Kite Surf Pro 2013 World Championships

Ron NiebruggeHawaii, Photos, Travel Leave a Comment

Moona Whyte and Jalou-Langeree battle head to head for the world Championship.

Moona Whyte (L) and Jalou-Langeree (R) battle head to head for the world Championship.

Yesterday we watched the 2013 Kite Surf Pro World Championships held nearby at Ho’okipa Beach.  Any time you can watch the best in the world at any event, it is a treat, and this was no exception.  It is amazing what these athletes can do with a kite and surf board!  This even is scheduled over a 10 day period, but conditions came together yesterday with big waves and hard wind that the entire event was able to be completed.

2013 World Champions. Moona Whyte (from Hawaii) and Keahi DeAboitiz (Australia).

2013 World Champions. Moona Whyte (from Hawaii) and Keahi DeAboitiz (Australia).

With rows of colorful kites and fast paced action – this event was a photographers dream!

Runner up Jalou Langeree from the Netherlands having a quite moment after competing in the finals.

Runner up Jalou Langeree from the Netherlands having a quiet moment after competing in the finals.

I could post more photos including ones of the big air competition where the winner got 50 feet in the air! But, I’ll leave it at this.

Men's winner Keahi DeAboitiz.

Men’s winner Keahi DeAboitiz.

Antarctica 2014

Ron NiebruggeAntarctica, Photos, Travel Leave a Comment

A photograph is unable to capture the massive scale of Antarctica.

A photograph is unable to capture the massive scale of Antarctica.

Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris has begun to take reservations for next year’s trip to Antarctica, Actually this trip will also include the Falklands and South Georgia as well – see it all in one trip!   Check out the details:  Cheesemans’ 2014 Antarctica / South Georgia.

So who wants to join me?  This really is an amazing trip.  We work hard to maximize the amount of time either on shore, or Zodiac cruising.  I don’t think you will find a trip that spends so much time off the ship and taking in this incredible environment.  The staff is wonderful – most everyone has multiple years of experience down there.  The ice-breaker we use is extremely safe and comfortable.  There just aren’t enough adjectives to describe this experience!  For details, check out the link above or give them a call.

Mokapu Beach, Maui

Ron NiebruggeHawaii, Photos, Travel 4 Comments

Sunset at Mokapu Beach, Maui.

Sunset at Mokapu Beach, Maui.

We are getting situated and very comfortable in Hawaii – especially considering how cold it is back in Alaska right now!

On The Road Again

Ron NiebruggeHawaii, Photos, Travel Leave a Comment

Sunset, Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii.

Sunset, Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii.

Tomorrow morning begins one of my longest, businesses stretches of travel ever.  Between now and April I’m only home for about 3 weeks.  Not complaining mind you – it should be a lot of fun!

We are starting out with a month in Maui where I hope to do a lot of photography and video.  A house sitting assignment has made this possible, and I look forward to the extended time to really immerse myself into the place.  And, spend a bunch of time in the ocean!

I’m then home for a couple of days before flying to Argentina and meeting the ship to the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica as a guide for Cheeseman’s.  This will be the opposite of Maui, but just as wonderful if not more so.  I hear there is one cabin left if you want to join me. 🙂

With travel, the Antarctica trip is over a month long, then in mid January I’m home for 3 weeks before heading to the Southwest for 6 weeks.  I’ll be doing Anza-Borrego photo workshops and traveling to some other places that haven’t been determined.  Usually about now I begin promoting my Borrego workshop – this year both actually filled months ago before I even could mention them on the blog which is pretty nice.

To me, this schedule seems pretty crazy – but when I compare it with some of the guys I work with in Antarctica, I seem like a home body.  LOL  Guess everything is relative.

So, my blog posting schedule is about to become much more erratic over the next few months, and probably non-existent once I’m on the ship.  But, hopefully I’ll have lots of images and stories to share when it is all done.

Here Comes Winter!

Ron NiebruggeAlaska, Chugach, Travel, Video 2 Comments

A lot of the time I have spent in the field over the last three years has been spent creating content I haven’t been able to share here on the blog – video.

There are a couple of reasons I haven’t been able to share much of my video work.  For one, I don’t market my stock video – it all goes to an agent under an exclusive license.

In addition, I have also spent a couple of years (2011 and 2012) contributing video to be used in a new film at the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center.  I was hired to do what they called the “beauty shots”.  Lots of landscapes, wildlife time-lapse etc.  Now that the production is done (it began airing last Summer), I can share some of my work – they also had an exclusive arrangement.

So here is a short variety of Winter clips.  Some of the things I was assigned were more challenging to capture then you might think – like fresh snow blowing from trees.  As often as I have seen that happen over the years – it is hard to be set-up  and rolling before it happens.  The opening clips which go from Summer to Autumn and then Winter were a lot of fun, and something I hope to do more of in the future.

By the way, if you do get by the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center, check out the video.  I also have a number of photos on the walls of the Center, and in the Visitor Guide – I am proud of the wonderful relationship I have had with the Chugach National Forest over the years.