Sonora Desert Photography Workshop

Ron NiebruggeArizona, Photos, Travel, Tucson Leave a Comment

A gray fox photographed from the blind last evening.

A gray fox photographed from the blind last evening.

My photography blind is almost done – the big windows were installed yesterday.  Much more on the blind later this week.

So with everything coming together, we will begin offering some photography options in the next couple of days – options for all levels of experience as I know some people will just want to access the facility and won’t need instruction.

However, for those who want to learn much more about nature photography, I will be offering a weekend Sonora Desert Photography Workshop April 8th and 9th, 2017.  This will be very similar to the ones I have been doing in Anza-Borrego for many years, but will be on our beautiful 10 acre property near Tucson.  We will photograph a wide range of subjects including birds, mammals, wildflowers and landscapes.  Maybe even reptiles – we saw a number of gila monsters around this time last year.  For more information, check out the link above.

Ninja Squirrel

Ron NiebruggeArizona, Photos, Travel, Tucson Leave a Comment

Antelope Ground Squirrel.

Antelope Ground Squirrel.

Pretty strong little squirrel! He would leap from the post and could just catch the edge of the feeder where he would hang and eat. I now have a new stand.

Chuparosa Wildflowers

Ron NiebruggeArizona, Photos, Travel, Tucson Leave a Comment

Chuparosa near Tucson, Arizona.

Chuparosa near Tucson, Arizona.

Last night near sunset.  I’m seeing lots of the early blooming wildflowers, namely chuparosa and fairly duster.  This is the biggest one I think I have ever seen – it was taller than I am!

Gilded Flicker

Ron NiebruggeArizona, Photos, Travel, Tucson 3 Comments

Gilded Flicker

Gilded Flicker

A gilded flicker seemed to really like his reflection in the window this morning. So I put on very wide angle lens and photographed him through the window.

Funny, I have trouble differentiating the gilded from the northern flicker, as it can be tough to see the yellow under-wing.  Not here.  🙂

Black and White Alaska

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Photos, Travel 1 Comment

Mount Benson, Seward, Alaska.

Mount Benson, Seward, Alaska.

Made a very quick, short (two nights) trip back to Seward to check on our house where we have had some boiler issues.  Seward has an amazing amount of snow this year, it looks absolutely beautiful!  Such a contrast coming from the desert!

Alaska Polar Bear Photography Tour

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Photos, Travel Leave a Comment

Polar bear this past September, Alaska.

Polar bear this past September, Alaska.

My 2017 Alaska photo tours have been full, and I hope to announce the 2018 trips soon!

However, I guide a trip for my friend Hugh that covers the whole Arctic autumn that surprisingly still has room.  The main attraction on this photo tour is polar bears, but on this particular trip we see so much more.  Including auroras, incredible autumn colors in the Brooks Range, muskox, snowy owls – I could go on.

Now I recognize many people prefer the end of the season in October because they hope to capture polar bears on snow.  I get that.  However October isn’t a guarantee of snow.  Or, you might have so much cold that the bay has iced up, and we are unable to utilize the best shooting platform, boats.

I think there are many more advantages to going at the beginning of the season and not the end – this trip is at the beginning  Here are some of the advantages:

  • Fewer photographers, and usually more polar bears as they gather in mass waiting for the capture of the first whale.
  • Longer and much more comfortable days.
  • Absolutely stunning autumn colors in the Brooks Range.  We photograph these on both the way up and way back giving us peak color in different parts of the range.  In another week or so, they will be gone.
  • Aurora Borealis photography in maybe the most comfortable conditions you will encounter for this unique event.  And, we will have aurora with autumn colors and open water for reflections.
  • Many more birds as the migration will be in full swing.  I see snowy owls on this trip ever year – I haven’t had the same success on later trips.
  • Smaller group.

I’ll be happy to answer any questions about this trip, although the actual book takes place with Hugh. Thanks!