for weeks for the California sea lions at La Jolla Cove to begin bodysurfing. It's usually a winter behavior. I've seen small bouts of surfing from them recently but nothing worth photographing, until a few days ago. I guess they were waiting for last June's…

Phil CollaJanuary 15, 2024

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla Surf

Silky Waves Break Over Point La Jolla

We had huge waves recently, which I have photographed in La Jolla a number of times. I wanted to shoot something different this time, not just a big wave lurching over Point La Jolla. So I shot at twilight, and placed some sea lions off to the side for scale.…

Phil CollaJanuary 5, 2024

La Jolla Surf

La Jolla Cove Big Surf December 29, 2023

La Jolla Cove experienced big surf December 29, 2023. Indeed, all of San Diego was getting giant waves for the entire weekend. I was out photographing several times, and the best waves I saw were just before sunset on December 29, straight out from La Jolla Cove. It was getting…

Phil CollaDecember 29, 2023

Aerial Photography Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla

Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Pier with Holiday Christmas Lights at Night

Each December, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research Pier is adorned with holiday Christmas lights and a tree at the end of the pier. It's a beautiful display. For about as long as I have owned a drone, I have flown it at sunset to capture the lights reflected in…

Phil CollaDecember 11, 2023

Harbor Seal La Jolla

Newborn Pacific Harbor Seal Pups at the Children’s Pool in La Jolla

I made an effort to photograph Pacific harbor seal pups (Phoca vitulina richardsi) this past winter after a long absence and managed to create a few new images I am happy with. I photographed the La Jolla Seals regularly when the colony was first established in the early 1990s. I…

Phil CollaApril 24, 2023

Bodysurfing Sea Lions La Jolla Sea Lion

California Sea Lions Bodysurfing Boomer Beach in La Jolla

My long-term project to photograph California Sea Lions bodysurfing in La Jolla continued this past winter and was a lot of fun. We had quite a few mornings of great action, some of the best I have ever seen. I attribute that partly to the large numbers of adults on…

Phil CollaApril 22, 2023

La Jolla Surf

La Jolla Cove Big Surf, Saturday January 14, 2023

La Jolla Cove was breaking with big surf this morning, Saturday January 14, 2023. La Jolla Cove does not break often. It was larger last week but this morning was still big. I photographed until about 11am and then left before the rain arrived. There were about a thousand people…

Phil CollaJanuary 15, 2023

Aerial Photography Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla Panoramas

Aerial Panoramic Photo of Point La Jolla, Boomer Beach and Scripps Park at Sunset

Point La Jolla is the ideal place in La Jolla to watch the sunset. Flanked by Ellen Browning Scripps Park and the La Jolla Bridge Club, the point offers views north past La Jolla Shores and Torrey Pines State Reserve and west over the ocean. Sea lions are usually found…

Phil CollaNovember 2, 2022

Aerial Photography Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla Panoramas

Aerial Panoramic Photo of Children’s Pool in La Jolla, California

The Children's Pool in La Jolla is one of San Diego's coastal landmarks. Also known as Casa Cove and set amidst the Gold Coast of San Diego, the Children's Pool sea wall creates a snug little sand beach protected from the elements. It was gifted to the City of San…

Phil CollaNovember 1, 2022

Aerial Photography La Jolla

Aerial Photos of Coastal Reef Systems during King Tides in California

One of my projects has been to photograph favorite spots on the coast at extreme low tide, to best depict the rocky reefs that are not normally visible. The best time to do this, of course, is during a King Tide, when the high-highs and low-lows of the tidal swing…

Phil CollaAugust 8, 2022

Bodysurfing Sea Lions La Jolla Sea Lion

La Jolla’s Amazing Body Surfing Sea Lions

One of my photographic projects the last couple years has been the California Sea Lion colony in La Jolla. I spend a lot of time making portraits of them on rocky Point La Jolla. These are beautiful animals and I try to depict them as such. But where sea lions…

Phil CollaMarch 14, 2022

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla

Scripps Pier and Earthshadow at Dawn, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla

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

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla

The Gold Coast of La Jolla, Scripps and Torrey Pines at Sunset

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

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla

Point La Jolla and Surf at Dawn

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

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

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 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

La Jolla Seabird

Double-Crested Cormorant Nuptial Crests and Breeding Plumage

Each winter the breeding adults of the Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) display a beautiful form of mating plumage, namely a pair of nuptial crests above each eye for which the species if named. These large tufts of feathers are striking in that they cannot be missed. The nuptial crests can be…

Phil CollaMarch 12, 2021

La Jolla Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

California Brown Pelicans in La Jolla, New Portrait and Flight Images

Each winter I photograph the California race of Brown Pelican in La Jolla (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus). From about mid December through early February, if I look out the window and the skies to the east are clear and there is no fog over La Jolla, I have a chance to hustle…

Phil CollaMarch 11, 2021

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla San Diego

35 Beautiful San Diego City Skyline and Coastal Views

I love photographing San Diego's city skyline and the region's coastal scenes, particularly those that feature panoramas of downtown San Diego and its waterfront as well as long compressed coastal views that layer sea cliffs, beaches, and coastal mountains. I've been photographing San Diego and La Jolla in earnest for…

Phil CollaMarch 10, 2021

La Jolla Sea Lion

New California Sea Lion Portraits in La Jolla

I photograph California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) often, and this winter has been no exception. We have had ideal weather for photographing the local colony of sea lions and I've tried to take advantage of it, making more portraits of them in the golden morning sun. I repeat this every year…

