This was from last Saturday in the Chugach National Forest, about 12 miles from Seward, Alaska. I used two graduated neutral density filters - one on the mountain, the other for the reflection.
Sensor dust can really show in images like this where you have a uniform color as you do with the sky, and when you are stopped down, because the increased depth of field helps to show your dust spots. (more…)
Alaska State Fair, Palmer Alaska.
I would like to say I was the first to come up with the idea for really long exposures and streaking lights, but I’m far from it. It is still a fun technique to play around with at a place like this!
Richard Wong with The Non-Clamorous Side of Photography recently interviewed me with some interesting questions - you can read my responses here: Non-Glamorous Side of Photography.
Finger Lake, Wasilla, Alaska.
This was from Friday in Wasilla. We went up there for some photography, and to visit my parents and sister’s family. Ironically, Wasilla became famous on this same day when John McCain selected Sarah Palin for his running mate. I probably should have stuck around for some more photography of the area because it will probably be in demand, but it was sunny, and I was anxious to photograph landscapes back in Seward. Those should show up here in a couple of days.
I gotta say, it was almost surreal to see Sarah’s husband, Todd Palin standing up there on national TV smiling and waving to the crowd. You see I have known Todd for some 30 years - since we were kids growing up in Glennallen. Guys I hung out with drinking beer and doing other crazy things just don’t seem to grow up and appear on national TV! Well at least until now. To see him standing there with his little daughter, a girl that plays with my little niece, suddenly made the world seem very small.
I sure don’t envy what they are about to go through, but I do look forward to one day, probably many years from now, sitting down and hearing his stories!
Horned Puffin.
We have finished our updates to our website and have a new section of Puffin photos. Puffin rock! We have also updated our section of bear photos. Come to think of it, bears rock too!
In addition, we were able to migrate our all 4,970 pages of our website from the obsolete FrontPage to a more more appropriate program, Dreamweaver. What a huge relief!
Bears aren’t the only ones to hit Silver Salmon Creek for fish - its just that the bears have the right of way! When the bears approach, the fishermen back out of the river and bunch up for safety. If you hook a fish and a bear shows up, you have to cut it loose.
This little cub seemed as intrigued by the people, as the people in the bear.
We now new sections on our website for Lake Clark National Park, And Halibut Cove, Alaska.
Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.
If you have followed this photo blog much, you know I have spent a fair amount of time working the bears around Seward with a remote camera setup. Well, I thought that might provide some unique opportunities while at Lake Clark National Park, so I brought all my gear over there for my remote setup.
Wouldn’t you know it, this was the first bear we photographed, on the very first night, and he decided to beat the heck out of this perfectly innocent boat for really no apparent reason. It was right then and there I decided I wouldn’t be using my remote setup - I could see my camera and tripod turning into a really fun bear toy!
Brown Bears, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.
I didn’t get a chance to finish writing about our Lake Clark trip, so I thought I would follow up today.
To be honest, we have always traveled on our own in Alaska, with either our camper or tent, so I had mixed feelings on visiting a lodge geared just towards bear viewing, working with guides, etc. My other reservation was the cost - an all inclusive trip that includes flights, lodging, meals, boats and guides isn’t going to be cheap, especially given our short summer season. I do get that, but what I struggled with - for what a four day bear viewing trip cost, we could do a two month trip to the Lower 48 and probably come away with far more marketable material. But hey, having fun is more important than return on investment! Plus, if I could photograph puffins without the considerable expensive of flying to St. Paul, that would be a huge bonus. So now the question, where to go. (more…)
Expresso Stand in Halibut Cove, Alaska.
I thought this floating express stand was pretty cool - I guess when you don’t have any roads, you have to get creative.
M/V Danny J
Halibut Cove makes a perfect day or evening excursion from Homer, Alaska - this gives you a chance to eat lunch or dinner, and still have time to stroll the boardwalk and check out the art galleries. (more…)
Halibut Cove, Alaska.
How is this for a cool town - Halibut Cove has no roads; there is a 12 block long boardwalk, otherwise you use boats. The boardwalk provides access to one very nice restaurant, and two art galleries representing 14 local artists. In addition, the town has a floating espresso stand, and a few fancy lodges, and that is about it. How many towns can you name where the art galleries out number any other type of business by two to one?
Here in another cool thing that you probably won’t see anywhere else; One of the galleries is always open, even if the artists is out. You see she leaves the door unlocked, and has a bowl by the door where you can leave your payment for any of the art you would like to purchase - and this is a place with $3,000 originals! In a day and age where you are no longer trusted to put fuel in your tank without prepaying, I thought this was really refreshing!
Here are more of our Halibut Cove, Alaska photos.
Earlier this week I got a call from good friend and worldwide adventure extraordinaire Troy Henkels, telling me that he and a friend were going to attempt to kiteboard a bore tide in Turnagain Arm! I couldn’t miss a rare photo opportunity like that! I’m not sure if anyone has ever kiteboarded a bore tide before - ever.
For those who aren’t familiar with bore tides, I should explain. You see, Turnagain Arm has the second largest tidal swing in the world. The difference between low and high can be as much as 35 feet. Because of this big swing, when the water begins returning into Turnagain Arm after a low tide, it usually begins flowing in a large wave, sometimes as high as 6 feet tall, and moving at speeds of 10 to 15 mph. The wave in the photo had to be close to 6 feet. Almost more impressive then the size and speed of this wave is the roar of sound it creates as it moves up the Arm. (more…)
Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
I photographed this spot a little earlier in the evening, but had to run back down there after a little bit of welcomed light emerged from the clouds, right at sunset, providing a nice little glow on this stretch of coast.
Kayaking in Kachemak Bay State Park, Alaska.
Janine getting ready to paddle through a really cool cave / arch along the coast across from Homer, Alaska. We had to make numerous passes through this opening - first for photos, and then just because it was really fun! Kayaks are such a great way to slowly explore the coast, quietly and up close.
We had a great trip - I will write more about it over the next couple of days.
Here are lots more kayaking photos.
Snow patterns from the air, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.
We are heading to Halibut Cove for a few days so we won’t have web contact. If it doesn’t rain too hard, maybe I will have some photos to share next week.
Hey, today this photo blog is now two years old! And to think, I was afraid I would run out of material to post about after the first month! Today I have a bigger back log of ideas then ever before. Now if I could just create more time.
Chinooks Waterfront Restaurant, Seward, Alaska.
I did a quick assignment this week during a rare (at least this summer) sunny evening. Chinooks has wonderful owners, great food, and as you can see, a killer view!
More Horned Puffin from Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.
Brown Bear cub, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.
These guys are really cute! This is a different cub from the last post - they are really fun to watch.
Brown Bears, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.
This cute little cub seemed to really enjoy playing with a empty clam shell!
Here are more bear photos.
Horned Puffin, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.
I understand that puffin have the unique ability to catch and hold fish in their beaks, allowing them to continue to fish and capture more. Every puffin I saw with fish seemed to have at least 5!
