The creature I was most intrigued to see on my trip to Svalbard was the walrus on ice. I got half of my hoped for scene, which was the walrus itself, but not hauled out on ice. Still, I had quite an up-close encounter with these giant animals, who exhibited great curiosity and humorous behavior.…
I just concluded a wonderful journey on an icebreaker ship cruising the island archipelago of Svalbard in the high arctic. Having spent the bulk of my time in Alaska’s arctic, it was a treat to explore other regions, in particular a place where mountain relief is evident, and the flora and fauna slightly different. Of…
Sea anemone tentacles, Kodiak Island During a minus tide along the shores of Kodiak’s Ambercrombie park, I found this Anemone in a tide pool that was well shaded from the sky by a large boulder. For that reason, there is virtually no reflection from the sky above, and it rendered a clear water image. It…
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…
The Sitka black-tailed deer populate the southern island shores of Alaska, and have not survived to any degree on the mainland. This Sitka black-tailed deer paused while feeding in the early morning just long enough for me to grab a few shots. The light was quite low as evidenced by the ISO and exposure, but…
Fossil Beach, Kodiak Island That Kodiak is called the emerald island is self evident upon the first summer glance. This hills are so lush and green its like a visual beverage to thirsty eyes. And as for having thirst quenched, Kodiak is known for its fog, rain, and dynamically changing island weather. My recent visit…
This year I entered some photos in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest, sponsored by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine. While I’ve only entered a few photo contests throughout my career, this is a popular one, and many are familiar with it. For that reason, I thought some might be interested…
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…
The arctic tundra flats of Alaska’s north slope present a vast, expansive region filled with summer life. While it is notorious for its prodigious mosquito population, it is also a summer home to many animals and birds. The constant summer sunlight and insect population draws birds from all over the world. Apparently they consider it…
Female willow ptarmigan Camouflage is at the heart of this bird’s survival. The willow ptarmigan has many color morphs, depending on the season and the terrain in which it lives. In this case, the tundra is just awakening to spring, and the dull brown colors are a perfect match for her brown feathers. In the…