1. Landscapes

Alaska 2006

Landscapes from my June / July 06 Alaska visit.
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  • Stretching out in front of this photo is a huge panorama, many square miles. A year ago this was green – covered in wildflowers, low shrubs and scattered trees. 

Today this whole area is black, consumed by forest fire. An acrid stench hangs in the cold air – this is too high to enjoy much summer warmth. 

Even burned, I think it strangely beautiful.
  • During the evening, ponds in Alaska take on an unreal feeling of stillness. Dusk in the far north brings calm, such total tranquility. Lakes assume a full mirror surface. It must be experienced. My photos can do this no justice.<br />
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In fact, it is almost humbling trying to capture a scene like this!
  • We pulled in for the night after a long day of boating on the Yukon. After cleaning everything out of the boat, I turned around to this vista.<br />
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What saddens me is even at this point a photo can do so little to capture the colors, lighting and splendor of the natural world.<br />
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The buildings on the left make up the town of Eagle, Alaska.
  • A break in the clouds allowed the sun to punch up Eagle Bluff quite nicely. We were blasting down the Yukon at 30mph so this is the best I could do.
  • The De Havilland Otter we chartered was a beautiful machine. Every piece of hardware was freshly painted or polished. It&#8217;s hard to believe the aircraft was manufactured in 1954!
  • Here is the &#8220;road&#8221; which we took to access Hatcher&#8217;s Pass. To my eye this is one of the most striking locations in all of North America.
  • Cruising at 12k feet within spitting distance of these huge mountains is both enlivening and humbling. It forces one to realize that our aircraft and its passengers are a mere fly to this massive mountain range!
  • The pass clouded in by the time we were able to hike any distance. It&#8217;s a good photographic challenge to deal with clouds so I didn&#8217;t mind that much. In the foreground of this shot one can see the staining effects of the various rock deposits. I&#8217;m thinking the red is ferric oxide (rust).
  • Quite the runway, eh? The plane is sitting on one of Alaska&#8217;s biggest glaciers.
  • Hmm, the water here looks cloudy.
  • Perhaps I have an obsession with catching reflections in the plane&#8217;s beautiful red paint.
  • Within a few minutes of landing in Eagle, Alaska a very nice resident offered to take me up Eagle Bluff. Thirty mosquito bites (I&#8217;m not kidding) later we reached the top&#8230; And some excellent views of the Yukon River waited.
  • This is literally the only road in and out of Eagle. During our drives over it, my uncle pointed out where cars, trucks and tourist busses have driven off its steep edges. Many have been killed here over the years. Alaska is not a place to take lightly.
  • Our fine afternoon cruise on the Yukon turned interesting when several large thunder cells developed around us. We beached our 20&#8217; riverboat and watched lighting pound the distant ridges. The storms made for some excellent lighting (and lightning)!
  • Eagle and the surrounding area were ravaged by wildfires for the last few summers.  The line down the center of this photo is a fire break&#8230; A testament to our hard working firefighters.
  • A few raindrops.
  • For some reason the setting sun had little color tonight. Starched clouds and dry air lent an autumnal feel to the evening.
  • This is a wilderness one can&#8217;t see anywhere in the continental US. The mountains in this photo have no name.

And no photo can begin to do this place justice!
  • Greg&Rose Photography

    on May 16, 2018

    Superb photo composition and pp

  • KENNETH COLE

    on April 2, 2012

    Gorgeous!

  • Justin Waldinger

    on September 29, 2008

    another beautiful landscape! the sky is simply stunning

  • ZoneVIII Photography

    on September 26, 2008

    What nice relaxing shots. You must have been in the right place at the right time. Throw in Artistic talent with the ability to really see and you have some amazing photos. Thanks for sharing! r.f.booher

  • 72866prairiewind

    on August 5, 2006

    Beautiful. Breath-taking :) ~ Melissa

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