Friends

Australian professional landscape photographer (and fellow Fstop gear user!), Christian Fletcher, is having a great discussion over on his site. It’s in regards to creating art that people haven’t seen, particularly in photography. Photographers far more elegant than me have handled this topic before. Here in America, one of my friends and ‘phantom mentors’, Guy Tal has said: “Photograph for yourself and satisfy your own sensibilities and aesthetics. True artists do not pander to a pre-selected audience. Instead, they carve an audience of their own from those who will encounter and be moved by their work.” “The best way to use your imagination is simply to not stand in its way.” I think he’s right. We have to shoot for...

I’d like to take a quick moment to congratulate my good friend, and frequent hiking partner (aka – the guy who laughs along with me as I fall and sprain my ankle or bash my shin… hey, I’m a cluts, and it’s funny!), Scott Slone of Alaska HDTV & Perfect Blend Media. You’ve likely read my praises of Scott’s work; he’s easily one of the hardest working, most creative, versatile people I’ve ever met. But he’s also a ‘rock’. He’s the kind of friend that remains solid and sure footed in the toughest of situations, and can be counted on to always give 130%. I’m privileged to call him one of my closest friends. People that see us together often say we could be twin brothers. I keep...

“Entangled”, Chugach National Forest, Alaska. ©2011 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D Mk 2, Tokina 16-28/2.8 @ 16mm. 0.5″ @ f/18, ISO 400) I don’t work much in black & white photography. I think I must be the only photographer that skipped past the darkroom and dove directly into chromes. Well, let me make one thing clear – I never ‘skipped’. And no, there was no ‘prancing’, either. It’s always funny, talking with other photographers whose career started before the advent of digital – many of them speak with a great reverence and that certain ‘twinkle’ in their eye(s) when it comes to the time they used to spend in the darkroom. “I really miss the smell”. Of...

Hello everyone! Just a quick update to let you know that the full description for my “Wild Lands & Wild Life: Denali Highway Fall Color Tour” is now online! If you are looking for an incredible way to experience Alaska – look no further. Wild Lands & Wild Life: Denali Highway Fall Color Tour – 2011 I’m also going to try something new out for the rest of 2011… Want to make $100? I thought that might get your attention! Meet the F.R.I.P. – Friend Referral Incentive Program. Don’t you just love acronyms… 5 easy steps: Post a link to my Alaskan Photo Tours & Workshops page on your personal blog, website, twitter, and/or Facebook page. Refer a photographer friend (or friends) to my 2011 Alaskan Photo...

  I’m just back from nearly a week deep in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness. I spent six days with 9 very talented South Korean photographers at an exclusive lodge 65 miles from… well, anywhere. I’m heading back in just 3 weeks for a repeat. Yes, Jena. I promise to start packing earlier for this trip. This exploratory tour turned out to be much more an expedition, than a simple photo tour. We were confronted by extremely cold temperatures (-35 at times), and highs just over 0. The group never once complained about the adversity though – they just kept shooting and producing tons of incredible images! We went 5 for 5 with the aurora; every night of the tour we lucked out with ‘the best show above the earth’. 3 of the 5...

I’m very proud to announce a new sponsorship with my friends at F-stop. F-stop is the camera bag manufacturer for adventure photographers world wide. They believe camera bags should assist you in getting the perfect shot – not hold you back. I couldn’t agree more. For the entirety of my photography career, I have ‘made do’ with countless camera bags that were made for photographers who rarely shot on a trail, let alone off one. I have silently (and sometimes, not so silently) swore at bags that were neither comfortable to wear or efficient to use. F-Stop takes a completely different approach with their gear. Their packs are made to excel in the outdoors and stay flexible because of their modular ICU design. The ICU stands for...