Life in the northern landscape
Windy Gap, White Mountains National Recreation Area It might not be surprising to find the wind blustery on the eve of this shoot, considering the cabin is probably named Windy Gap for a good reason. It is situated along fossil creek in the White Mountains National Recreation Area, and during this time of year, the…
Canon 5D Mark III and the Northern Lights Alaska has had a great winter season of aurora photography opportunities. Due to much of my travel, I have not participated in that winfall. Last week however, I eeked out one last chance to shoot the northern lights before daylight consumes our night skies making that option…
The Roller Coaster, James Dalton Highway, the Haul Road For those of you familiar with the TV reality show, Ice Road Truckers, then you have heard them speak of this section of the James Dalton Highway know as the roller coaster. It makes a pretty radical descent, with an equal rise on the other side.…
If you have traveled at all in Alaska, it is likely you have been in a bush plane to access many of the remote regions throughout the state. Whether it is a plane on floats or tundra tires, they are critical for getting to many great photo destinations. I have photographed extensively from the air…
Looking across St. Herman’s harbor to Pillar mountain reveals three prominent wind mills that whirl away under Kodiak’s often breezy weather. The wind mills contribute to Kodiak’s energy needs, largely supplied by hydro power. The lush green hillsides are ubiquitous on the island, nicknamed the Emerald Ilse for a good reason. Commercial fishing is still…
Float Planes in Kodiak Alaska Bush planes on floats are a common sight throughout Alaska, and in particular, along Alaska’s coastal shores. To travel through Kodiak, one will see float planes in ponds next to residential homes, as well as a number of commercial business that fly people to otherwise inaccessible areas. On a sunny…
Flying in Bush Alaska One can access a little bit of Alaska by car, some by water, a lot on foot, and a whole lot by air. When it comes time to getting around in Alaska’s arctic–which has across its lateral spine the monstrous Brooks range–it is time for wings. Much of my remote photographic…
While an increasing amount of the James Dalton Highway are getting paved, there are large sections that remain gravel. It’s no big deal when traveling– although your vehicle gets pretty caked in mud when it rains–unless perhaps you are on a motorcycle. Many bikers consider it an adventurous destination, and the mud is met with…
The Hastings forest fire that started last Memorial day north of Fairbanks, has grown from the initial day of about 600 acres, to more than 12,000 acres by Tuesday, June 7, 2011. The crew fighting the fire now exceeds 550 people, and a crazy amount of resources which include an arsenal of air and ground…
While cruising across the oil tanker shipping lane in northern Prince William Sound, I grabbed this shot of the “Polar Enterprise” oil tanker entering the Valdez Arm. It looks like I was a lot closer but the photo was taken with an equivalent of a 910mm lens. The man on the bow called the “watchman”…