Who can blame the animals for spending time in the area? It’s incredibly beautiful; with the Orca Inlet  across the bay, and Hartney Slough leading to Heney Ridge further inland.

At high tide, the salt water of the eastern Prince William Sound invades the fresh water coursing down from the mountain, and the slough floods in dramatic fashion. Because of the high water, it calms considerably, becoming a nearly flat & mirrored surface to reflect the trees at the back of the slough, the mountains and sky above.

This is an image from this years Wild Lands & Wild Life: Cordova Photo Tour. Taken at sunset, Scott & I trained our cameras at the beautiful grasses displayed in warm light, the alpenglow covered mountains and the darkening clouds overhead.

More photos from Cordova, Alaska to come, stay tuned…

One of the clients even cried.

“Wait. I thought you said you had an ‘excellent time’, Dave?”

My client (who shall go un-identified) was seated next to me during one of our aerial photography sessions. I turned towards them mid-flight and caught the glint of a tear rolling down their cheek. I asked if everything was ok. The reply was so poignant.

“It’s overwhelming…”

I couldn’t have said it any better. At the time we were in a gentle right turn in our Cessna 180, banking low over the Bering Glacier. We had just spent the previous day at Childs Glacier, spending much of the afternoon standing a mere .19 miles from the calving face. Childs Glacier is an amazing sight, even for me (a ‘seasoned’ glacier enthusiast). It stands several hundred feet tall, directly across the raging Copper River – which undercuts the face of the glacier when water levels run high in early summer. The ‘terminus’ runs just under 2.5 miles across, and crawls steadily forward from its source, nearly 8 miles up-valley. 200-foot tall blocks of ice plummet downward and crash into the surging Copper River.

Impressive, to say the least.

Childs Glacier & Copper River - ©2011 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D Mk 2, Tokina 16-28/2.8 @ 16mm. 1/5" @ f/22, ISO 50)

Compare that to the Bering Glacier, the source of my clients current fascination. The calving face we were passing over runs over 4 miles across. But this is just a small ‘lobe’ of the Bering Glacier, a ‘branch’ off the main ‘trunk’, if you will. The full mass of the glacier can not be represented in numbers, at least not in a way that carries the immensity in a respectful tone. It is 46 miles wide at it’s terminus, and runs 140 miles into the Bagley Icefield. Together with the Bagley Icefield, the Bering Glacier System covers most of the core of the Chugach Mountains and encompasses a staggering 1,900 square miles.

Overwhelming? Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

One of my favorite photos from the trip was from our flight back to the comforts of the lodge. We had just spent several hours on a very remote beach; miles of powder-like sand, incredible sea-stack islands, dense lupine fields, dozens of bald eagles and several fresh bear tracks wandering the beach.

And a whole lot of a solitude.

We were paralleling the western side of the Ragged Mountains, heading north.

How’s that for a proper moniker?

“Ragged” Mountains. They were true to their name.

I glanced out the window to my right, scanning a bit more ‘fore’ than ‘aft’. Compositions happen quickly in aerial photography, so you have to be ready at a moments notice. A composition that looks brilliant, but caught too late, on the first pass might completely change with slight altitude adjustments, a shift in cloud coverage or turbulence might make a second ‘try’ impossible. So ‘visualizing’ an image from 1/2 mile away (or far less) can make the difference between a great shot and an ‘any way I can get a mulligan’. It’s rare that I use golf terms, so that should carry some weight;)

Just in front and to our right, a patchwork of incredible beauty stretched out to the base of the Ragged’s. I have never seen an area so lush and full of early summer. The varieties of green spanned every shade – truly a rainbow of green. Pockmarking the pools of grass were lines of gray and turquoise – the mighty Copper River Delta spending it’s last energy as it neared the Gulf of Alaska, and the open ocean beyond. Ponds dotted the landscape, taller willows and trees lining each section of water. Laid out like a carefully sculpted and manicured golf course – water hazards everywhere. So many channels and waterways, so much undiscovered beauty, a land bordered by mountains and the ocean, but owning too little elevation change of its own after glaciers plowed over the Delta in the past ice age.

A nearly flat, yet utterly dynamic environment.

