California

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

California Catalina Underwater Photography

The Primary Colors of Farnsworth Banks, Catalina Island

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

Catalina Underwater Photography

The Yellow Wall of Farnsworth Banks, Catalina Island

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

California Invertebrate Natural World Underwater Photography

Corynactis Californica, the Strawberry “Anemone”, California’s only Corallimorph

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

California Catalina Underwater Photography

Farnsworth Banks, Purple Hydrocoral, and Catalina Backside Kelp Forests

This is the fourth 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 JTNDaHIlMjAlMkYlM0U=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 had not been to Farnsworth Banks, a seamount on the backside of Catalina,…

Phil CollaJuly 21, 2021

California Catalina Underwater Photography

Catalina West End – Kelp Forests and Garibaldi

This is the third 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 JTNDaHIlMjAlMkYlM0U=JTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjIlMkZzcG90bGlnaHQucGhwJTNGaW1nJTNEMzcxNDQlMjIlMjB0aXRsZSUzRCUyMkdhcmliYWxkaSUyMG1haW50YWlucyUyMGElMjBwYXRjaCUyMG9mJTIwYWxnYWUlMjAlMjhqdXN0JTIwaW4lMjBmcm9udCUyMG9mJTIwdGhlJTIwZi4uLiUyMiUzRSUzQ2ltZyUyMHNyYyUzRCUyMiUyRnN0b2NrLXBob3RvJTJGZ2FyaWJhbGRpLWl0cy1hbGdhZS1uZXN0LXBob3RvLTM3MTQ0LTE0NTUwLmpwZyUyMiUyMGFsdCUzRCUyMkdhcmliYWxkaSUyMG1haW50YWlucyUyMGElMjBwYXRjaCUyMG9mJTIwYWxnYWUlMjAlMjhqdXN0JTIwaW4lMjBmcm9udCUyMG9mJTIwdGhlJTIwZmlzaCUyOSUyMHRvJTIwZW50aWNlJTIwYSUyMGZlbWFsZSUyMHRvJTIwbGF5JTIwYSUyMGNsdXRjaCUyMG9mJTIwZWdncyUyMiUyMHRpdGxlJTNEJTIyR2FyaWJhbGRpJTIwbWFpbnRhaW5zJTIwYSUyMHBhdGNoJTIwb2YlMjBhbGdhZSUyMCUyOGp1c3QlMjBpbiUyMGZyb250JTIwb2YlMjB0aGUlMjBmaXNoJTI5JTIwdG8lMjBlbnRpY2UlMjBhJTIwZmVtYWxlJTIwdG8lMjBsYXklMjBhJTIwY2x1dGNoJTIwb2YlMjBlZ2dzJTIyJTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJhbGlnbmNlbnRlciUyMiUyRiUzRSUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0NwJTIwc3R5bGUlM0QlMjJ0ZXh0LWFsaWduJTNBJTIwY2VudGVyJTNCJTIyJTNFR2FyaWJhbGRpJTIwbWFpbnRhaW5zJTIwYSUyMHBhdGNoJTIwb2YlMjBhbGdhZSUyMCUyOGp1c3QlMjBpbiUyMGZyb250JTIwb2YlMjB0aGUlMjBmaXNoJTI5JTIwdG8lMjBlbnRpY2UlMjBhJTIwZmVtYWxlJTIwdG8lMjBsYXklMjBhJTIwY2x1dGNoJTIwb2YlMjBlZ2dzLiUzQ2JyJTIwJTJGJTNFSW1hZ2UlMjBJRCUzQSUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyJTJGc3BvdGxpZ2h0LnBocCUzRmltZyUzRDM3MTQ0JTIyJTNFMzcxNDQlM0MlMkZhJTNFJTNDJTJGcCUzRQ==Much of the underwater terrain of Catalina Island has been bereft of kelp for…

Phil CollaJuly 11, 2021

California San Clemente Island Underwater Photography

San Clemente Island’s Kelp Forests

This is the second 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 JTNDaHIlMjAlMkYlM0U=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San Clemente Island, and in particular the southern end of the island, is where…

