UPDATE: Images from this entire shoot are now on my website: Arrigetch Peaks photos.
I chose a handful of landscape photos from my recent backpacking trip into the Arrigetch Peaks. The dramatic granite spires are situated in the Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska’s Brooks range mountains. All but two of these images are single exposures, processed in Lightroom. The dynamic range capability within one RAW file, when properly exposed for the scene, is remarkable.
INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL!!! What a trip!!!
Thank you Tim, it was an outrageous trip indeed.
Well, everything came together on this trip….oh Patrick! What a majorly productive trip…you should continue adding these non-solo trips more often! I am absolutely feeling it there with #10. I finally got a great ND and am debating getting the 14-24mm for those shots I cannot get with vanilla banilla 17-35mm. can’t wait to read your pre-shot thoughts and post-processing techniques. Still LOVE your work and art.
Sue,
Thanks, I’ll discuss some of the shooting and processing issues in later posts. If you can believe it, I left my ND filter at home. A major bummer. I ended up compromising by using ISO 50 and a polarizer, which sort of worked, but it would have been fun to use the ND.
yes, i read that in an earlier post and was going to smartly ask if it was one thing you regretted not bringing attempting to save on weight strategically, but I know better! can’t wait to read more Yoda!
After looking at hundreds of your images, I didn’t know how much more you could do to top the shots you’ve already taken. Then I see these. Stunning is an understatement. The 1st camping image is a classic. Never would have thought to frame that way but that type of imagination is what sets you apart from the rest of us. Having returned from last months trip to McNeil, you have given me many ideas of other beautiful spots to visit on my next years trip to Alaska. For those us us who don’t live where you do, keep sending your art work for us to admire. Have a great weekend!
Some great work Patrick. Makes we want to be there (though I doubt I could make such a trip with a 60 pound pack and all the hiking, but I can imagine anyway). What a fabulous and pristine area.
Any idea yet if you’ll be rejoining the crew in the southern hemisphere at the end of the year? I decided to head back myself (despite all the seasickness – I hope Ross’ ideas will help out on that front).
photo 8 has got to be my favorite….with the peaks profiled in front of the clouds.
Bruce, Thanks for your overly generous reference to my work. Glad your McNeil trip was a luring taste of Alaska. I’m off to Denali park for a few days, let’s see what unfolds there…
Mark,
Doubtful on the end of the year trip, at this point anyway, but not final yet. Shore up for that sea sickness!!!
Dan, You would dig that place, its Radical.
#16 OF 35 IS MY FAVE! The crystal clear water coupled with the reflection of the mountains is Incredible! Patrick you are on the cusp of being one of America’s Best Nature photographers-seriously you rock!
Patrick,
Outstanding – and Good Morning America calls Sleeping Bear Dunes the most beautiful place in America! Remember I even live in Michigan, and it is truly breathtaking, however, I think they forgot Alaska is now a state!
Pat, once again it appears that Alaska’s trove of wonders is deeper than ever. Thanks for sharing this glorious stuff with us.
Terry,
I’ll have to get the scoop on the Sleeping Bear Dunes. And you will have to get back up here one of these years.
Mark R,
You are very welcome. I’m still coming your way from some troves of that continent.
Chuck, Sue and Dan,
Thanks for sharing your favorite, it always interesting to get other peoples visual preferences.
I have to tell you Patrick, photo 12 is my absolute favorite photo. It represents absolutely everything I am looking and wishing for in Alaska right now, I can’t wait to be there and experience this myself! I’ve looked at it tens of times now, and every time I see it it reminds me of my goal. Thank you for inspiring and reminding me!
Inge,
I’m glad to hear that such an image would invoke your dreams and desires about an experience in Alaska.
Are those 5 Colorado College students in photo 28 you meant on a recent trip? If so, one is my daughter. The photos are absolutely stunning.
Indeed they are Diane,
What a great adventure they were on! Are they back yet? I was hoping to make contact with the “Arrigetch Five” I was jealous of their journey and would like to hear how things went. I have a bunch of cool photos of them.
Hey Patrick
Is #25 the one you mentioned of someone from my group? I’ll pass it on if you don’t mind.
The day we flew out you must’ve had the most productive day up there .. that morning was absolutely gorgeous.
That’s quite a scramble up to the back end of the Lakes valley, eh? Bit of a mission, but so worth it.
Excellent stuff.
#12 you camped almost right where my tent had been a few days earlier. 🙂
Cheers
Carl
Carl,
It was serendipitous to meet you in such an exotic landscape. We did have some good weather, unfortunately two cloudless days, which do not sit well for a landscape shooter, but better then full on rain. #25 is my friend perched on the rock. And yes, thanks for the correction on that, the Aquarius valley is the one over with the lakes. I’ll make that caption correction. The wind died down on the 4th lake for me, for about 15 min, which was quite amazing. The hand stand-I used to play at gymnastics. Where did you end up going on the final days?
Hey Patrick
Man, I’d much rather 2 cloudless days than that socked in nasty crap we had for a few days there.
I went all the up Aquarius to the end, then up that granite wall to the right to another lake and the glacier up there. That would be an awesome bivy, in good weather. I’ll post a picture later of the view back down Aquarius from there.
Do you have the shot you mentioned of someone in our group? Even if it’s not a keeper, I’d love to pass it along.
We went down, to Circle Lake, and got picked up on the most gorgeously sunny morning of the trip. Then flew to Bettles, where a local lady got mauled by a dog and had to get a medi-vac out to Fairbanks. Exciting stuff.
I didn’t know you were a gymnast. My dad was a bit of a gymnast as well; he used to win bets against local drunks at the pub, racing them down the street, he on his hands them on their feet. Aussies are crazy like that.
Cheers
Carl
Carl, Agreed on the sun over the socked in clouds for sure. I wanted to climb up to that last lake, but ran out of time. It must have been a great view down the valley from there. It is tricky lighting in there due to the immense shadows. I too would love to camp up in that valley, it could be wonderful or terrible depending on conditions. I don’t think I have a shot of someone in your group. I mentioned it would have been a great shot, but I was berry picking and did not have my camera! The place is worth a return visit, but foreboding weather could be intimidating compared with the good lot that we had this time around. Bush Alaska is always exciting in some fashion. On our final day, we raided our food cache at the gravel bar, and sat in the sun for 10 hours waiting for the evening flight. Dirk gave a flightseeing joy ride over the peaks on the way home. Outrageous views, but I like it better from the ground. Please share some pics, I’d love to see.
Patrick, The Arregetch Five are back at school and had a great trip. I’ll have Karen get in touch with you.
Diane
Dude, awesome photos! Where did you guys fly into when you got dropped off?
Philip,
I flew in with Coyote Air and hiked up Arrigetch creek. I’ll be blogging about that soon, but they can get you to the best drop off location in my opinion.
Thanks for info! Do you remember what airport you guys stop in at up there? I imagine you had to refuel before going into Brooks Range right? I’m a pilot that’s why I’m asking lol.
Philip,
Coyote air is based out of Coldfoot but we landed on a gravel beach in a Beaver on large special tires. If you land on the nearby lake on floats, it is a lot longer tundra sludge to the creek.
I was there in July, and it is indeed amazing. Absolutely stunning. I saw it from the air only, so your perspective is a treat. Great job!
Thanks Ramon.
Amazing amazing mountains.