2015 Favorites
Thank you 2015 for a great year of travel and adventure. Here are some pics that reflect favorite sights and experiences this past year. All the best for 2016!
Big Spaces, Wild Places
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you may be aware that every October I co-guide photo tours to Alaska’s Arctic in search of all things “Alaska Special,” with a focus on the northern lights, polar bears and Arctic wildlife. I just returned from the first trip and leave tomorrow for the next one.…
Grizzly Bears of Alaska
The children’s book I collaborated on with Debbie Miller, Grizzly Bears of Alaska, was released in late March and has sold out of the hard copy (although I have a few left). With the good reception of that book, we are working on another idea that I’m not free to share at the moment, but…
Wolf on the run
Close encounters with wild wolves in the arctic are rare. I’ve had a few serendipitous ones during my travels and photography ventures but the most recent one offered some very close up views. This wolf happened to be walking along the snow covered tundra north of the Brooks Range, very close to the road. What…
Muskox qiviut
Muskox shed their amazing qiviut (hair) in the spring and it can be found in small clusters in the branches of tundra vegetation. I’ve got a big bag full that I’ve gathered over the years and someone graciously offered to spin a few balls of yarn from which I plan to have a warm hat…
Crabeater seals on ice
The voyages to Antarctica are lengthy and adventurous. The direct route there from the southern tip of Argentina in a large ship is about a two days, and longer if you visit South Georgia Island along the way. Once at the Antarctic Peninsula, daily visits are made to shore at a number of different locations.…
Field experiments with Canon 200-400
After returning from yet another fantastic photo tour in Alaska’s Arctic–which always produces interesting photo opportunities–I am reviewing a few test shots with Canon’s 200-400 f/4. I’ve been curious how the lens will perform using both the built in 1.4x and then adding another external 1.4x. This shot was taken while a very friendly red…
Beautiful polar bear
Having just returned from a fantastic photo tour in Alaska’s Arctic, I’m off for another duplicate journey. I was co-guiding the trip with my friend and colleague Hugh Rose, and all 8 of the tour guests came back with great pictures of the aurora borealis, arctic wilderness, polar bears, caribou and more. I wanted to…
Sable Pass, Denali National Park
Sable Pass is the first of four, nearly 4,000 ft. (1,292m) mountain passes that you cross on the 90 mile stretch of Denali Park Road. I took this picture in August while visiting the park during a very cloudy and rainy period. Denali looms off in the clouded mountain background, not visible in this picture.…
Grizzly bear book
I’ve been collaborating with a friend and colleague on a children’s book on Alaska grizzly bears. The cover image was selected by the publisher, and the choice was not a big surprise since it is one of my all time best selling wildlife stock photos. While the bear cub sitting on the mother’s back is…