Wasilla Alaska

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Photos, Travel 13 Comments

Wasilla Alaska

Finger Lake, Wasilla, Alaska.

This was from Friday in Wasilla.  We went up there for some photography, and to visit my parents and sister’s family.   Ironically, Wasilla became famous on this same day when John McCain selected Sarah Palin for his running mate.  I probably should have stuck around for some more photography of the area because it will probably be in demand, but it was sunny, and I was anxious to photograph landscapes back in Seward.  Those should show up here in a couple of days. 

I gotta say, it was almost surreal to see Sarah’s husband, Todd Palin standing up there on national TV smiling and waving to the crowd.  You see I have known Todd for some 30 years – since we were kids growing up in Glennallen.  Guys I hung out with drinking beer and doing other crazy things just don’t seem to grow up and appear on national TV!  Well at least until now.  To see him standing there with his little daughter, a girl that plays with my little niece, suddenly made the world seem very small.

I sure don’t envy what they are about to go through, but I do look forward to one day, probably many years from now, sitting down and hearing his stories! 

Puffin Photos

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Lake Clark, Photos, Travel, Wildlife 8 Comments

Puffin Photos

Horned Puffin.

We have finished our updates to our website and have a new section of Puffin photos.  Puffin rock!  We have also updated our section of bear photos.  Come to think of it, bears rock too!

In addition, we were able to migrate our all 4,970 pages of our website from the obsolete FrontPage to a more more appropriate program, Dreamweaver.  What a huge relief!

Fishing Bears

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Lake Clark, Photos, Travel 4 Comments

Lake Clark National Park Fishing

Bears aren’t the only ones to hit Silver Salmon Creek for fish – its just that the bears have the right of way!  When the bears approach, the fishermen back out of the river and bunch up for safety.  If you hook a fish and a bear shows up, you have to cut it loose. 

This little cub seemed as intrigued by the people, as the people in the bear.

We now new sections on our website for Lake Clark National Park, And Halibut Cove, Alaska.

Bears and Remotes

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Lake Clark, Travel 5 Comments

Bear and Boat

Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.

If you have followed this photo blog much, you know I have spent a fair amount of time working the bears around Seward with a remote camera setup.  Well, I thought that might provide some unique opportunities while at Lake Clark National Park, so I brought all my gear over there for my remote setup. 

Wouldn’t you know it, this was the first bear we photographed, on the very first night, and he decided to beat the heck out of this perfectly innocent boat for really no apparent reason.  It was right then and there I decided I wouldn’t be using my remote setup – I could see my camera and tripod turning into a really fun bear toy! 

Alaska Coastal Bear Viewing

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Lake Clark, Photos, Travel 11 Comments

Alaska Costal Bear Viewing

Brown Bears, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.

I didn’t get a chance to finish writing about our Lake Clark trip, so I thought I would follow up today. 

To be honest, we have always traveled on our own in Alaska, with either our camper or tent, so I had mixed feelings on visiting a lodge geared just towards bear viewing, working with guides, etc.  My other reservation was the cost – an all inclusive trip that includes flights, lodging, meals, boats and guides isn’t going to be cheap, especially given our short summer season.  I do get that, but what I struggled with –  for what a four day bear viewing trip cost, we could do a two month trip to the Lower 48 and probably come away with far more marketable material.  But hey, having fun is more important than return on investment!  Plus, if I could photograph puffins without the considerable expensive of flying to St. Paul, that would be a huge bonus.  So now the question, where to go.Read More

Espresso Stand

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Photos, Travel 4 Comments

Espresso Stand Halibut Cove, Alaska

Expresso Stand in Halibut Cove, Alaska.

I thought this floating express stand was pretty cool – I guess when you don’t have any roads, you have to get creative.

Visiting Halibut Cove

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Photos, Travel 4 Comments

M/V Danny J

M/V Danny J

Halibut Cove makes a perfect day or evening excursion from Homer, Alaska – this gives you a chance to eat lunch or dinner, and still have time to stroll the boardwalk and check out the art galleries.  Read More

Halibut Cove, Alaska

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Photos, Travel 13 Comments

Halibut Cove, Alaska

Halibut Cove, Alaska.

How is this for a cool town – Halibut Cove has no roads; there is a 12 block long boardwalk, otherwise you use boats.  The boardwalk provides access to one very nice restaurant, and two art galleries representing 14 local artists.  In addition, the town has a floating espresso stand, and a few fancy lodges, and that is about it.  How many towns can you name where the art galleries out number any other type of business by two to one?

Here in another cool thing that you probably won’t see anywhere else;  One of the galleries is always open, even if the artists is out.  You see she leaves the door unlocked, and has a bowl by the door where you can leave your payment for any of the art you would like to purchase – and this is a place with $3,000 originals!  In a day and age where you are no longer trusted to put fuel in your tank without prepaying, I thought this was really refreshing!

Here are more of our Halibut Cove, Alaska photos.