TIM LAMAN GEARS UP FOR THE WILD

Lowepro ambassador Tim Laman put the Pro Trekker BP 650 AW II to the test in the field, paired with Gitzo’s trusted Systematic tripod for ultimate support. Rugged carry meets rock-solid stability: the essential combo for wildlife photography. Read on to discover how he captured nature at its wildest.

The central coast of California is spectacular and diverse, and I recently had a chance to spend a few days exploring the area and its wildlife on a personal trip, from Point Reyes in the North, through the Monterey Bay area, and down to the coast of Big Sur. This wasn't a multi-week or months-long National Geographic assignment, but a family trip with just a day in each place to see what wildlife we could see. But for me, every trip is a photography trip, so of course I took along my camera to see what this famous region had to offer.

The California coast did not disappoint, and I'd like to share a few images that I captured during this short trip. Thanks to my son Russell who is also a photographer, I have some behind-the-scenes shots to share as well. This quick exploration definitely left me wanting to go back.

A FOGGY DAY IN POINT REYES

Hiking the beach at Point Reyes.

Our first location was the Point Reyes National Seashore, where we went on a beach hike to look for elephant seals. This is a breeding area for elephant seals during the winter months, but during the summer when we were there, only a small number of males going through their annual molt were likely to be there. Still, we were eager to try so see some of these behemoths. They can reach 5 meters (16 ft) long and 2300 kg (5000 lbs)!

After a long walk down the beach of Drake Bay, large forms began to materialize out of the fog. They are admittedly not the most photogenic of beasts, but with my big lens on a tripod I was able to keep my distance and wait for some action. On this beach, two males would occasionally suddenly rear up and engage in a brief altercation - and I was ready. I had never thought that the character Jabba the Hutt was very realistic, but now I see that he was clearly based on an elephant seal. A giant blob of an animal that can somehow scoot its way around on land.

Tim at the ready near the elephant seal group.

The real life Jabb the Hutt.

Capturing a brief moment of action.

Elephant seal altercation.

We knew Point Reyes was also home to remnant population of Tule Elk, one of the subspecies of elk native to California. As light was fading and fog still blanked the land, we finally spotted a magnificent bull with a full rack. I shot a few frames, but I knew this was an image that would only have impact with some artistic interpretation. This is where the ease of converting a digital image to black and white and the ability to make adjustments in the digital darkroom opens up possibilities. The frame below is the result.

Tule Elk at dusk.

OUT AT SEA IN MONTEREY BAY

Monterey Bay is famous for its marine mammal viewing. A deep canyon in the continental shelf comes close to shore here, bringing nutrients and food for whales and dolphins near the surface. We spent another foggy morning on a whale-watching trip where we saw several humpback whales, but the highlight was a very energized pod of Risso's Dolphins. There were hundreds of them, and they were racing in one direction at a top speed that our boat could barely match. Our guide was certain that they must have had an orca encounter and were fleeing the area. When photographing from a moving boat with a large lens where a tripod is not practical, I often use a monopod to keep my lens oriented in the right direction, relieve arm fatigue, and be ready for the action.

As we cruised along in parallel with the pod of surging Risso's dolphins for a few minutes, our guide excitedly shouted that he had spotted an albino individual in the group - a young dolphin known locally as Casper. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to capture an image of Casper coming up for a breath.

Several Risso's dolphins, including an albino individual, cruise Monterey Bay.

The albino Risso's dolphin know as Casper comes up for a breath near our boat.

A BIG SURPRISE IN BIG SUR!

The next day, we headed south to explore the Big Sur coastline, stopping at several points to photograph the scenic coast and see what wildlife we could spot. At one very scenic spot, I set up on the cliffs to shoot landscapes and hoping to capture some flight shots of the many Brown Pelicans that were passing by.

I didn't get any close passes by pelicans, and the gang was eager to move on (such are the limitations of a family trip), but I have photographed pelicans in flight with great success in other places like the coast further south in San Diego. So here are a couple frames. The first could have been a hand-held shot because I used a fast shutter speed to freeze the action.

Brown Pelicans soar along the California coast.

A slow-shutter image of a Brown Pelican in flight.

Driving further south along the Big Sur coast, we came to a pullout where several people were looking up at the cliffs with binoculars. We quickly pulled over and jumped out, and to our great surprise, found ourselves looking up at a wild California Condor perched on the cliff. They were once very close to extinction, down to 27 individuals in 1987, but the population was brought back from the brink by a captive breeding program and now there are more than 360 in the wild. It was very exciting to get a good view of such a rare bird in the wild!

We spent the next hour or more with cameras at the ready at this spectacular high cliff overlook. It was just the right time of day for condors to be soaring along the cliffs and scanning the beaches below for carrion. We saw several individuals in flight and were able to capture some images of North Americas largest flying bird just overhead, with its nearly 3 meter (9.5 ft) wings spread wide. It was a very rewarding climax to our California coastal safari to see these birds. And as a conservationist, it was also very heartwarming to see the successful result of all the hard work so many people put in to save this species. It shows that when there is a will, conservation efforts can succeed, and this gives me hope for the future!

Tim photographing a California Condor along the Big Sur coast.

A California Condor soars overhead with its 3 meter wingspan.

A California Condor soars along the mountains of Big Sur.

DISCOVERING COASTAL WILDLIFE

WITH THE PRO TREKKER 650

Along the rugged shores of California, where sea lions bask and pelicans dive, the Lowepro Pro Trekker BP 650 AW II proves its worth as your expedition partner. Designed for wildlife photographers who chase the most memorable encounters from dusk till dawn, it offers an expanded 80L capacity, a refined MaxFit divider system for precision gear organization, and an upgraded AW (All Weather) cover to shield against coastal mist and spray.

TIM LAMAN

Tim Laman is a field biologist and wildlife photojournalist. Tim first went to Borneo in 1987 and his pioneering research in the rain forest canopy led to a PhD from Harvard and his first National Geographic article in 1997. He has pursued his passion for exploring wild places by becoming a regular contributor to National Geographic magazine where he has published 23 feature stories.

PAUL ZIZKA

Paul Zizka is an award-winning mountain landscape and adventure photographer based in Banff, Canada. Known for his stunning images of the Canadian Rockies and beyond, Paul has been a long-time ambassador for Lowepro and Gitzo.

Zizka Photography is proud to be an official partner of the 2025 UN International Year of Glaciers' Preservation (IYGP).

To learn more about the project visit https://zizka.ca/cryophilia or @cryophilia_project on Instagram.