Photos from Alaska arctic region
During this week I’ll be backpacking and camping in the Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska’s remote arctic region. It’s a big area and more specifically I’ll be in the Arrigetch peaks, a dramatic conglomeration of granite spires which are breathtaking to say the least. Packing for a trip that requires me to…
Male Walrus, Svalbard During my recent visit to Svalbard, on the Polar Pioneer icebreaker with Cheeseman’s Ecology Safaris, I logged some amazing lifetime wildlife encounters that will last as unforgettable experiences. One of them was some interaction with a curious group of male walrus that swam over to our small group along the shoreline. They…
This male polar bear had been swimming from island to island in a glacier fjord along the northern coast of Spitsbergen, in the Svalbard archipelago. I shot this frame just as the bear was about to swim to another nearby island. I took a lot of pictures of this animal, in many different situations, but…
Perfectly calm weather and overcast skies created conditions ideal for capturing reflections of floating icebergs in a glacial fjord on the northern coast of Spitsbergen, the main, and largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. This particular capture was actually a drive by shooting, which is why I had the shutter speed up to 1/160. Landscape…
The polar bear ranks up there as one of the most intriguing and amazing animals. To watch it move and live in its extreme environment is an experience I wish all people could have. This particular polar bear approached our ice breaker ship while we paused for a moment in the sea ice. The snow…
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…
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…