Alaska Photography and Photo Tours: Specializing in Wild Lands & Wild Life
I can’t touch my toes. Heck, I can’t even get close. Knees, sure I can get to those. But below the ankles, not even on a good day. Oh look, we’re only 4 short sentences in, and Dave’s already lost it. I would counter that it is difficult to lose something when you didn’t have it to begin with. When I brought up flexibility, I was speaking metaphorically – not anatomically. What happens when you don’t get what you want? In life? In profession? In travel? In photography? It’s frustrating, I’ll be the first to admit. But it is NOT the end of the world. It’s an opportunity. The Japanese use the same word for crisis and opportunity. I have become more familiar with this phrase lately. I have accepted it, and to the consternation of some, fully embraced it. Everything is an opportunity, every business you enter is an interview, and everyone you meet is a networking resource. A person’s opportunity (or crisis) does not define that individual – rather how they react to it. Embrace or run? Your choice.
I decided to drive down to the Kenai Peninsula on Monday – Redoubt has been “actin’ a fool” lately, blowing her top on every occasion. Talk about a crisis… drama queen. Ash has been lightly dusting the area, from Wasilla to Anchorage and down to the Kenai Peninsula. Ash even fell in Valdez, 225 miles as the crow flies, from Redoubt Volcano. She had explosive eruptions 5 to 6 times a day at times, since March 23rd. During eruptions, the standard warning is, “Don’t go outside in an ash fall zone, especially if you have lung issues. Do not operate machinery or electronics, as ash can damage them.” So what does your favorite intrepid photographer do? Well, drive towards the volcano of course. I had high hopes of being directly across the Cook Inlet in one of my favorite 6+ locations for views of the range that Redoubt is nestled within. Shot 1 – towering (preferably 50,000+ feet) of ash plume erupting into the atmosphere above 10,197 foot Redoubt. If this were to occur at say… sunrise in full alpenglow? Fine, I’ll deal with the mess that is amazing photographic opportunity. If by chance, she decided to again blow her top in the middle of the inky dark of night, I would be ready because I was going to sleep in my car at a pre-scouted viewpoint. Camera was all set up for this amazing view – intra-plume lightning created by huge static discharge in the quickly accelerating ash cloud. Amazing display of… what? Nope, didn’t happen. Neither did the eruption at runrise alpenglow. Or anytime for that matter, while I was there… ready… waiting. There was a steam plume. Which would have been cool, but it just looks like a cloud… coming out of a mountain. Don’t worry Redoubt, I’m not bitter. So that ash that they all warn you about, the stuff that can wreak so much havoc with cars, filters, electronics? Nada, no fresh stuff. The only thing that made contact with my car was a chunk of ice. It was evidentally more substantial than my right front tire and rim. Can you say taco? Folded my rim right over on itself. Other than that, uneventful. Now, after the tire incident & the eruption that wasn’t, I would have been well within my rights to head home – skunked. Didn’t take a single exposure.
Male King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) - captive. Alaska Sea Life Center
Instead I fell back to my secondary plan – check the weather report for Seward. Partly to mostly overcast skies, chance of clearing for sunset. Seward is a rough little spot to shoot. To picturesque, it can be very difficult to get anything other than a cliche-type image. Surrounded by mountains? Check. Gorgeous ocean inlet? Check. Possibility of marine wildlife? Ummm… it’s Resurrection frickin’ Bay! Case in point. 2 summers ago my parents were up, visiting from Wisconsin. They brought MY 3 shelties (yeah, Mom & Dad – you’re just renting them:) up with them. One morning, my mother and I were walking them on the rocky beach just past Miller’s Landing, enjoying the beautiful weather and calm seas. A small group of new kayakers were lined up on the edge of the water, half in & half out of the water, straddling their kayaks as they learned to paddle in the air. My mom and I chatted idly as the dogs ran along the shore… “Sasha, that’s kelp… not a stick to play fetch with”. WHOOOSH… both our heads jerked up towards the ocean. Not 15 – 20 feet from the still shore-bound (and now mouth agape) kayakers was a lone humpback whale, lazily arcing its back just above the surface of the water.
So yeah… possibility of wildlife? Check.
Male King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) - captive. Alaska Sea Life Center
I called Ron Niebrugge (Seward resident since 1992 & professional photographer specializing in travel/wildlife/landscapes) to meet up, and he told me he had just seen a humpback whale in front of his house. No, not on his lawn. His front yard overlooks the Bay, and mountains beyond. Rough gig he’s got going on there. I heard “whale” and my foot heard “accelerate”. Luckily no police officers got in my way. Note to law enforcement, do not get between a photographer and a humpback. No good can come from it. Once near the shore, I grabbed my binos and started scanning. Bunches of shore & sea birds, a group of porpoising Steller sea lions were moving steadily out towards the open ocean, and a sea otter or two. All within 2oo yards or so. But no whale. Oh well, next time.
