Matanuska Glacier

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Photos, Travel 17 Comments

Matanuska Glacier, Alaska.

Sunrise at the Matanuska Glacier, Alaska.

I have been driving past this beautiful glacier since I was a youngster living with my parents in Copper Center – but, in all these years, I have never taken the extra time to actually drive down to the glacier itself.  We finally changed that last week when we camped next to the front edge of the glacier – in short, what a cool place!  Literally and figuratively of course.  Spent a lot of time hiking around and exploring, this area is really fun, I look forward to returning for more!

Even though I live just a few miles from a beautiful glacier, Exit Glacier, it was nice to be able to explore a place without the rules, signs and roped off areas that you have in a National Park.  Here, you access the Matanuska Glacier via private property, pay your fees and sign a waiver and then can be as smart or stupid as you would like.

Google +

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 14 Comments

Fireweed, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

Fireweed, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

Let me say thanks for all the nice comments on my last post.  Even though most of the comments and my responses are now gone, I was able to read them and really appreciate it.  I had a problem with an update to my blog and had to revert to a backup that was a day or two old so unfortunately I lost a lot of the comments.

By the way, this is another photo from this past week out in the amazing Chugach National Forest.  Unfortunately I didn’t get the light I did in the last photo, but I still thought it was a pretty scene.

So, as if it wasn’t hard enough keeping up with the blog, Facebook and Twitter, there now is another contender in the online social world, Google +.  I started playing around with Google + earlier this week, if you are already there let me know so that I can add you to my circle.  If you aren’t there, but are interested, let me know and I can send you an invite.  Here is my Google + page.

Looks like I may be on the road for a few days – hopefully I will have some new stuff once I return.

Chugach Lupine Sunrise

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 14 Comments

Chugach National Forest near Seward, Alaska.

Chugach National Forest near Seward, Alaska.

I looked out the window at 3:30 a.m. Saturday morning and conditions were looking pretty good for a colorful sunrise as there was a gap near the horizon to the North.  At 4:30 a.m., my lack of sleep paid off as I was rewarded with this beautiful morning!

Because the mountains extend so far to the Northwest and Northeast, we rarely see colorful sunrises or sunsets around here in the summer – the rising / setting sun just doesn’t have the needed gap to illuminate the underside of the clouds.  Our best skies usually happen in the winter when the sun is rising and setting to the South over the ocean.  What a treat!

Small Town Parade

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Photos, Travel 5 Comments

4th of July Parade, Seward, Alaska.

4th of July Parade, Seward, Alaska.

I’m sure some people find small town parades kinda hokey, but when you live in the town, the small, home town parade is cool.

False Hellebore

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Photos, Travel 8 Comments

False Hellebore, Seward, Alaska.

False Hellebore, Seward, Alaska.

Saturday morning in Seward it was cloudy with light rain and no wind – perfect conditions for close-up photography!  So I headed up Mt Marathon a ways and photographed some False Hellebore – they are such photogenic plants, especially when they first come up – after a week or two the elements really take the toll on the leaves.

Interview with Manlleu Camera Club

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Kenai Fjords, Photos, Travel 7 Comments

Sunrise in Aialik Bay, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.

Sunrise in Aialik Bay, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.

I was interviewed recently  by the Manlleu Camera Club in Barcelona Spain.  Since they asked a lot of great questions, I thought I would share a link to the interview here.  I answer questions about my typical year, the best way to sell photos and who some of my inspiration have been.  To read the interview, click on this link:  Manlleu Camera club.

Black Bears

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 8 Comments

Black bear sow in a tree, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

Black bear sow in a tree, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

So why was this black bear sow up in a tree last week?  Because she had three cute little spring cubs further up the tree above her – below is one of the three, they were sure cute!

Black bear cub, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

Black bear cub, Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

In The Field

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Photos, Travel 6 Comments

Cynthia and Susan in the Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

Cynthia and Susan in the Chugach National Forest, Alaska.

Here is a quick snap from my phone of a couple of members from the film crew I worked with last week, and will be working with some more over the summer – we had a really great time!  We spent time in Seward, Cooper Landing, Portage and Girdwood, hiking trails and photographing landscapes and wildlife.