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Omaha doesn’t give photographer Isaiah “Frosty” Niemann access to the oceans where he captures dramatic images of huge waves and the surfers who ride them. So when he’s here, he takes wedding photos or family portraits.
But when clients hire him to photograph and film them surfing on big waves, he travels to popular surfing sites around the world.
![Isaiah "Frosty" Niemann](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/0c/e0c0c000-8552-5b95-af5f-60eadfe77489/636ff445d4d75.image.jpg?resize=150%2C186 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/0c/e0c0c000-8552-5b95-af5f-60eadfe77489/636ff445d4d75.image.jpg?resize=200%2C248 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/0c/e0c0c000-8552-5b95-af5f-60eadfe77489/636ff445d4d75.image.jpg?resize=225%2C279 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/0c/e0c0c000-8552-5b95-af5f-60eadfe77489/636ff445d4d75.image.jpg?resize=300%2C372 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/0c/e0c0c000-8552-5b95-af5f-60eadfe77489/636ff445d4d75.image.jpg?resize=400%2C496 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/0c/e0c0c000-8552-5b95-af5f-60eadfe77489/636ff445d4d75.image.jpg?resize=540%2C670 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/0c/e0c0c000-8552-5b95-af5f-60eadfe77489/636ff445d4d75.image.jpg?resize=640%2C794 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/0c/e0c0c000-8552-5b95-af5f-60eadfe77489/636ff445d4d75.image.jpg?resize=750%2C930 750w)
Niemann was stationed in California and Hawaii during his time in the Marines.
Niemann, 27, was born in Seward and grew up in South Carolina — away from the coast.
“I didn’t really grow up in the ocean environment,” he said.
Photography came first.
Niemann bought a digital camera at a Best Buy to document his time in the Marines.
Then came surfing. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton in California for five years.
“The thing that got me with surfing is the peacefulness of being disconnected from society,” he said. “When you’re out surfing, you’re by yourself. It’s all about you and the ocean. You’re not competing with anything else. You’re just enjoying the ride.”
![Pipeline](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a4/4a4f0c3f-49b3-50a6-9821-dc3403a85cec/636ff4474343a.image.jpg?resize=150%2C74 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a4/4a4f0c3f-49b3-50a6-9821-dc3403a85cec/636ff4474343a.image.jpg?resize=200%2C99 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a4/4a4f0c3f-49b3-50a6-9821-dc3403a85cec/636ff4474343a.image.jpg?resize=225%2C112 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a4/4a4f0c3f-49b3-50a6-9821-dc3403a85cec/636ff4474343a.image.jpg?resize=300%2C149 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a4/4a4f0c3f-49b3-50a6-9821-dc3403a85cec/636ff4474343a.image.jpg?resize=400%2C198 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a4/4a4f0c3f-49b3-50a6-9821-dc3403a85cec/636ff4474343a.image.jpg?resize=540%2C268 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a4/4a4f0c3f-49b3-50a6-9821-dc3403a85cec/636ff4474343a.image.jpg?resize=640%2C317 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a4/4a4f0c3f-49b3-50a6-9821-dc3403a85cec/636ff4474343a.image.jpg?resize=750%2C372 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a4/4a4f0c3f-49b3-50a6-9821-dc3403a85cec/636ff4474343a.image.jpg?resize=990%2C491 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a4/4a4f0c3f-49b3-50a6-9821-dc3403a85cec/636ff4474343a.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C513 1035w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a4/4a4f0c3f-49b3-50a6-9821-dc3403a85cec/636ff4474343a.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C595 1200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a4/4a4f0c3f-49b3-50a6-9821-dc3403a85cec/636ff4474343a.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C661 1333w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a4/4a4f0c3f-49b3-50a6-9821-dc3403a85cec/636ff4474343a.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C732 1476w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a4/4a4f0c3f-49b3-50a6-9821-dc3403a85cec/636ff4474343a.image.jpg?resize=2008%2C996 2008w)
Ian Walsh surfs at the Pipeline on the north shore of Oahu.