"Into the Labyrinth" - Copper River Delta, Alaska ©2011 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D Mk 2, Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS @ 32mm. 1/640" @ f/6.3, ISO 640)

It is a zone in transition, first ground to a level plane by crushing ice and rock, then divided and sectioned by rushing silt-laden and near freezing waters, and finally being swallowed whole by the ever present tidal changes of the North Pacific Ocean.

It took my breath away.

So much so, that I’m not sure if I’ll ever catch it.

Print of the Month for May, 2011 – “The Glow of Spring – #002″
Every year, I return to Cordova, Alaska. Simply put, it is one of the most spectacular locations on our planet – for photography and for escaping city life. The variety available in this region staggers me; ocean, rain forest, glaciers, mountains, ponds, lakes, marshes, meadows, streams and rivers. Then there is the wildlife! Moose, bear, wolverine, sea otters, bald eagles, trumpeter swans and so much more. My photo tour also coincides with the massive wildflower bloom in mid-late June. Fields of lupine, dotted with buttercup, columbine, bunchberry, yellow pond-lillies, and many other varieties.
The brilliant yellow of the buttercup in this image contrasts nicely with the deep blue-purple of the out of focus lupine. I wanted to really emphasize the range of color in the scene, and simplify the composition by focusing on a very specific, and beautiful, ‘vein’ detail on a single flower petal. For me, these incredible details are the essence of Alaska – gorgeous color surrounded by stunning vistas. I remember the day this image was made as if it was yesterday. A crisp morning and very light mist greeted me as I opened the door to the porch in front of our lodge; gentle waves lapped at the shores of Orca Inlet, just a few feet below the wood railing in front of me. I could smell the ocean and surrounding rain forest, a wonderfully fresh smell. I could almost hear the ancient trees behind our lodge creaking their invitation to me, so I took an early morning hike along on old game trail. I half expected to see a black bear wondering amongst the thick timbers, but it was only my feet that fell on the moss-cushioned forest floor. Every now and then, the trees would creak again in the soft breaze or a bald eagle would shreak overhead. They beckoned me onward. Before long, it was nearing lunch, so I headed back to the lodge and had a light meal. Then I headed out along the Copper River Highway, towards the Delta. Lining the roadside were thick patches of wildflowers. I tried several compositions, many of them were uncompelling. There was still a slight breeze, so as I set up this shot I had to wait for the wind to die in order to get a sharp image. The wait was worth it – it allowed me to ‘settle’ into the landscape even more, becoming more aware of what it was that attracted me to this location.
Rich, contrasting color and the simple form of a beautiful specimen of Pacific Buttercup set against thousands of Arctic Lupine.

Bring a piece of Alaska into your home or office.
I’m offering this print as the first of my new Print of the Month Collectors Edition. Each print is custom made by the master printers at West Coast Imaging and measures 20″ x 30″. The image is printed on a vibrant ‘super gloss’ paper, then sandwiched between a flame polished acrylic sheet and a dibond backing. This mounting method is extremely rigid and is supported by a unique ‘french cleat’. This design allows the print to seemingly float in front of your wall. There is no additional framing needed, and the print is delivered to your doorstep ready to hang. This 20″ x 30″ print is being made available for a special introductory price of only $375, that is $125 off! This is a beautiful print; rich in color, depth and detail. It will literally leap off the wall at you and help you think of summer in Alaska, year round.
Print orders will be sent to the printer around June 1st, and will ship direct from the printer shortly thereafter. If you are interested in purchasing this (or any other image) as a premium print, please email me.

Never heard of Cordova? You’re not the only one! I first visited Cordova 4 years ago, and have since gone back every year to make up for lost time. It is quite literally my favorite place in ALL of Alaska – quite probably the entire world. Yeah, it’s that extraordinary. But what sets it apart?

Photographer in lupine field, Sheridan Glacier, Alaska. ©2010 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D mk 2, 24-105 @ 105mm, 1/200" @ f7.1, ISO 400)

Cordova could easily be called “Hidden, Alaska”. It is tucked back in Orca Inlet, on the eastern edge of Prince William Sound. It is remote, yet logistically fairly simple to get to. It’s just far enough ‘off the beaten track’ so that only the adventurous travelers get to experience its wonders. But we won’t be roughing it while on tour – oh no! We’re staying at one of the best adventure lodges in all of Alaska. In fact, our rooms sit just above the rocky shores of the Inlet. Very comfortable beds, outstanding meals prepared in “The Cantina”, deep history and the pristine location make this an extraordinary place to call home for the 7-day/6-night tour. Warm showers, electricity and wifi – all the comforts of home – just without those pesky neighbors or traffic! A waterfall tumbles off the mountains and through the rain forest, just to the north of our lodge. The lodge itself is an old cannery, and old dock pilings still jut out a bit into the Inlet. It is common to see bald eagles perched right outside our windows, and sea otters or harbor seals patrolling the waters.

