Alaska’s fascinating wild creatures
The first few weeks of June in Alaska is the time when the newborn animals of the year begin showing up. They are pure cuteness in most respects, and they are also very susceptible to hungry predators as the circle of life takes its course in the wilderness landscape. For the latter, it means that adults with…
I’ve had a few exceptional grizzly bear photo encounters in Denali Park over the years, and the session I recently had with this bear ranks up there with them. There are many factors that play into what distinguishes an interesting and enjoyable wildlife sighting between a good photographic one. While I’ve photographed countless bears, they…
Gray wolf portrait, Denali National Park, Alaska Generally, getting too close to a wild wolf is not a problem I encounter often when photographing. However, in this case, a wolf from the Grant Creek pack in Denali National Park walked directly towards the vehicle I was traveling in late one evening. They often travel down…
My experience photographing grizzly bears in Denali National park has been mixed over the years. I’ve observed lots of interesting behaviour, and had many fortunate opportunities to make some great photos. On my recent trip into the park, following a rainy night and misty morning, the wet tundra grasses glowed under the bright overcast skies.…
The lime green tundra and newly budding leafs of a poplar tree along the Denali Park road are tell-tale signs of spring. This young grizzly bear takes a break from foraging on the new grass shoots and vegetation along the roadside by scratching its back on the bark of a balsam poplar tree on a…
I’ll be in Denali National park in a few days on a photography permit and it was disheartening to learn of the recent trapping death of the alpha female from the Grant Creek wolf pack. She was snared by a trapper just outside the park boundary. I, like many photographers and visitors to Denali have…
I get many questions about the topic of wildlife photography in Alaska. In response to this over the years, I have written a little article that addresses some of the basic things to consider. Photographing Alaska Wildlife Photographing Alaska wildlife is a rewarding experience, it’s also a challenging one. Alaska is a big place, access…
Polar bear cub, late evening light. While it can be easily argued that most of the best photos have defined and dramatic light, the new high ISO performance of today’s digital SLR’s have produced a whole new genre of low-light images that simply could not be captured previously. Certainly not in the same quality league.…
Female Pine Grosbeak in autumn plumage The female pine grosbeak has a beautiful, rusty brown/orange color in autumn, which seems to blend in perfectly with the dried leaves of the willow bush in which she seeks food. The male, in spring plumage, is quite dramatically displayed in brilliant red. While at a rest stop along…
Caribou migrating in Alaska’s arctic Alaska’s caribou are nomadic ungulates that traverse hundreds of miles across much of Alaska. In the arctic, their presence is sporadic due to their varied movements. On occasion, if one is lucky, large herds can be observed migrating and feeding on Alaska’s arctic north slope. While this group of animals…