American golden plover, Utukok uplands, National Petroleum Reserve Alaska. Canon 1Ds Mark III, 500mm w/2x (1000mm), 1/800 sec @ f/8, ISO 400.
My trip to the high western arctic unfolded broadly under the never setting sun. With a short turn around between another venture back to the arctic for a river trip, I’ll have some photos to share but little time to write. The birds nesting in the tundra region were continual companions in a very solitary and remote place. Strong winds, relentless sun, and the magic of this paradoxical land of severity and beauty, along with lots of hiking left some good photographs in the wake. The plovers were abundant and vociferous, and their comfort zone for approach was about 1000mm. I took this shot about 10:00pm, which, believe it or not was pretty early. Due to harsh light I ended up shooting primarily between 10:00pm and 5:00am.
Patrick,
It was good to meet you and I was greatly impressed as Dirk’s Beaver lifted off, leaving you so conspicuously alone on that extremely remote ridge (well, you and a few tens of thousands of caribou).
Hope to work with you some day.
Bob (Editor in Chief, Sierra magazine)
Bob,
Watching that plane depart, leaving me the exclusive hominid domain of such a magnificent ridge, booming in colorful flowers, and home turf to birds, bears and barren ground caribou, was (and hopefully will be again some day) an experience lost even to photos.
And I too hope the future holds a project in which we can work jointly, one that captivates both our passion and interest.