© victor m maldonado

When we lived in Northern California, one of our routines during mushroom-hunting season was to pack a picnic basket with wine, cheese, pears, a baguette & other goodies & make our way up to a rhododendron forest & hunt for mushrooms. This drive took us along the beautiful banks of the Russian River to our favorite mushroom-hunting grounds. At the mouth of this river we would make it a habit to stop, stretch our legs and eat while watching these free and easy creatures — sea lions. I used my 300mm Nikon lens to photograph them. I think sea lions have perfected the art of lounging around, earning them the title of being my idols

— victor m maldonado