California

Bodysurfing Sea Lions San Diego Sea Lion

Surfing Sea Lions of La Jolla, Winter 2024

I have a long term project photographing bodysurfing sea lions. As usual, the winter season afforded me a few good opportunities to photograph the California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) bodysurfing waves at Boomer Beach near La Jolla Cove. In addition, there were unfortunately a few individuals on the point who…

Phil CollaApril 12, 2024

Desert San Diego The American Southwest Wildflowers

The Year of the Desert Lily: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Wildflowers in Spring 2024

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park occasionally has exceptional spring wildflower blooms. 2024 was one of those years, it was a nice, fairly typical bloom and not a Superbloom. The last Superbloom we had in Anza-Borrego was in 2017. (And no, 2019 was not a superbloom). But the 2024 bloom in Anza-Borrego…

Phil CollaMarch 28, 2024

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 Panoramas

New Sunrise Photographs of San Diego’s City Skyline

Each year I make several outings to shoot San Diego's beautiful skyline over San Diego Bay, from several of my favorite vantage points. I often license these images for real estate and convention use and want to keep them up-to-date as the skyline changes with new buildings and waterfront facilities.…

Phil CollaJanuary 8, 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

Aerial Photography Beautiful Views of San Diego

Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach with Holiday Christmas Lights at Night

The Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, a bit north of San Diego proper, is a beautiful old wooden pier. Originally built in 1927 and once called "Pickering's Pleasure Pier", the Crystal Pier is home to the Crystal Pier Hotel and is an icon of the San Diego coastline. Each December,…

Phil CollaJanuary 2, 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

Birds San Diego

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) at Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego

Peregrin falcons (Falco peregrinus) have nested on the sheer cliffs overlooking the ocean at Torrey Pines State Reserve for years. This past spring I made a few visits to try to photograph them. Peregrins are considered the fastest animal on Earth, mostly for the 200 mph speeds they attain while…

Phil CollaJuly 28, 2023

Catalina Fish Underwater Photography

Photos of Giant Sea Bass Courtship, Mating and Spawning Groups at Catalina Island

Giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) are an enormous species of wreckfish (not a true bass) found in the kelp forests of California. Once known as "jewfish" and later as "black sea bass", giant sea bass are one of the most thrilling fish species divers will encounter in California. They are…

Phil CollaJuly 25, 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

California Surf

Sunrise on Cylinders, The Wedge, Newport Beach

This image is an old favorite of mine. There was a period of time when I was visiting the Wedge often, usually midweek during the school year so the water was empty and I could shoot waves alone. I had many great mornings like that, with glassy water, no wind…

Phil CollaNovember 9, 2022

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

California San Clemente Island Underwater Photography

San Clemente Island Underwater: a Symphony of Sea Fans, or, Gonzo for Gorgonians

San Clemente Island is one of my favorite places to dive. Maybe my favorite. I have almost certainly logged more time on a scuba tank here than anywhere else, hundreds of hours. And almost all of those dives have been made jumping off the deck of the M/V Horizon and…

Phil CollaOctober 22, 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

Sunrise Over the Imperial Beach Pier

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

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

Golden Winter Sunset along Torrey Pines State Beach and Sea Cliffs

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

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

Hotel Del Coronado with Holiday Lights and Glorietta Bay at Sunset

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

Beautiful Views of San Diego Carlsbad

Terramar Point, Carlsbad, Oceanside and Views to San Onofre and Southern Orange County

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

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

San Diego City Skyline at Dusk, Mountains and Bay

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

Beautiful Views of San Diego California

Low Tide and Winter Sunset on Moonlight Beach, Encinitas

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

Catalina Underwater Photography

Torpedo Ray at Farnsworth Banks, Catalina Island, California

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

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

Spectacular Dawn over San Diego Bay and Downtown San Diego

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

Beautiful Views of San Diego San Diego

Sunrise over Sheraton San Diego Hotel and San Diego Bay

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

Pelicans of La Jolla San Diego Seabird

Overcast Light, Pelican Portrait, Surf Background

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

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

Catalina San Clemente Island Underwater Photography

Kelp Forest Redux – San Clemente and Catalina Islands, and My Circular Fisheye

"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

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 San Diego

San Diego City Skyline at Dawn

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

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

Beautiful Views of San Diego

Del Mar Sunset, Train Tracks, and Views to Saddleback

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

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