Phil CollaJune 1, 2021

Sierra Nevada Yosemite

Cathedral Peak and Upper Cathedral Lake at Sunset, Yosemite National Park

Cathedral Peak rising above Upper Cathedral Lake is one of the most beautiful views in all of Yosemite National Park. From the trailhead to the point on the promontory above Upper Cathedral Lake where I shot this photo is about a 9 mile round trip hike. I made it most…

Phil CollaMay 9, 2021

California Sierra Nevada

Hiking to Conness Lakes in the Hoover Wilderness, Inyo National Forest

Conness Lakes is one of my favorite hikes in the Sierra Nevada. Within just a few miles of the trailhead I can be standing in a granite cirque surrounded by 12,000-foot peaks with several beautiful glacier-fed lakes within easy reach. Alone. I try to return every few years, and managed…

Phil CollaAugust 18, 2020

Astrophotography and Night Scapes California Sierra Nevada Yosemite

Serenity Now: Yosemite’s Quietest Summer?

I recently spent four days hiking in Yosemite National Park. It was strange to be in Yosemite after being cooped up at home for four months, but Yosemite with no crowds is a gift at anytime of the year and I took advantage of it. Alone. Following are some of…

Phil CollaJuly 6, 2020

California Haiku White Mountains

Ancient Bristlecone Haiku

Ancient Bristlecone Persisting through the Eons You must be so bored Bristlecone pine displays its characteristic gnarled, twisted form as it rises above the arid, dolomite-rich slopes of the White Mountains at 11000-foot elevation. Patriarch Grove, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.Image ID: 17475Species: Bristlecone Pine, Pinus longaevaLocation: White Mountains, Inyo National…

Phil CollaMarch 8, 2020

Beautiful Views of San Diego California San Diego

Torrey Pines State Reserve and Broken Hill Sunrise

This is a great time of year to get out along the coast of San Diego: dry clear mornings, tourists are mostly gone and the sun is far enough south that we have nice long shadows well after sunrise. For 35 years I have been running, hiking and photographing Torrey…

Phil CollaOctober 17, 2019

California Carlsbad Desert San Diego The American Southwest Wildflowers

Sorry but No, 2019 Was Not a #Superbloom

It's official: 2019 was not a wildflower #superbloom. Huh? But Internet said? In spite of what was trending, 2019 in southern California was just #spring. What about #elsinore #poppypocalypse? That was an entirely predictable social media feedback loop of herd behavior. As far as the flowers themselves go however, Elsinore…

Phil CollaJuly 3, 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

Aerial Photography California San Diego

Aerial Photographic Survey of San Diego Marine Protected Areas for Lighthawk

I recently made a special flight with my pilot friend Steve Parker in collaboration with Lighthawk. Lighthawk's mission is "to accelerate conservation success through the powerful perspective of flight". On this flight, we were trying to produce new aerial images of several Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the San Diego…

Phil CollaApril 26, 2015

Astrophotography and Night Scapes Desert Joshua Tree The American Southwest

Lunar Eclipse April 4 2015 from Joshua Tree National Park

I went up to Joshua Tree National Park to watch the lunar eclipse of April 4, 2015. Photographically, I was not sure what I was going to do. I've made a series of lunar eclipse sequence images (lunar eclipse October 8, 2014 and April 14, 2014 version 2 version 3).…

Phil CollaApril 5, 2015

California Desert The American Southwest

Moonflowers – Desert Wildflowers at Night

"Moonflowers" - with a nod to my favorite rock band, and the best guitarist of all time. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and the small community of Borrego Springs contained within, have had a reasonably nice wildflower bloom this year. That's great news, since it has been awhile since the last…

Phil CollaMarch 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

San Diego

Paradise in February: San Diego

President's Weekend was nice here. The rest of the country is freezing, yup that's pretty bad. Southern California is in the midst of a bad drought and our Sierra Nevada is missing its usual snowpack which is going to hurt in the coming months, but at least the warm winter…

Phil CollaFebruary 18, 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

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