In his free time, Niemann started working as an intern at a surf shop, learning how to make boards.
His hobbies crossed paths when a friend asked Niemann to take photos of him surfing.
It snowballed from there, with more friends asking for photo shoots. It morphed into a side business.
He was later stationed in Hawaii. By then, he was an avid surfer, going out almost daily. He bought waterproof housings for his camera and took it out swimming to take photos on the water.
In many places, Niemann had to swim to take photos because watercraft aren’t allowed. When he can use watercraft, he goes with a Jet Ski.
![Banzai Pipeline](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b1/2b1a4df2-e647-513a-a319-fc1cd3aa97e2/636ff446b5826.image.jpg?resize=150%2C95 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b1/2b1a4df2-e647-513a-a319-fc1cd3aa97e2/636ff446b5826.image.jpg?resize=200%2C126 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b1/2b1a4df2-e647-513a-a319-fc1cd3aa97e2/636ff446b5826.image.jpg?resize=225%2C142 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b1/2b1a4df2-e647-513a-a319-fc1cd3aa97e2/636ff446b5826.image.jpg?resize=300%2C190 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b1/2b1a4df2-e647-513a-a319-fc1cd3aa97e2/636ff446b5826.image.jpg?resize=400%2C253 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b1/2b1a4df2-e647-513a-a319-fc1cd3aa97e2/636ff446b5826.image.jpg?resize=540%2C341 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b1/2b1a4df2-e647-513a-a319-fc1cd3aa97e2/636ff446b5826.image.jpg?resize=640%2C405 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b1/2b1a4df2-e647-513a-a319-fc1cd3aa97e2/636ff446b5826.image.jpg?resize=750%2C474 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b1/2b1a4df2-e647-513a-a319-fc1cd3aa97e2/636ff446b5826.image.jpg?resize=990%2C626 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b1/2b1a4df2-e647-513a-a319-fc1cd3aa97e2/636ff446b5826.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C654 1035w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b1/2b1a4df2-e647-513a-a319-fc1cd3aa97e2/636ff446b5826.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C759 1200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b1/2b1a4df2-e647-513a-a319-fc1cd3aa97e2/636ff446b5826.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C843 1333w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b1/2b1a4df2-e647-513a-a319-fc1cd3aa97e2/636ff446b5826.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C933 1476w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/b1/2b1a4df2-e647-513a-a319-fc1cd3aa97e2/636ff446b5826.image.jpg?resize=1811%2C1145 2008w)
A rainbow over a wave at Banzai Pipeline in Oahu, Hawaii. Niemann combined his passion for photography with his love of surfing.
Niemann got serious about big surf photography about a year ago in Hawaii after he started swimming a stretch of coast known for big waves called the Pipeline on the north shore of Oahu.
On a whim, he decided to visit a big wave surf break known as Jaws off Maui’s north shore. It’s known for producing some of the biggest waves in the world.
Big wave surfing is done on waves that range from 20 to 80 feet high. Typical surfing is done on waves that range between 2 and 6 feet, Niemann said.
“It’s kind of like grabbing an electric fence,” he said. “You’re holding on for dear life, but trying to enjoy the excitement of it.”
Niemann surfs big waves, too. Because it can be dangerous, he has undergone lifeguard training and big wave rescue certification.
