Busted Plans

Ron NiebruggeAnza-Borrego, California, Photos, Travel 5 Comments

Agave

Thick clouds yesterday morning gave me hope for a dramatic sunrise sky, or at least some dramatic light.  I sat in the dark trying to make out Mark and Brian through the static on the radio and waited, but the great light never developed.  The cool, dark light did seem appropriate for this Agave which I did photograph.

That’s ok, because I had planned for days for last nights eclipse.  I scouted many places – my first choice was the Pumpkin Patch with the pumpkins lite by flash light – that seemed cool, almost lunar like.  I had the time and direction recorded thanks to my GPS and a compass.  I had even tracked the moon arch through my view finder to see what focal length I would need to capture multiple exposures during the entire eclipse (35mm by the way).  But, unfortunately this evening brought wind and blowing sand, clouds and even a little rain. 

 It seems like most extended trips are that way.  I will scratch and claw for a few images, and then all of a sudden a day will come along where everything comes together and I get a bunch of images.  I guess the old 80/20 rule holds true even for photography.

Desert Lily

Ron NiebruggeAnza-Borrego, California, Photos 5 Comments

Desert Lily

Desert Lily, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California.

One of the better areas right now is along Henderson Canyon Road.   The Desert Lily is a beautiful flower with almost a prehistoric look to it.  Along with the pink Desert Sand Verbena seen here, there was also plenty of Dune Evening Primrose.  Numerous Lupine and other Desert Lily were just starting to sprout and should be blooming in this area in the weeks to come.

Hellhole Canyon Trail

Ron NiebruggeAnza-Borrego, California, Photos, Travel 5 Comments

Maidenhair Falls, Hellhole Canyon Trail, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.

Maidenhair Falls, Hellhole Canyon Trail, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.

More water than this pours off our roof on a typical summer day in Alaska, but to see a little waterfall like this in this desert environment is really a treat!  It just seems so out of place, it is fascinating. 

This waterfall is found at the end of the Hellhole Canyon Trail.  This trail beginsRead More

Green!

Ron NiebruggeAnza-Borrego, California, Photos, Travel 4 Comments

Green!

Cactus from today in Anza-Borrego State Park, California.

After spending many months in a black and white world – winter in Alaska – seeing anything green just look amazing! 

Speaking of green, many area of Anza-Borrego are really green right now – and they received another half an inch of rain here just yesterday!  Even before yesterday’s rain, this was reported in the Borrego Sun;

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Ranger Steve Bier reported the area is “certainly looking good” for a spring wildflower crop, he said predicting it could arrive as early as late February.  Some plants in Borrego Palm Canyon, he said are just “waiting to go”.

I must admit, we are here a bit early, I saw very few flowers today – but you can tell there should be some great areas showing in the next few weeks!

New Computer – Falcon Northwest

Ron NiebruggeCalifornia, Miscellaneous, Photos, Travel, Wildlife 12 Comments

Quail

I had always heard that best way to bring attention to a blog is to write something controversial.  Little did I know, my decisions to replace my digital darkroom with a PC instead of a Mac might be controversial, but 24 comments and a bunch of links later, it was by far my most active posting.  There actually was a lot of valuable feedback in that post from many people and I really appreciate it. 

So now that I have used my new Falcon Northwest digital darkroom for a few weeks, I thought I better provide an update to that threaed.  And since I’m sitting on a plane – what a perfect time to write!Read More

Good Bye Alaska Winter

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 5 Comments

Alaska Winter

Looking into the Chugach National Forest near Seward, Alaska.

We are hitting the road today with mixed feelings.  I must admit, it is kinda tough to leave Alaska this winter because it has been such a beautiful one.  I don’t know how many feet of snow we have received, but it is many, and now the days are getting longer, it is really nice here right now!

But, it is really nice in the desert right now as well.  It sounds like it is going to be a good year for desert wildflowers, and we are going to enjoy the warm weather!

We break our travel up over two days, and then have a couple of days visiting family and getting everything together, so we should be arriving in Anza-Borrego State Park south of Palm Springs, California by Friday.  Many people have asked, and yes I will definitely be providing plenty of desert wildflower updates, including the locations of the best blooms here on the blog. 

We plan to spend a month in the Borrego area – the lower Sonoran Desert blooms first, and then we will move to Arizona to a place outside of Phoenix for another month – hopefully hitting that bloom at the perfect time as well.

Hidden Falls, Grand Teton National Park

Ron NiebruggeGrand Tetons, Photos, Shameless Self Promotion, Travel, Wyoming 2 Comments

Hidden Fall, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Hidden Falls, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.

This photo is also part of the Nature Valley ad campaign for Los Angeles and Orange County, California – this image will be appearing on bus shelters in the area over the next couple of months.

You might remember this images from last summer, it was from the Hidden Falls Trail in the Grand Tetons.