Wildlife

Argentina Sea Lion Underwater Life Underwater Photography

South American Sea Lion, Patagonia, Argentina

I was in Patagonia recently to photograph Southern Right Whales. While there, my friends and I took a morning to visit South American Sea Lions (Otaria flavescens) near the coastal city of Puerto Madryn. A resident colony of South American sea lions is there, and it is relatively simple to…

Phil CollaMarch 10, 2020

Islas Coronado Mexico Sea Lion Underwater Photography

Cyclops the Strange-Eyed California Sea Lion

In December I spent a day diving the Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California in Mexico, home to one of the better California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) rookeries within a reasonable drive. The water was off-color so I did not make any beautiful images but I did encounter Cyclops the…

Phil CollaMay 12, 2019

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Photos of California Brown Pelicans in La Jolla

Since I dive with seabirds and often have fine opportunities to observe them in and under the water, photography of seabirds holds a certain appeal and I do pursue it from time to time. However, there is really only one bird that I have been able to photograph well, primarily…

Phil CollaJanuary 31, 2019

Aerial Photography Islas Coronado Sea Lion Underwater Photography

California Sea Lion Pups in the Coronado Islands

In early November I spent a day diving with California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). Lobster Shack at the North Island was place to be since that's where a great colony of sea lions is. Conditions were excellent, about as good as diving in the Coronados gets. Photographer friend Allison had…

Phil CollaDecember 31, 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

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

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

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

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

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

Astrophotography and Night Scapes Elephant Seal Valley of Fire Wildlife

Elephants (Three Different Ones)

I am starting to post my images from a fantastic safari experience in Kenya in September, and searched on the term "elephant" in my own stock files and found these three came to the top. I immediately thought "Elephants (Three Different Ones)". Yes, I am a Pink Floyd fan, naturally.…

Phil CollaFebruary 24, 2015

Birds Pelicans of La Jolla San Diego Seabird

The Original Wind Surfers: Pelicans, Waves and Surf

Wikipedia describes the origins of wind surfing in the 1940s and 1950s. It couldn't be more wrong. For as long as they have existed, sea birds and their ancestors have plied the oceans, riding the updrafts of surf, waves and sea swells to gain efficiency and a free ride. My…

Phil CollaFebruary 16, 2015

Marine Life Sea Lion

Killer Whales (Orca) attacking California Sea Lion

I saw Wild Kingdom in action yesterday: killer whales preying upon California sea lions. Classified as Biggs transient orcas, these individuals are well known (CA51) for terrorizing other marine mammals along the Southern California coast. "Biggs transients" are one of four distinct populations (some insist they are species) of killer…

Phil CollaFebruary 9, 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

Birds

Ring-Billed Gull, Larus Delawarensis, La Jolla

Once in a while I will photograph seagulls. I really should spend more time on them, since they can at times be beautiful in the right light and when in good condition. Unfortunately, gulls often they look like crap, and when I see them out on the water I invariably…

Phil CollaFebruary 6, 2015

Birds

Royal Tern Breaking Its Fast, La Jolla

This Royal Tern (Sterna maxima) manages a Exorcist-worthy head twist as it reaches for a small bug. See the tiny black bug? La Jolla, morning. Cheers, and thanks for looking!

Phil CollaFebruary 4, 2015

Birds

Heermann’s Gull, Larus heermanni

The Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni), photographed when I am out and about in La Jolla and North County. Lately I have been trying to frame seabirds against blue water, or have the ocean horizon in the image to anchor the composition and help tie the animal with the ocean. Cheers,…

Phil CollaFebruary 1, 2015

Blue Whale Icons Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Blue Whale Full Body Photo

Blue Whale Full Body Photo For more, see Blue Whale Photos, Balaenoptera musculus I made my first underwater photo of a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) about 18 years ago, and over the intervening years I have struggled to make a perfect image of an entire blue whale, rostrum to fluke,…

Phil CollaJanuary 29, 2015

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

California Brown Pelicans, La Jolla, December 2014

A PDF guide to photographing these pelicans: Guide to Photographing Pelicans in La Jolla. If you like these photos, you can also see lots more blog posts from past sessions photographing California brown pelicans in La Jolla. Or, I've got a gallery of some keepers on my website, but most…

Phil CollaDecember 10, 2014

Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Life Underwater Photography

California Sea Lions at Los Islotes, Baja California, Mexico

Los Islotes, the small island just off the northern end of Espiritu Santo in the Sea of Cortez, is my favorite place in the world for photographing California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus). These wonderful pinnipeds are very comfortable with the presence of, and famous for the willingness to interact with,…

Phil CollaMarch 3, 2014

Galapagos Diaries Marine Life Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Sea Turtle, Galapagos, Black and White

I have made a lot of dives in the Galapagos Islands, and one of my favorite creatures to see underwater is the sea turtle. The ungainly-looking animals are actually quite hydrodynamic and can navigate the surge, currents and waves to graze on algae along the reef. These two turtles were…

Phil CollaJanuary 25, 2014

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

California Brown Pelicans, Winter Plumage, La Jolla

The plumage of La Jolla's California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) has been especially striking this year, it seems there are more really red throats and deep brown necked adult brown pelicans on the bluffs than usual. I also find it interesting how much color variation there is in the bills…

Phil CollaJanuary 20, 2014

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

La Jolla Bluffs, Gulls, Cormorants and Pelicans

I have not been down to the La Jolla bluffs for a couple weeks to see my favorite seabirds, the California race of the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), so I thought I would take a look this morning. I had hoped the projected swell would be up this morning, allowing…

