At the turn of the last century, a very forward thinking man made some prophetic comments regarding Alaska’s beauty and economic future in these compelling remarks:
“The Alaska coast is to become the show-place of the earth, and pilgrims, not only from the United States, but from far beyond the seas will throng in endless procession to see it. Its grandeur is more valuable than the gold or the fish or the timber, for it will never be exhausted.”
~ Henry Gannett, The Harriman Alaska Expedition 1899
Since then, the beauty of Alaska’s landscape has provoked an ever increasing source of income as pilgrims from far beyond the seas are indeed coming to visit and take in its sights. Nature is a powerful lure, especially in the raw and rugged form found in the 49th state.
However, Alaska’s nature is not a strong enough lure to compete with Sarah Palin, (one of Alaska’s personality stars and recently self-extracted politicians) at least when it comes time to pasting something on your wall. The shoppers in Fairbanks have chosen a 12 month wall calendar of Sarah Palin over an Interior Alaska Nature calendar by a 50% margin. This is interesting, odd, funny and scary all at the same time. I have never known, nor expected that a calendar of a politician would sell off the store racks. Twelve months of viewing the same person’s head? I would have said – no way. You have really got to like the view. But, these are odd times indeed. I guess as a general rule, my philosophy has been to have lots of windows to minimize your wall space. And for that little wall space available you can choose from a myriad of calendars out there on every possible subject. Winnowed down to the two top sellers at a Fairbanks outlet, you have a choice between hair or nature to look at every single day. And so far hair wins!
By this point, if you are like most of the public, you are probably feeling 50% more curiosity about what’s inside that Palin calendar than you are my boring nature calendar. Unfortunately, I can’t offer you an inside look at her calendar but you can take a peek at some of interior Alaska’s nature scenes here. Not even the prophetic Henry Gannett would have predicted this!
That is rather bizarre Patrick. Last year it made some sense because of the timing and the fact that Judy Patricks Palin calendar was of much higher quality in both photography and printing. Hopefully as it gets closer to Christmas people will be thinking of beauty more and politics less.
PS Is that you in the Kayak/Iceberg shot in the new Alaska Magazine Calendar? Nice shot.
Calvin,
I’m unaware of the shot in the Alaska Magazine Calendar, must be an agent stock sale. If it is the one that I’m thinking of, it is not me…red kayak? I’d like to connect about your plans for visiting warmer climates…
Patrick
Maybe there is a compromise. If people could see Sarah embracing the landscape by discovering her hiking in the forest sporting a pair of antlers. Better yet, have Ron Paul be the naturalist guide that could lead people to view, at a safe distance, this newly found species.
Just think of the untapped demographic that would flock to Alaska for a chance to witness this spectacle, not to mention all the new photo ops. Calendar sales with type of content would exponentially fly off the charts
Komrads, we in Russia can see Sarah’s new calendar from the Motherland. It is unfortunate that her cover as a Soviet sleeper agent has been exposed. Regardless, our mission at making political inroads and irrelevant news will continue to ensure that she will be elected the next President of the Confederate States of Amerika.
Steve, Since the VP nomination, Alaskans are seemingly more strongly situated on their positions either for or against Palin, be it her personal life or politics. On nature I can comment. On political figures, and Sarah Palin in particular, I’ll leave that to the mud throwing pundits and talking heads that pound the common listener with innumerable and incessant words, from both sides of the courtroom. How about a Ron Paul calendar? He has the beautiful and terrible disease of idealism. Wait, I thought I wasn’t going to comment on politics. Ahh yes, it is beautiful outside with fresh fallen snow decorating the still tree branches that so faithfully salute good old America.
Hey Pat, I’d rather have your nature calender any day. I for one have no interest in having anyone’s face hanging on my wall all year, let alone my own. I am not surprised however at one, Sarah thinking herself a suitable subject for an entire calender, and two, folks fascination and curiosity with drama queens, er certain political figures. I was just in Maine and almost bought an organic gardening calender, but thought I’d rather have your beautiful photos of Alaska instead, of which I can never see enough. Anyways, hoping to see you at some of the upcoming holiday meals. Emily
Emily,
Nature is a tonic good for all of us hominids. And so are your delectable goods. I look forward to the sociabilities of the upcoming solstice season. Hope we can connect soon.
Palin over your photography? The world must have gone totally nuts! Your pics are magnificent. (Kat – Melb. Aust)
Kat, thanks, let nature win 🙂