![Maui wave](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e54fdc-2a0c-5b54-94c0-b765edea2a9f/636ff445602ee.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e54fdc-2a0c-5b54-94c0-b765edea2a9f/636ff445602ee.image.jpg?resize=200%2C133 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e54fdc-2a0c-5b54-94c0-b765edea2a9f/636ff445602ee.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e54fdc-2a0c-5b54-94c0-b765edea2a9f/636ff445602ee.image.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e54fdc-2a0c-5b54-94c0-b765edea2a9f/636ff445602ee.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e54fdc-2a0c-5b54-94c0-b765edea2a9f/636ff445602ee.image.jpg?resize=540%2C360 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e54fdc-2a0c-5b54-94c0-b765edea2a9f/636ff445602ee.image.jpg?resize=640%2C427 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e54fdc-2a0c-5b54-94c0-b765edea2a9f/636ff445602ee.image.jpg?resize=750%2C500 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e54fdc-2a0c-5b54-94c0-b765edea2a9f/636ff445602ee.image.jpg?resize=990%2C660 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e54fdc-2a0c-5b54-94c0-b765edea2a9f/636ff445602ee.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C690 1035w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e54fdc-2a0c-5b54-94c0-b765edea2a9f/636ff445602ee.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800 1200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e54fdc-2a0c-5b54-94c0-b765edea2a9f/636ff445602ee.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C888 1333w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e54fdc-2a0c-5b54-94c0-b765edea2a9f/636ff445602ee.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C984 1476w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3e/43e54fdc-2a0c-5b54-94c0-b765edea2a9f/636ff445602ee.image.jpg?resize=1763%2C1175 2008w)
Omaha photographer Isaiah “Frosty” Niemann, an avid surfer, also has caught more than his share of waves with a camera. This photo shows Paige Alms off Maui’s north shore. In January, he’s heading to Ireland to film a surfer from the United Kingdom.
Being on the water is a major adrenaline rush, he said.
“You get to see the power of the ocean firsthand and see that you’re just a small piece. It can be very dangerous and beautiful at the same time,” Niemann said.
Niemann traveled back to Omaha from Hawaii with his then-fiancée, Dana, for their spring wedding. He ended his military service earlier this year, and the couple moved back to Omaha, where Dana’s family lives.
Frosty Photo has become Niemann’s full-time job. Dana Niemann works for the business, too, taking care of all of the logistics and travel arrangements.
![Pyramid Rock](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/18/518c3ad9-557f-5150-93b7-2324ac3be2f9/636ff446111b8.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/18/518c3ad9-557f-5150-93b7-2324ac3be2f9/636ff446111b8.image.jpg?resize=200%2C134 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/18/518c3ad9-557f-5150-93b7-2324ac3be2f9/636ff446111b8.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/18/518c3ad9-557f-5150-93b7-2324ac3be2f9/636ff446111b8.image.jpg?resize=300%2C201 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/18/518c3ad9-557f-5150-93b7-2324ac3be2f9/636ff446111b8.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/18/518c3ad9-557f-5150-93b7-2324ac3be2f9/636ff446111b8.image.jpg?resize=540%2C361 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/18/518c3ad9-557f-5150-93b7-2324ac3be2f9/636ff446111b8.image.jpg?resize=640%2C428 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/18/518c3ad9-557f-5150-93b7-2324ac3be2f9/636ff446111b8.image.jpg?resize=750%2C501 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/18/518c3ad9-557f-5150-93b7-2324ac3be2f9/636ff446111b8.image.jpg?resize=990%2C662 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/18/518c3ad9-557f-5150-93b7-2324ac3be2f9/636ff446111b8.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C692 1035w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/18/518c3ad9-557f-5150-93b7-2324ac3be2f9/636ff446111b8.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C802 1200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/18/518c3ad9-557f-5150-93b7-2324ac3be2f9/636ff446111b8.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C891 1333w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/18/518c3ad9-557f-5150-93b7-2324ac3be2f9/636ff446111b8.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C987 1476w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/kpvi.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/18/518c3ad9-557f-5150-93b7-2324ac3be2f9/636ff446111b8.image.jpg?resize=1761%2C1177 2008w)
Isaiah Niemann photographed a barrel wave at Pyramid Rock in Hawaii. Niemann, who lives in Omaha, photographs big wave surfing.
The “Frosty” moniker is a childhood nickname. As a kid, he would stockpile Wendy’s Frosty coupon books so he could eat as many of the frozen treats for free as he could.
In January, he’s heading to Ireland for three months to film a 12-part series for a surfer from the United Kingdom.
“I would say the best thing about photography is being able to share my experiences and these magical moments with the ocean with other people,” Niemann said.
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Justine Bassen of Lincoln directs signs toward passing motorists during the Lincoln Women’s March on Saturday.
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