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We will use a small skiff to access the protected waters in search of the numerous sea otters nearby. By ‘numerous’ I mean… hundreds! It is not unheard of to see ‘rafts’ of sea otters numbering in the 50′s. On one trip to this area, I saw a raft of sea otters that likely numbered several hundred! Inland, we will walk through the world’s northern most rainforest – The Chugach – and photograph the ancient trees, dripping mosses, and rushing streams of fresh glacial and snow melt as they course towards the ocean. In Alaska, it seems that you are always surrounded by the mountains – Cordova is no different, and they make for a very dramatic backdrop for our photography.

We will also visit 2 glaciers. The first we will actually be able to walk on (safe conditions permitting, of course). It’s leading edge is surrounded by beautiful and dense lupine flowers. It truly is an amazing location, glacier, ice, morraine, flowers, and surrounding peaks. We could probably spend the entire tour here, and never get bored! But Child’s Glacier beckons to us from near the end of the Copper River Highway. It’s face is several hundred feet tall and is usually in a very active ‘calving’ phase this time of year. We will spend several hours photographing this immense glacier from just .19 miles away.

So, just to recap just some of what Cordova has to offer:

Moose, black bear, bald eagles, sea otters, harbor seals, jellyfish, waterfalls, rain forest, glacial streams/rivers/lakes/ponds, glaciers, mountains, the largest river delta on the west coast, trumpeter swans, waterfowl, and immense emptiness! And likely, not another photo tour group in the region. Please check out the dedicated Cordova Tour Description page for more info, and please contact me with any questions or to sign up for the amazing and very unique photo tour. The last few seats are filling quickly!

Wild Lands & Wild Life: Cordova – Alaska photo tour description.

Update – only 4 spots available!

Lupine Field & Glacier

Wild Lupine and Sheridan Glacier, Alaska. ©2010 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D Mk 2, 24-105 @ 24mm. 1/40" @ f/16. ISO 200. B+W CPL)

Stay tuned…

Dave,

The workshop was fantastic, despite the rain.  I enjoyed using the opportunity to work on macro shots.  I never realized there were so many different things you could do to control your camera.  The way you showed me to use my camera was easily understandable and I have been successful in duplicating the effects on my own since then.  I never felt intimidated or like you were having to “dummy it down” for me.

One of the things I enjoyed the most was finally learning how to capture the motion of water.  I had tried hundreds of different things, apparently never in the correct combination in the past.  You were able to show me what to do in one shot and then gave me multiple opportunities to play around with tweaking it for different effects.  We just recently passed through Yellowstone National Park and I was able to utilize the techniques you taught me to capture several great (in my opinion) shots of the famous Lower Falls and a few less traditional images of some of the hot springs.

I really appreciated that you brought along a spare tripod for me to use during the workshop.  I was so impressed with the difference it made that I went out and bought one of my own.  I think the tripod, along with all the  new techniques you taught me, has made monsoons of difference in the pictures I am now able to take.

The service you provide outside the workshop is outstanding as well.  I am sure I will utilize you as a resource in the future as I improve and encounter new photographic situations.  It was great to be able to discuss some of these with you during the workshop despite not having the situation available at that time (like a sporting event).  It is fantastic that you invite former workshop participants to attend your sunrise photo shoots with current workshops.  One of my greatest regrets is that I left Alaska before being able to attend one.

In the future, I hope to be able to return to Alaska and I really hope when I do, it coincides with your Fall Colors in Alaska class.  You have some fantastic images of the glory of Alaska.  In fact, I  went on your website to try and get to you stock photos and see if the image you have that appears first when you get on the website was available for sale.

Thanks for a great and unforgettable experience.

Leslie W.

