Stanton Lanier December Peace Cover

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Photos, Shameless Self Promotion, Travel 7 Comments

Stanton Lanier December Peace Cover

Stanton Lanier December Peace Cover

Sticking with a music theme, we just received a bundle of our mail and in it was this CD by Stanton Lanier.  As I sit here in the desert in shorts and sandals, I gotta admit seeing my snowshoe tracks in winter is a little hard to relate to, but a fun reminder of our wonderful home!

For the many new followers to the blog – don’t worry, I won’t post every time we make an image sale – that would be boring.  But, I do like sharing covers because, well, I think they are fun.  So I post them from time to time under the category Shameless Self Promotion.

To Stanton – we weren’t able to get through to you on email for some reason, so just in case you see this – the cover looks great – thanks a lot, and thanks for the autographed copy.  We look forward to listening to it soon!

To learn more about Stanton, check out his website:  Stanton Lanier.

Lindsey Vonn and the Winter Olympics

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Photos, Travel 6 Comments

Lindsey Vonn (was Lindsey Kildow at the time) at the 2004 U.S. Alpine Championships at Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Alaska.

Lindsey Vonn at the 2004 U.S. Alpine Championships at Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Alaska.

I obtained a press pass and photographed the U.S. Alpine Championships 6 years ago in Girdwood.  It was a great experience.   During the week there was only a hand full of spectators along with these amazing athletes.  At the time the mens’ team was stacked with famous skiers like Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves, but on the womens’ side were a bunch of young, outgoing, energetic ladies that were relatively unknown including Lindsey Vonn (Kildow at the time) and Julia Mancuso.  Today both those ladies are Olympic gold medalist, and Lindsey Vonn is considered the best U.S. Skier ever!  I was rooting hard for them yesterday as they won gold and silver at the Olympic downhill.

I gotta admit I have always been an Olympic junkie, but this year seems extra special, probably for a few reasons.  Having photographed some of the Alpine team brings some extra attachment as did our trip to Vancouver last winter to photograph the Olympic facilities – for once the Olympic venue sights are all very familiar.  Having a huge Alaska contingency also helps – including two ladies who run in the Seward Mt. Marathon race every summer.  Finally, we found that the residents of Vancouver and Whistler to be the nicest people we have encountered in our travels, and for this reason I find myself pulling for the Canadians and want to see them host a successful Olympics.

Shorebird Love

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 9 Comments

Shorebirds, Copper River Delta, Alaska.

Shorebirds, Copper River Delta, Alaska

This flock of shorebirds nearly formed the shape of  a heart.  I captured this last spring and saved it thinking it would be a perfect post for Valentines day – not realizing it would fall on a holiday weekend.  So I thought I would post it today.  It wouldn’t take too much PhotoShop work to make it into a perfectly shaped heart, but I prefer leaving items as seen.

Actually, this tight formation of fast flying birds making constant direction changes was the result of an attacking predator.

Mt. Alice

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 12 Comments

Mt. Alice, Chugach National Forest, Seward, Alaska.

Mt. Alice, Chugach National Forest, Seward, Alaska.

This is another recent photo of Mt Alice at sunset captured this past December.  Maybe I should just call this the Mt. Alice photo blog because I post so many photos of this beautiful mountain.  🙂  Really, the subject matter here should be taking a dramatic change soon once we hit the desert and begin chasing wildflowers.

Full Moon Over Resurrection Bay

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 22 Comments

Full Moon over Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska.

Full Moon over Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska.

This was last night’s beautiful full moon rising over Mt. Alice.  The bay was as calm as a lake!

Manual exposure of 10 seconds at f/8 and ISO 400.  Canon 1DsIII and 24-105 lens at 47.

Alaska Mountain Sunrise

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 12 Comments

Sunrise over the Chugach National Forest, Seward, Alaska.

Sunrise over the Chugach National Forest, Seward, Alaska.

It has been a little while since I have posted a new photo from Seward.  Here is a recent image captured out or front door of a view that never gets old!

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.

Ice Patterns

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Photos, Travel 18 Comments

Ice Patterns, Seward, Alaska.

Ice Patterns, Seward, Alaska.

These ice patterns were on the side window of my pickup yesterday.  With the heat off, I carefully drove into position so that the sunset would back-light the patterns.  Nature can sure create some wonderful designs!