Photo of the Week #158

I just returned from a trip along the coast of California and my favorite spot had to be the Elephant Seal Rookery in San Simeon (about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles). Late January happens to be peak birthing season for these huge mammals, so the beach was densely packed with mamas, papas and their little elephant seal pups. If you find yourself driving along the California coast sometime, you should definitely set aside some time to gaze at these magnificent creatures. To learn about what you might see at the rookery throughout the year, visit the Friends of the Elephant Seal website.

Photo tech specs: Canon 5D Mark III camera, 70-200mm f4 IS lens @ 200mm, f8, 1/800th, ISO 320.

January 21, 2013: Elephant seals and their newborn pups crowd the beach in San Simeon, California.