Anchorage, Alaska

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dave,

Thank you so much for all your work to make this trip a great one for us. Your work in Cordova was wonderful and made it the highlight of our trip. We enjoyed all your talents and learning from you. Keep us posted on your future photo trips.

Eric & Ollie B.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dave,

We wanted to express to you what a great experience we had working with you on our Alaska vacation.  We had an incredible time. We were so glad we made the decision to work with you for a couple of days.  It really made the entire trip better for us. As a guide you took us places we would not have found on our own.  And gave us such a variety of things to see and experience.  But on top of that, you were wonderfully informed and knowledgeable not only of the area – but the wildlife, terrain, flowers, etc. as well. As if the beauty of the area wasn’t enough, you also educated us a little bit and kept everything very interesting and informative. From a photography perspective, we learned so much in such a little time.  You worked exactly at the pace we needed, and taught us things that not only made our Alaska trip more worthwhile, but will help us both continue to become better photographers. And to top it all off, you are just a really great guy.  We not only learned a great deal, and saw incredible things – we had fun while doing it!  You made it all very fun and enjoyable. We can’t thank you enough.  You really helped make our Alaskan vacation very special.

Sincerely,

Eric & D’Ann A.

Littleton, Colorado

And now, a few of their photos!

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What are your photo and travel plans for 2011 & beyond? Have you always dreamed of visiting Alaska and photographing locations the average tourist never sees, and the typical photo tours have no clue about? If so, check out the Alaskan Photo Tours & Workshops page! I’ll be posting a LOT more info very soon regarding the 3 tours I’ll be offering in 2011. In late March/early April, I’ll be taking a small group of photogs to a very remote lodge to photograph pristine and beautiful winter landscapes, and – with any luck –  aurora borealis! In June, we’re heading back to Cordova for the amazing variety it has to offer: glaciers, sea otters, mountains, rain forest, bald eagles, moose and endless wildflowers! Finally, in early September, you can join me on an epic grand tour of Alaska’s Fall Color prime locations! It simply doesn’t get any better than this. If you’ve already been to Alaska, perhaps now is the time to come back and see it in a new light. If you’ve never been – there is NO better time than now to start planning your epic adventure. Either way, you’ve never seen Alaska, unless you’ve seen it with Sixtyone North!

Stay tuned…

How many?

Oh… around 5 million. Give or take.

Two photography tips for this location in May? Yeah… you’ll thank me later.

Tip #1 – Wear rain gear at all times. Might be a good idea for your camera gear too.

Tip #2 – Don’t EVER look up with your mouth open. Those aren’t wet snow flakes. Well, they may be. But do you really want to take that chance?

You’re welcome.

Hartney Slough Twilight Pano. ©2010 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North - CLICK TO ENLARGE

Annnnnnyway. In mid June, there are less birds and associated poop to dodge.

The grass that grows in Hartney Slough is thick and lush green.

The river is constantly changing appearance. When the tide is out, it is just few feet deep and is mainly clear with a light silty tint to it. When the tide comes back in, the river creeps up the grassy banks of the slough and takes on a beautiful milky blue cast. Evidence of it’s glacial source.

This place, where ocean meets land, embodies the Prince William Sound. Perhaps all of Alaska. It is snow falling high in the mountains, compacting to ice over eons, drifting slowly & inexorably downhill. It crushes those same mountains into rock, pebbles, and fine powder. The glaciers melt and carry the same silt downstream, tumbling through deep dark rainforest. It collects fallen trees, leaves, and plant life and carries them through the sloughs and finally the sea. This is life, death, and rebirth.

And everything in between.

Moose and Calves. ©2010 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D mk 2, 100-400 @ 310mm. 1/60" at f6.3, ISO 3200)

Stay tuned.

The chamber where he was kneeling could easily accommodate a standing 6 foot tall man, with probably 2 feet of headroom to go – although it was fairly narrow at that point. There was a secondary chamber beyond that was shorter. I visited it for a short time, but it was too confining (for my tastes and for my photography:D).

Photographer kneeling in ice cave within the Sheridan Glacier, Alaska. ©2010 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North

Stay tuned.

Wild Buttercup & Lupine Background, Cordova, Alaska. ©2010 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D mk 2, 70-200 @ 200mm, extension tube. 1/1000" @ f6.3, ISO 400)

Stay tuned.