One of the more intriguing visual phenomenon is seeing a giant moon on the horizon. One might think that there is some physical explanation as to why the moon is larger when low on the horizon, but its actually a visual illusion where your brain is playing a trick on you. This illusion is aptly called the “Moon Illusion“. This illusion is incredibly well explained in the following video: So how do people

Stormy sunsets on the coast never cease to amaze. I consider myself quite lucky to live so close to amazing coastal scenery.  As I gaze out to such dramatic scenes I can’t help but think of artists before me who defined the west coast tradition of photography. With such huge footprints to follow in I always think to the following quote: …to photograph a rock, have it look like a rock, but be more than a r

Few would argue that one of the cutest sea mammals around are Sea Otters. Whether they’re grooming, using tools to crack open shellfish to eat or just warming themselves in the sun Sea Otters seem to have an eternally cute appearance. As Sea Otters rest in rafts you never know what pose they might take. The rare combination is the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” pose between neighboring o

Fast food has an altogether different meaning for Sea Otters. Voracious they’re almost always hunting and clams are among their favorite quick meals. This photo was captured shortly after the clam was pounded with a rock… a common sight to see. Sea Otters make fast work of shellfish, so shortly after this the hunt was on for another meal. In all the time I’ve been photographing Sea Otters this was o

In 2009 I was very fortunate to have had some incredible photo opportunities. Selecting my best photos from this past year was much more difficult than choosing my best photos of 2008 and 2007. After taking the time to review the best of the tens of thousands of photos I took this year I narrowed my choices down to the best 50, then best 25 and finally down to these 10 best photos. To view higher resolution versions

I can’t help but think nature is an exhibitionist and as a photographer that makes me a voyeur. This is particularly true when I think of the raw beauty of Point Lobos. The landscape, the trees, the rocks and the coastline beam, impossible to take your eyes off. Truly an inspirational location where you’ll find beauty right underfoot, if you can divert your attention from the larger magnificent scenery. C

The diversity and relative abundance of wildlife here in Northern California is one of the many qualities of this area that attracted me to call this location home. With the thought of “abundance” in mind I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend with family sharing good food and creating lasting memories. Even at this time of year birds have their feasts, rather than being feasted on, as is eviden

The only time California Sea Otters seem to take a break from eating is when they’re resting in a raft. While sea otters will eat independently they will cluster together when they rest. This photo is a perfect example of this behavior.  Joining in a raft provides them the ability to groom, sleep and warm their hands in feet. As you finish eating your Thanksgiving dinner this weekend make like the Sea Otters