"Nighttime Coaster Ride" Photo of the Day: August 29, 2015

This famous roller coaster is located on the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California. In order to get this shot I had to wade out into the surf to get the angle that I wanted and would wait for the coaster to come by. Being battered by the waves was not very pleasant!

Photo of the Day: July 4, 2015

Is this heaven? Spending the evening on Coogee Beach in New South Wales was a terrific way to end the daylight hours today. It was truly a visual masterpiece. Also, to everyone back in my home country of the U.S....happy Independence Day! ‪#‎photooftheday‬ ‪#‎beach‬ ‪#‎australia‬‪#‎sunset‬ ‪#‎art‬ ‪#‎photography‬

Photo of the Day: July 2, 2015

This was shot on the beach of Cape Tribulation in the Daintree Rainforest. This young mangrove grows alone in the mud, waiting for the oncoming tide to surround it with the aquatic life that will seek refuge amongst its roots. The thick mangrove forest (which was to my back while taking this photograph) acts as a buffer from the sediments that flow from the tropical rainforest, protecting the bay and its water. ‪#‎capetribulation‬ ‪#‎australia‬‪#‎daintree‬ ‪#‎photooftheday‬

Photo of the Day: June 15, 2015

Gold Coast, Australia. This photo was taken from the top of Q1, the tallest building in Australia. The way that the architecture of the city interacts with the ocean and rivers was gorgeous!

Shore Crabs

Several days ago I posted how on a recent trip to Washington State I traveled out to Whidbey Island, which is several miles off the coast, near Seattle. In that post I showed you some photos of a baby seal that I had come across, however that wasn't the only animal inhabiting these rocky beaches.
There are several species of small shore crabs in the area, and watching them scurry around the beach is very entertaining. Photographing them posed to be somewhat of a challenge as they don't sit still for very long . Though there are some larger species of crabs living along the coast of the Pacific Northwest these little crustaceans are my personal favorite due to their unique behaviors and "attitudes".

Baby Harbor Seal

While walking along a beach on Whidbey Island (which is off the coast of Washington State) I came across this cute little fellow. This is an infant Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) whom was resting among the rocks. I have to admit the his camouflage was superb and I didn't spot him until I was some 30 feet away. I quickly attached my telephoto lens to my camera (since approaching these marine mammals will stress the animal) and took these shots from a distance. The appropriate park/wildlife service was phoned and a marine mammal specialist came to observe what we had found, and to ensure that this lone little pup was kept safe from other tourists. This is hands down one of the cutest creatures I have ever seen!

Barnacle encrusted Clam Shell

 Here is one of the photos that I captured today! My visit in Washington has been nothing short of spectacular. Not only is the city of Seattle awesome but the wildlife found in the surrounding areas is extraordinary!

This photo was taken on the beach of Whidbey Island, which is off the coast of Washington, USA.

Santa Monica Pier at Night

On a recent trip to one of my favorite spots in the world (California), I got to swing by Santa Monica and decided to head down to the world-famous Pier at night. The tide was out farther than I had ever seen...almost to the end of the Pier! This made for some unique vantage points for photography. Enjoy!

P.S. The wind chill here in the outskirts of the Twin Cities here in Minnesota was -27 degrees two nights ago. I think we should all pack up and go to sunny California!

Santa Monica Beach at Sunset

If you ever get the chance to be in Santa Monica, California, make sure to stick around into the evening. Oceans provide stunning sunsets and its almost like someone flips off a light switch when the sun finally shrinks over the horizon...one moment the sun is casting its rays at the beach, the next moment its gone over the horizon, not to return until the next morning. Here are some photos that I got while visiting some relatives a while back.

Above: Gulls follow a boat in the sunset.

Below: Clam holes in the moist sand.

One last hunt for clams before the sun goes down.

A Gull watches the sun set.