Phil CollaJanuary 18, 2014

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

California Brown Pelicans in Flight, La Jolla, California

The morning light along our coast has been very nice lately, not to mention our temps have been balmy while the rest of the country is in deep freeze. I've had a couple nice morning sessions photographing my favorite seabirds, the California race of the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), including…

Phil CollaJanuary 6, 2014

Environmental Problems Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Seabird Entanglement in Monofilament Fishing Line

Unfortunately, I have another image of wildlife entanglement to share, this time a California brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) entangled in monofilament fishing line. This seabird appeared to me to have ingested a hook or lure, so that one end of the monofilament fishing line was down its throat while the…

Phil CollaJanuary 2, 2014

Abstract Birds

Ghost Cormorant

A cormorant speeds home to its nest in the La Jolla seacliffs, flying just above the waves. Shot long before sunrise, this image is blurred from the long time the shutter was open.

Phil CollaJanuary 1, 2014

Great White Shark Guadalupe Island Mexico Sharks Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Great White Shark Portrait

This great white shark photo (Carcharodon carcharias) was shot under dark skies, in early morning. These are tough conditions to shoot underwater with only available light. I prefer to shoot without strobes whenever possible but in the days of film this particular morning would have required I use artificial lights.…

Phil CollaApril 15, 2013

Beautiful Views of San Diego Blue Whale Humpback Whale

Whale Triple Header: Blue Whales, Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Del Mar, California

GREAT WHALE TRIPLEHEADER. What's that you say? Read on... This is a photograph of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) performing a peduncle throw (or "tail throw", or "tail lob"). The man who taught me most of what I know about whales, friend and whale researcher Dr. Dan Salden, often referred…

Phil CollaJanuary 17, 2013

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

End of the World Pelicans

I figured the Mayan World's End is coming soon, so I would go photograph some pelicans before it was all over. Here are a few new photographs of brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus). Cheers, and thanks for looking! Brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over…

Phil CollaDecember 20, 2012

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Brown Pelican and Belt of Venus

I set up to make photographs of brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) in front of the thin pastel colors of the "belt of Venus", or "Earth Shadow", that forms just above the horizon at dawn and dusk when atmospheric conditions are favorable. If you can't envision what the Belt of…

Phil CollaDecember 19, 2012

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird

Braking to Land

This morning offered about 30 minutes of good light before the clouds took the sun away. Here are a few of photographs of brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) returning from the ocean where they have been foraging for food, spreading their large wings wide as they brake to land on…

Phil CollaDecember 16, 2012

Environmental Problems Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Life Underwater Photography

International Conservation Photography Awards 2012

Art Wolfe hosts the biennial International Conservation Photography Awards ("ICP Awards"). One of my images was honored in the 2010 edition of the competition, so I decided to try again this year. My photograph of a young California sea lion entangled in monofilament fishing line, taken in the Espiritu Santo…

Phil CollaAugust 15, 2012

Humpback Whale

Humpback Whale Breaching Near San Diego

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are found throughout the worlds oceans, but seeing them near San Diego is somewhat unusual. Conventional wisdom has it that humpback whales in California are most often seen in the Channel Islands near Santa Barbara, as well as the central coast near Monterey Bay. However, if…

Phil CollaAugust 7, 2012

Environmental Problems Sea Lion Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Wildlife Entanglement: Sea Lion and Monofilament, Pelican and Shopping Bag

Photos of Wildlife Entanglement in Plastic Unfortunately, I have had a number of opportunities to photograph wildlife entangled in plastic debris. Plastic Debris. We make it, we use it and then we leave it behind. This stuff is killing animals and causing problems everywhere. I find it dismaying every time…

Phil CollaMarch 22, 2012

Marine Life Mexico Sea of Cortez Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Panamic Green Moray Eel

Photo of Panamic Green Moray Eel, Gymnothorax castaneus While I was in Mexico's beautiful Sea of Cortez doing some diving last November, I spent time photographing the Panamic Green Moray eels (Gymnothorax castaneus). These eels are quite common, often found underneath large boulders and overhangs. They are typically content to…

Phil CollaFebruary 15, 2012

Sea Lion Sea of Cortez Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Los Islotes, Espiritu Santo Biosphere Reserve, Baja California, Mexico

Los Islotes is a small island at the northern end of Isla Espiritu Santo, near La Paz in the Sea of Cortez. Espiritu Santo Island and Partida Island are two beautiful desert islands, scalloped with gorgeous white sand beaches. Bird nest on their rugged slopes, and cardon cacti grow in…

Phil CollaFebruary 10, 2012

Pelicans of La Jolla Seabird Wisdom

Distance, Perspective and the Out-Of-Focus Background

I went down to La Jolla this morning to photograph brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) with my friend Garry McCarthy. My plan was to test the sharpness of my 500 with a 2x teleconverter** so I had a pretty long setup. In the course of reviewing the morning's catch, I realized…

Phil CollaJanuary 18, 2012

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

Galleries Sharks Underwater Life Underwater Photography

Stock Photo Gallery: Blue Shark Underwater Photographs

Underwater stock photos of Blue Sharks (Prionace glauca) I've updated my collection of blue shark underwater photos. Most of these blue shark photographs were taking freediving (breathhold diving) with a few friends in the open ocean near San Diego or just below the border in Mexico. In days gone by,…

Phil CollaNovember 18, 2011

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