Snow River Valley

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 11 Comments

Snow River Valley, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

Snow River Valley, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

I captured this yesterday as a rain squall moved up the valley.  Check out the fresh snow in the mountains – it usually begins looking like that in September, not June!

Catalina Photos

Ron NiebruggeCalifornia, Photos, Travel 4 Comments

Catalina Island, California.

Catalina Island, California.

We have an entirely new section on our website of Catalina Island photos.

We really enjoyed our trip to Catalina Island and the town of Avalon last winter.  It has Southern California weather without the crowds or traffic – in fact most people who have vehicles use electric golf carts.

Long Beach California Photos

Ron NiebruggeCalifornia, Photos, Travel 7 Comments

Long Beach, California.

Long Beach, California.

Here is another brand new section to our website:  Long Beach California photos.

I gotta admit, Long Beach was a pleasant surprise.  It had been many many years since I had last visited Long Beach.  I remembered it as a somewhat dirty industrial port.  Either my memory was off, or they have made some wonderful changes to the area – probably a bit of both.  We only spent one evening there, I had hoped to return for more, but that will have to wait for a future trip.

Imperial Valley Photos

Ron NiebruggeCalifornia, Photos, Travel 4 Comments

Enterance to Slab City, Imperial Valley, California.

Entrance to Slab City, an abandoned military base that is now home to a large number of squatters, Imperial Valley, California.

We have a new section on our website of photos of the Imperial Valley, California.  This section includes photos of the Salton Sea, Salvation Mountain, Slab City and the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area – all places that I think many people might find a little unique to put it kindly.

Steller Sea Lions

Ron NiebruggeKenai Fjords, Photos, Travel 8 Comments

Steller Sea Lions

Steller Sea Lions, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.

Another photo from last week.  I really liked the colors and patterns created by the moss and lichen on the rocks.

This haul-out faces out into the Gulf of Alaska – I don’t think I have ever seen the water this calm, not even the slightest wave!

Palm Springs Photos

Ron NiebruggeCalifornia, Photos, Travel 4 Comments

Indian Wells Golf Resort

Indian Wells Golf Resort, Indian Wells, California.

Janine has now updated our website with our new photos of the Palm Springs area.

Palm Springs was one of the first communities developed in this portion of desert.  In addition, Palm Springs is also where the airport is located, so the whole area is often referred to as Palm Springs, although today it is made up of a series of smaller towns like Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, La Quinta and Palm Desert to name a few.  When I’m driving around down there, I never seem to know exactly what town I’m in.

On the local news they refer to the area as the Coachella Valley although locals don’t seem to like that name, and people outside the area probably haven’t heard of it, so for now, we will still call the area Palm Springs.  Our page has photos of most the smaller communities in the area.

In the photo above, of the public golf course, I needed to blend a couple different exposures to maintain detail in the building.  Despite being a “public” course, I was asked to leave right after taking this photo – evidently they don’t like the “public” taking picture there.

Can you find the Mountain Goat?

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Kenai Fjords, Photos, Travel 9 Comments

Cataract Cove, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.

Cataract Cove, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.

This in another photo from my time in Kenai Fjords National Park last week.  Can you spot the mountain goat?  It is amazing where these guys live!  Below is a little closer photo which will give away the  Mountain Goat’s location.

Mountain Goat, Cataract Cove, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.

Mountain Goat, Cataract Cove, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.