Swell Photos

Breaking wave, fast motion and blur, The Wedge.
Location: The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
Image ID: 14355  

Breaking wave, Ponto, South Carlsbad.
Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 17679  

2006 Mavericks surf contest champion Grant Twiggy Baker of South Africa. Final round, Mavericks surf contest, February 7, 2006.
Location: Mavericks, Half Moon Bay, California
Image ID: 15299  

The Tree of Eons, a spectacular dendritic formation in the Bentonite Hills of Utah. Fantastic colorful sedimentary patterns, ancient Bentonite layers are exposed through erosion in the Utah Badlands. The Bentonite Hills are composed of the Brushy Basin shale member of the Morrison Formation. This layer was formed during Jurassic times when mud, silt, fine sand, and volcanic ash were deposited in swamps and lakes. Photographed just before sunrise with soft pre-dawn illumination. Aerial panoramic photograph.
Location: Utah
Image ID: 37951  
Panorama dimensions: 11000 x 15000

Carson Smith, Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf.
Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 17828  

Don Gaunder, Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf.
Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 17855  

Steller sea lions (Northern sea lions) gather on rocks. Steller sea lions are the largest members of the Otariid (eared seal) family. Males can weigh up to 2400 lb., females up to 770 lb.
Species: Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus
Location: Chiswell Islands, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
Image ID: 16977  

Cardiff morning surf, breaking wave.
Location: Cardiff by the Sea, California
Image ID: 23293  

Breaking wave, Ponto, South Carlsbad.
Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 17680  

A green wave breaking, with sunset light filtering through.
Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 19395  

Breaking wave, fast motion and blur. The Wedge.
Location: The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
Image ID: 14354  

A large, powerful wave breaks with offshore winds at the Wedge in Newport Beach.
Location: The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
Image ID: 18706  

Aerial photo of the San Rafael Reef at dawn. A fold in the Earth's crust leads to this inclined section of the San Rafael Reef, at the eastern edge of the San Rafael Swell. Clearly seen are the characteristic triangular flatiron erosion patterns that typical this formation. The colors seen here arise primarily from Navajo and Wingate sandstone.
Location: Utah
Image ID: 39787  

Breaking wave, tube, hollow barrel, morning surf.
Image ID: 19553  

Pre-Dawn over the Tree of Eons, Utah. The Tree of Eons is a spectacular geologic sight near the San Rafael Swell. Erosion has cut a "tree" through red, blue, purple and white layers of the Chinle formation. The Tree of Eons is a superb example of dendritic erosion and to really appreciate the complex fractal-like details it must be observed from above. Photographed here in the soft, predawn light, it takes on magenta, red and purple hues just before the sun reaches it. Aerial panoramic photograph.
Location: Utah
Image ID: 38027  

California Brown Pelican flying over a breaking wave.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 30364  

Breaking wave, Ponto, South Carlsbad, California.
Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 17407  

Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf.
Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 17717  

Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf.
Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 17718  

Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf.
Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 17720  

Tony Gatti, Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf.
Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 17777  

Tony Gatti, Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf.
Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 17780  

Ponto, South Carlsbad, morning surf.
Location: Ponto, Carlsbad, California
Image ID: 17854  

A wave, breaking with powerful energy, at the Wedge in Newport Beach.
Location: The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
Image ID: 16988  

A wave, breaking with powerful energy, at the Wedge in Newport Beach.
Location: The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
Image ID: 16992  

A tube, the inside of a breaking wave.
Location: The Wedge, Newport Beach, California
Image ID: 17007  

Fantastic colorful sedimentary patterns of Bentonite layers, seen as striations exposed in the Utah Badlands. The Bentonite Hills are composed of the Brushy Basin shale member of the Morrison Formation formed during Jurassic times when mud, silt, fine sand, and volcanic ash were deposited in swamps and lakes into layers, now revealed through erosion. Aerial photograph.
Location: Utah
Image ID: 37947  

Molly's Castle, aerial view, Goblin Valley State Park. Curtis Formation whiteish caprock is on top, with reddish Entrada Sandstone below, both of Jurassic era. Molly's castle lies in the San Rafael desert near Goblin Valley, and drains into the Colorado River watershed. Aerial panoramic photograph.
Location: Goblin Valley State Park, Utah
Image ID: 37950  

California Pelican flying on a wave, riding the updraft from the wave.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Image ID: 30257  

California Brown Pelican flying over a breaking wave.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 30353