Photography and Photo Tours: Specializing in Alaska's Wild Lands & Wild Life
For the past week, we’ve had incredibly foggy days in the Anchorage Bowl. Constant & unrelenting. It has created some beautiful hoar frost on every branch for dozens of miles in every direction. I went out early yesterday morning hoping to capture some of that frost on film… er digital sensor. First stop was Kincaid Park, near the Anchorage Airport. Beautiful still early morning, shattered every so often by the roar of jet engines departing terra firma for other locales. We have had almost no wind for 1 week, so the hoar frost has layered itself over and over on every surface. The frost is so light to the touch that it just disintegrates into particles with any disturbance. In that delicacy is it’s beauty. A reminder that nothing lasts forever, despite its diamond like qualities.
Triptych Panels. Ice Fog and Hoar Frost. Click to enlarge. Copyright Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North LLC
After the hoar frost of Kincaid Park, I headed south on the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm to Girdwood. The fog was impressive but elevated slightly off the ground. Near Bird Ridge, it broke for a fraction of time – a shaft of clarity reaching up and delivering views of a surrounding summit. A moment that transcended the day, fleeting but beautiful. It was like living in a room with the curtains always closed and then finally revealing an outside world for the first time, but only for an instant. That fractional instant is still frozen in my brain.
Variations on Blue. Click to enlarge.
Hoar Frost at Potter's Marsh
I arrived back in Anchorage just before sunset. Remembering the summits were clear of clouds and blue skies were above… somewhere, I headed higher in elevation towards the Flattop and Powerline Pass hiking area. The drive up was like swimming in soup… dull gray, choking, almost a sensation of drowning – being held under. On a switchback, the world returned. Below the fog, there was no sense of how near sunset was. Once above that line though, sunset was imminent and astounding. It was like being lifted above clouds, floating on the surface. It stretch for miles over the Cook Inlet, only distant peaks joining me in the suns last moments atop the world. Directly ahead were Mt. Redoubt and Iliamna. Directly below was the fog layer, rolling and coursing slowly over the Anchorage bowl, washing and swirling very slowly like a lazy wave lapping at a lake shore. A beautiful moment, I could have stayed for hours, watching the subtle change in color and the approaching night.
Ocean of Clouds. Click to Enlarge.
Head in the Clouds. Click to Enlarge. Copyright Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North LLC
Purple Haze. Click to Enlarge.
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In just the 10 minutes it took me to read this … I am yet astounded by the beauty and the feeling it gives someone who has not set foot in Alaska yet …(still speechless!) It gives me goose bumps, as my eyes and dreams continue to push forward to the day that reality comes true. Excellent work David, it’s such an honor to have and know someone like you to give me inspiration in life, and the world of photography..you are truly blessed and naturally gifted.
Way to make use of the foggy days you’ve had! Love the pictures of hoar frost, and the interesting color palettes in some of these photos. Well done!
Cheers,
Greg
Dave – Dad & I are having a very proud parental moment – Very well done, indeed. Particularly drawn to the first sunset shot above the clouds “Ocean of Clouds” – other worldly!
M & D
Hey, Dave -
Simply stunning images – I really have to get up AK way one of these days! And you just have to _know_ I love the blue ice shot! :^D
- Jack
Thanks everyone! *especially Mom & Dad*
Jack – I thought you’d like that one, it was an homage to you:)
Wow. Just wow.