Pelicans and Surf in San Diego

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Last month I had a chance to visit San Diego and spend some time photographing birds on the coast. My visit corresponded with a Pacific swell that made for some spectacular conditions for bird photography along the cliffs of La Jolla. Below are are a few images from the trip for your enjoyment.

Pelicans and Crashing Surf, La Jolla, California

On the first morning of my San Diego trip I headed down to the La Jolla Cove area at sunrise and found amazing conditions. A big Pacific swell was rolling in and crashing against the cliffs. It was very windy, which seemed to encourage the pelicans and other birds to get on the wing and cruise up and down the coast. So the conditions were ideal for flight photography. But what captivated me the most was this scene of the backlit surf breaking on the rocks, and occasionally, groups of pelicans coming toward me that I could frame with this dramatic backdrop. Note that there are three pelicans in this shot, and the upper left bird, if you look closely, is a cormorant. I have been to La Jolla many times and never seen conditions like this. It’s a great example of how repeatedly going back to photograph the same subject in different weather conditions can lead to exciting images. I am always looking for ways to add drama to an photograph and make it stand out, and including atmospheric effects like rain, snow, fog, mist, or sea spray is a great way to do that.

A Few More Shots from La Jolla, January 2024

The breaking waves created dramatic backgrounds for capturing Brown Pelicans in flight as they soared up and down the coast in the windy conditions.

January is a great time to photograph Brown Pelicans in Southern California because males take on their spectacular breeding plumage, with bright red throat skin.

The spray from a crashing wave added nice highlights to this shot of a group of Brown Pelicans preening on the cliffs.

The California Sea Lions were also enjoying the heavy surf, including these three who all caught the same wave. It was amazing to watch animals like these sea lions engaging in spontaneous play in the waves.

As always, thanks for tuning in. I hope you are finding your own opportunities to get out and enjoy nature!
Warmest regards,
Tim Laman

PS. My Bird Photography Masterclass continues to build up 5-star reviews from happy photographers. If one of your goals in 2024 is to improve your own bird photography, you can learn more about the course at https://masterclass.timlaman.com