Phil CollaMarch 8, 2021

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla San Diego

Torrey Pines State Beach Golden Wintertime Sunset

I've been running, hiking, swimming and photographing Torrey Pines State Beach and Reserve for 37 years. It is the most spectacular section of coastline in all of San Diego County. When I lived in Del Mar and ran it almost daily I would sometimes be blessed with solitude on the…

Phil CollaMay 12, 2019

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

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

Aerial Photography Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla San Diego

Aerial Panoramic Photo of La Jolla Cove and Scripps Park, San Diego

Panoramic aerial photograph of La Jolla Cove and Scripps Parks (center), with La Jolla's Mount Soledad rising above, La Jolla Shores and La Jolla Caves to the left and the La Jolla Coast with Children's Pool (Casa Cove) to the right. The undersea reefs of Boomer Beach are seen through…

Phil CollaApril 29, 2015

Aerial Photography California La Jolla Panoramas

Aerial Panorama of Bird Rock and the La Jolla Coastline

Aerial Panorama of La Jolla's Bird Rock, with surfers in the water at lower right. Submarine reefs, characteristic of the La Jolla coast, can be seen through the clear water. Mount Soledad rises above everything. This 180-degree panorama extends from Camp Pendleton in the extreme distance to the north to…

Phil CollaApril 28, 2015

Birds La Jolla Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

La Jolla Birds

La Jolla birds as of this morning. I had until 8:45 before catching the end of Sarah's practice so I went down the coast highway. There were some waves in Encinitas but nothing special. Spectacular clearing mist at Torrey Pines at sunrise. In La Jolla the light changed much and…

Phil CollaFebruary 7, 2015

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla Surf

La Jolla Reefs, Surf and Clouds

This morning in coastal La Jolla was lacking in color but there is always something of beauty in the way waves come ashore and wrap around rocks and reefs. Cheers, and thanks for looking!

Phil CollaJanuary 31, 2015

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla Surf

Dawn Patrol, Scripps Pier, La Jolla

Three guys head out for a surf, under leaden skies and rain, pre-dawn. Scripps Institute of Oceanography Research Pier, La Jolla, California. Scripps Pier and moving water, pre-dawn light, La Jolla Image ID: 30178 Location: La Jolla, California, USA

Phil CollaDecember 14, 2014

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla

Scripps Pier, Clouds and Surf, Black and White, La Jolla, California

Scripps Pier, La Jolla, California. Cloudy day and small surf. This image was photographed with the relatively new Sony A7R camera. I am really impressed with this camera. If you follow my photography you may know I am not a black and white art photographer, but in this case it…

Phil CollaMarch 22, 2014

Aerial Photography Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla Panoramas

Aerial Panoramas of La Jolla and San Diego

Flying recently while a winter high pressure system hung over Southern California, I was able to take advantage of clear dry air to shoot several aerial panoramic photos of the La Jolla and northern San Diego coastline. These are technically very difficult to realize, both in capturing the source images…

Phil CollaFebruary 7, 2014

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla Seascapes

Spectacular Sunrise in La Jolla

We've had some great sunrises and sunsets lately, thanks to weather patterns in Southern California that provide high clouds and open horizons to let the light reach the undersides of the clouds just at the edge of each day. A few days ago I was photographing the full moon over…

Phil CollaDecember 19, 2013

Astrophotography and Night Scapes Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla Seascapes

La Jolla Cove at Dawn, La Jolla, California

One of my favorite times to photograph in La Jolla is when night is just transitioning to dawn. Sunrise is till 45 minutes or an hour away. In December it can be chilly at this hour, but it is also quiet and, usually, still. The only people I see are…

Phil CollaDecember 11, 2013

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla Seascapes

Hospital Point Sunrise, Reef and Waves, La Jolla

Pre-dawn color is splashed across the clouds as small waves break over Hospital Point's distinctive sandstone reefs. A very long exposure makes the water look silky and blurred as it breaks over the rocks and flows back out to sea. Cheers and thanks for looking! Sunrise Clouds and Surf, Hospital…

Phil CollaDecember 7, 2013

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla Seascapes Surf

Surfer and Beautiful Sunrise on Hospital Point Beach, La Jolla

Each winter I try to add fresh and appealing images to my San Diego and La Jolla portfolios. I spent Thanksgiving morning on the rocks at Hospital Point. It was truly a sunrise for which to be thankful. I made two fine photographs which will look great printed at 24"…

Phil CollaDecember 2, 2013

Beautiful Views of San Diego La Jolla San Diego Seascapes

Scripps Pier Sunset Perfect Solar Alignment, La Jolla, San Diego, California

SIO Pier Sunset with Sun Framed Within the Pier Pilings Occasionally the setting sun will be perfectly framed within the pilings the Scripps Institution of Oceanography research pier. This is what the perfect solar alignment through the SIO Pier pilings looks like -- it is a spectacular sight! Contact me…

Phil CollaMay 6, 2013

Harbor Seal La Jolla

Nature’s Best Windland Smith Rice Contest: Pacific Harbor Seal, La Jolla, California

Cute Harbor Seal Photo, La Jolla, California. This is the third of three images I had that were Highly Commended in this year's Windland Smith Rice photography competition.* This is one of the famous or, depending on your political position, notorious Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) the reside at…

Phil CollaDecember 16, 2011

Beautiful Views of San Diego iPhone La Jolla Seascapes

Torrey Pines State Reserve Running Photos

It is for views like this that I run. I've been running for 35 years and will keep running until my body can't do it anymore. I estimate that I have run at least 32,000 miles (1.25 times around the Earth!) and it is views like this that keep me…

Phil CollaDecember 15, 2011

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