Sea Anemone - Alaska Sea Life Center - captive
I made my way to my scheduled stop at the Alaska Sea Life Center. It is the only public aquarium & ocean wildlife rescue center in Alaska, and offers a great opportunity for photographers (and normal people too!) an up close & personal view of Alaska’s marine wildlife. I typically shy away from shooting at “zoos” & the like, but this is different. There is a great aviary; puffins, Eiders, harlequin ducks, etc. The best part is, you can walk right into the aviary and photograph as much as you want. No petting, loud noises, or feeding though. Head shots of King Eider with 100 mm lens? Check. The Sea Life Center is manned by a great group of people – nature lovers all. If they can’t answer your questions, it’s unlikely anyone else could. Shallow “tide pool” aquariums where you can reach in and lightly touch an anemone, sea star, or urchin. Hey, I saw a 2 year old girl do it. So man up! Researches are also nursing the newest addition to the SLC, a 12 week old male sea otter named Skittle. Ok, maybe now is not a good time to remind you to man up. Cute little guy, and according to the staff there, he has learned to poop and pee away from his bed & food! Probably wouldn’t do well in the Army.
"Woody" Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) - Alaska Sea Life Center - captive
Then there’s Woody, all 2000 pounds of him (that’s about a ton, for all you mathmaticians out there. Yeah, I had to Google it…). Woody is a Steller sea lion, a big one. Thank god for wide angle lenses. Anything but graceful out of the water, you should see him in his element. Amazing, impressive, and beautiful.
"Woody" Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) - Alaska Sea Life Center - captive
All in all a great location for photography. You would probably never get the opportunity to photograph these creatures so closely in the wild. Be sure to take advantage during your next trip to Seward. Looking for something special, consider signing up for one of my workshops – with special access to the Sea Life Center. Specifics coming soon!
"Woody" Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) - Alaska Sea Life Center - captive
I wrapped up my trip after dinner, by walking down in the small boat harbor. Small boat harbors are one of my favorite spots, especially now – before the tourist season begins. Calm waters, a quite harbor, and just across the Bay, beautiful mountains climbing high into the sky. Very peaceful setting. There was even a sea otter floating and diving lazily in the harbor – at times only a few yards away. He’d come up from a dive with a sea star cluched in his front paws, jaws crunching away on his dinner. I took a few shots, but the sun had dropped below the mountain ridges long before and it was getting too dark. It was great to watch and study though, photos or not.
Last hint of alpenglow, Kenai Fjord's National Park - Resurrection Bay, Alaska
Moral to the story? Easy. Never throw in the towel when your first option backfires, misfires, or (in the case of Redoubt) doesn’t fire at all. Always have a secondary & tertiary option, and stay flexible. I’ve ditched my trips totally in the past when my “plan” didn’t materialize. It always left me feeling hollow. Put the time in, then put more in. Can’t shoot? Bad light? Study your subject. I walked along the docks that night, totally immersing myself in the sea otter & watching him eat his dinner. Cradled in a beautiful bay with calm waters and brief, but colorful, alpenglow. Not a bad way to spend an evening, for me either.
Stay tuned & keep shooting.
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Hey Dave,
It was great to meet you. Looks like you had a very productive day down here – great stuff! I never did see the whale again, but wondered if you were still in town as the mountains began to glow with alpenglow, glad to see you were.
Ron
Likewise Ron, a real pleasure! It truly is a good thing to spend time with good people & you qualify:)
I did have some luck in Seward that afternoon/evening. I think I will hop back down the next chance I get that corresponds with decent weather. Really love it down there & always hate to leave. Thanks for checking the post out & taking the time to comment. Take care.
I see you found my “paint by numbers” duck…lol
Great shot, I like your new format too
Thanks Kelli -
I figured you’d like the King Eider, so colorful. Glad you like the new digs & thanks for commenting!
Hey, I remember Woody. What a majestic creature. Great images, Dave! Watch out for that Niebrugge character.
Guy
Funny Guy, he said the same thing about you!
I am making an assumption here that this is Guy Tal (www.guytal.com), and not http://www.guyal.com
Woody is a great subject, you put it perfectly “majestic”.
Gotta say this, I’ve been a big fan of your work for quite some time. Keep up the excellence!
Guy, I’m also going to add you to my blog roll – I’m surprised that I didn’t already have you listed!
LOL – good thing Guy is looking out for you!
Wouldn’t you know it – a friend say two whales this same day from the Sealife Center – actives ones at that!
Ron