Southern California Photography Workshop

Ron NiebruggeAnza-Borrego, California, Miscellaneous, Photos, Travel 13 Comments

Wildflowers, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.

Wildflowers, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.

This winter I’m going to offer two weekend photo workshops in the beautiful Anza-Borrego Desert in Southern California.  You can read about all the details here:  Anza-Borrego Photo Tour / Workshop.

The timing of the announcement is perfect because over the last two days Borrego Springs has received almost an inch of rain, with more forecasted for the rest of this week.  An inch of rain my not sound like much, but that is a huge amount for this area.  This, coupled with some earlier storms all but assures us that there will be some wildflowers.  Even without wildflowers this is a wonderful area, but wildflowers can completely transform the desert.

Right after uploading the page, and before I had a chance to announce this workshop, someone spotted it on our website and has already signed up.  I only have permits for two weekends, and only for 5 people at a time, so these could fill quickly – and when they do, that will be it.  So check out the page and let me know if you have any questions!

In addition to this workshop, we also offer a number of Alaska photo tours.

Rocky Mountain National Park Sunrise

Ron NiebruggeColorado, Photos, Rocky Mountain N. P., Travel 12 Comments

Sunrise, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

Sunrise, Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

We are done converting and adjusting our photos from our end of summer and fall travels, and we should be updating our website soon, including a new section on Colorado.  Until then, I thought I would share a few more photos from that trip.

Sharp eyed viewers might spot the bull elk.

I promised to start adding the settings for each photo, and then proceeded to forget on the very next post.  This was 6 seconds at f/18 and iso 100.  I don’t remember, but I’m guessing I used a two stop soft edge graduated neutral density filter.

See more Rocky Mountain National Park pictures.

California HISTORY cover!

Ron NiebruggeCalifornia, Photos, Shameless Self Promotion, Travel 10 Comments

California History  The Journal of the California Historical Society.

California History The Journal of the California Historical Society.

I wasn’t sure what I would write about today until I made my daily walk to the Post Office and found this in the box!  It is a thrill and honor to be on the cover of such a wonderful publication.

This photo was captured along the California’s Central Coast near Big Sur a few years ago – I would love to spend some more time along the beautiful stretch of coastline.

Favorite Photos from 2009

Ron NiebruggePhotos 33 Comments

Well I thought I would continue on a theme I began last year when I posted my 10 favorite photos from 2008.  I have Jim Goldstein to thank for the idea.

Looking back on the year, I can’t believe all we did last year.  Besides a lot of time spent in Alaska, including a couple backpacking trips, we made summer and winter trips to Vancouver and Whistler, spent a couple of months in Southern California and a couple more between Colorado and Moab, Utah.  Wow, no wonder I’m tired.

Surprisingly, some of these photos haven’t been posted on the blog before.  So here we go:

Above and Below

Above / below photo of a red salmon.

Above / below photo of a red salmon.

I posted a similar photo from an earlier day, but never got around to sharing my improved efforts from a follow-up day.  I was saving them for my post on how I do remote above / below photos – you know, the one I still haven’t written.  🙂    The year before this spot was popular with bears – maybe next summer I can get the grand slam of salmon underwater, bear above!  Here is a larger version of this red salmon.

Huntington Beach Morning

Huntinton Beach, California.

Huntington Beach, California.

Here is another favorite that never made it to the blog.  This is under the Huntington Beach pier.  I loved the light, and the patterns created by the pier structure and was walking around trying different compositions when this stereotypical blonde California gal walked by me and completed the scene.  I didn’t have the nerve to ask for a release.  Here is the larger version of this Huntington Beach photo.

Colorado Color

Sneffels Range, San Juan Mountains, Colorado.

Sneffels Range, San Juan Mountains, Colorado.

I had to include a photo from Colorado, and this is probably my favorite of the bunch, but it was tough to pick because that is a beautiful state.  Here is a larger version along with my original post for this Colorado photo.

Newport Beach

Balboa Pier, Newport Beach, California.

Balboa Pier, Newport Beach, California.

I’m a sucker for great sunsets, and the Southern California coast receives more then its fair share.  This might have been the best one of the numerous ones we witnessed last winter.  Here is a larger version of Balboa Pier.

Huntington Beach

Surfer, Huntington Beach, California.

Surfer, Huntington Beach, California.

It was really fun just to watch these amazing surfers, much less photograph them.  This was at the  Katlin Pro / Am surf competition last winter.  Here is a larger photo of the surfer.

Breaching Humpback Whale

Breeching Humpback Whale, Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska.

Breaching Humpback Whale, Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska.

Just seeing such an huge animal burst out of the ocean is an incredible experience – capturing it in a photo  is a real treat.  Larger version of the humpback whale photo.

Home Sweet Home

Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.

Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska.

This is Janine at sunset taken during a wonderful backpacking trip to the Harding Icefield – a favorite nearby location for me.  Here is the  larger photo.

Canyonlands National Park, Utah.

Camping along the White Rim Trail, Canyonlands National Park, Utah.

Camping along the White Rim Trail, Canyonlands National Park, Utah.

Here is another one of those photos where the actual experience probably clouds my judgment of the photo, but 3 days of camping along the White Rim Trail was a blast!   Here is a larger version and blog post about the White Rim Trail.

Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada.

Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada.

This is Janine in one of the most colorful spots I have ever seen.  It is a secret location in the seldom visited Valley of Fire.  This larger version of Valley of Fire does this spot more justice.

Ice

Ice Patterns, Seward, Alaska.

Ice Patterns, Seward, Alaska.

You might remember this one as I just posted it on the blog a couple of days ago.  I had to have a winter photo on the list and this was one of my favorites.

Like last year, I had to leave out a lot of favorites to get the list to 10.  Like:

Baby Porcupine

Baby Porcupine

This baby porcupine, or

24 Hours Of Moab, Moab, Utah.

24 Hours at Moab crash, or

Climbing in Joshua Tree

Along with a number of photos from Vancouver, Whistler or Victoria which could have easily made the list, but I wanted to limit it to 10, so there it is!  It is fun to look back on the year, but now I can’t wait for this year!

Snowy Mountain Sunrise

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 13 Comments

Resurrection Peaks, Chugach National Forest, near Seward, Alaska.

Resurrection Peaks, Chugach National Forest, near Seward, Alaska.

Here is another photo taken from just a few steps out the front door during another beautiful morning.  This was captured last week on the same day as the photo of ice patterns.

I know, I have thousands of photos of these mountains, and have posted dozens of them here on the blog over the years, but I just can’t help myself, they are just too beautiful!  I’m sure I will take thousands of more in the years to come.