Bay Area and North California
Read MoreBlack oystercatcher foraging in rain
A black oystercatcher looks for food on a rocky seashore in rain. It had rained all morning and a break in the weather provided the oystercatcher the opportunity to forage, but not for long.
An elephant seal pup snarls as it rests at Point Reyes National Seashore. I was visiting the area with family and came across a small group of the seals by the trail. It gave me some opportunities to photograph them at close range. The pup's relaxed demeanor suggested this was indulging in posturing and playful mock aggression.
Bamboo trunks in a Japanese garden provide an interesting abstract. Bamboos are the fastest growing plants in the world and are found throughout South and East Asia. I took this image late one fall afternoon as the sun was setting. The soft light highlights texture of the trunks amidst the green of the trees.