A New Day Dawns ©2011 Dave Taylor

“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 ourselves first & let the cards fall where they may. If we consume ourselves with making $100,000 prints and worrying about getting the shot for someone else while shouting “It’s bloody ROARING!” on camera, we’ll die a slow, very public, artistic death.
Shoot for ourselves. Embrace our own passions. “The truth will out” & people will be drawn to our work because they will identify with something not seen within the frame, but felt within their hearts – if we’re lucky, they’ll identify with us. They’ll identify with something they haven’t seen before, because we showed them a new perspective. Ours.

“Discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
~ Marcel Proust

How is your creative vision?

edit: In responding to my good friend, Scott Slone’s comment below – I was reminded of a favorite quote, which posted below may not get the attention it deserves. So here you go:

One of my favorite quotes of all time, is by Stephen King, from his book “On Writing” (which I cannot recommend enough!). Of course, he is referring to being an author – but this message can be easily bent to suit your own pursuits:

Put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room. Life isn’t a support system for art. It’s the other way around.”

Here’s to life support via passion.

For the entire month, his video “Alaska Railroad Adventures” (featuring the incredible Alaska Railroad journey from Anchorage to Seward – and back again!) will be featured on Tripfilms.com‘s home page. Tripfilm’s quote says it far better than I ever could:

We are riveted by all of AlaskaHDTV’s stunning shows that capture the natural beauty of Alaska and showcase the people in a new light.

Well said. Congrats my friend. Well deserved!

You can follow Scott (and Alaska HDTV) on Facebook & Twitter.

Without further ado, here is Scott’s award winning video – “Alaska Railroad Adventures”!

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 chemicals? Rancid developers, horrid fixer baths, and acrid sweat drenched trays? Oh, sure… I see where one could learn to love that kinda thing… Not.

One wonders, when an ex-photographer enters politics, you never hear them say, “I never inhaled”…

Oh, that’s right. There’s no such thing as an ‘ex-photographer’. And none lack enough intelligence to enter the political arena. And…. off my soapbox.

I never felt the allure of the darkroom; with the red lights and cancer-inducing toxins. I can’t even say that it was my generation, because several of my friends truly enjoyed their time in the darkroom. I’m sure they never inhaled, too.

For me, I was intensely drawn to ‘color’. I didn’t see the world in black, white and shades of gray, so I had a difficult time transforming the world I saw (in all of its beautiful hues) into a monochrome fantasy. Even though I loved the work of Ansel Adams, I was rarely compelled to attempt to emulate him. Instead, I drew more from the likes of Galen Rowell, David Muench, Jim Brandenburg and the other masters. Each of these photographers are (or ‘were’, for the late, great Galen Rowell) known primarily for their color photography.

But every now-and-then, I feel drawn towards this monochromatic medium. There can be a subtle richness to the ‘color’ within a black & white image. A velvety feel in some prints, and an abrasive roughness to others. Black & white photography forces the photographer to focus their creativity on composition, light, form and texture. When color is abandoned, all you are left with is light.

"Bridging the Gap". Chugach National Forest, Alaska. ©2011 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D Mk 2, Canon 24-105 @ 40mm. 6" @ f/16, ISO 100. B+W C-PL).

This past Saturday, I was joined by Jena and my good friend Scott Slone (of Alaska HDTV & Perfect Blend Media) on a rainforest hike in Portage Valley. It was the consummate Spring day in Alaska. Rainy, overcast, and more than a little gloomy. But, as the saying goes, “when life hands you lemons, make lemonade”.

This section of rainforest is very easy to get to, but only if you know just where to look for it. Once under the dense canopy, the lower branches of the Sitka Spruce are draped under locks of dripping cat-tail moss, and the forest floor is a rolling carpet of dense green white-toothed peatmoss. It is a damp environment, even on sunny days. The different mosses and liverworts act as a sound-dampening material, and most of the outside world is drowned out as the forest begs you deeper. Before long, you’ve walked a 1/2 mile into the ancient woods and the forest has enveloped you. The only sounds are those of creaking trees and branches, the faint rustling of leaves, and dripping water falling into small puddles on the forest floor. Somewhere, an eagle shrieks, a forlorn cry quickly muffled by the deep forest.

Scott and I scouted this area last weekend (again, in the rain). These two trees lurch out of the ground and spread their root systems up against the mountain side, the terrain becoming much steeper just feet behind this forbidding tangle. I was instantly drawn to the shapes they created; embracing but not quite holding each other, falling apart but not quite separated. Struggling to maintain their existence at the border between mountain and forest. The second image was taken from a small rise, perched somewhat precariously on another moss covered root system. The first photograph was taken from directly below the trees; a wide-angle lens was used to exaggerate the arching of the roots – which (I believe) accurately documents their perilous footing. Each was processed in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Photoshop CS5; including some cloning of minor deadfall twigs (that, as usual, are better left where they fell), contrast adjustments, dodging and burning, and a slight vignette to the edge of each frame.

I’m very interested in which photograph you prefer, and why. Or do you recommend I give up and take up basket weaving?  I happen to like them both, equally – yet for different reasons. Please consider voicing your opinion(s) in the comments. I really appreciate your feedback.

Stay tuned…

Wild Lands & Wild Life: Denali Highway Fall Color Tour – 2011

Clearwater Mountain Sunrise, Alaska ©2011 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D Mk 2, 70-200L f4 IS @ 200mm. 1/5" @ f/16, ISO 200)

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 Tours & Workshops page
• Have them sign up for a 2011 photo tour with me & mention you as a referral with a way to contact you
• The client must complete the photo tour
• Check your mail for a $100 check

Restrictions?

• Well, you can’t refer yourself. But yes, your wife/husband can…
• The client must complete the photo tour before you get your $100 check
• NO restrictions on the number of clients you can refer, except for tour size limits. Refer 4 people that complete any tour, get $400!
• In order to qualify, you must post a link to my Alaskan Photo Tours & Workshops page on your personal blog, website, twitter, and/or Facebook page.

If you are already a client on an upcoming tour  (or a previous tour) and you refer another new client, you get $200! Again, no limit on the number of people – except until tours are full for 2011. That on top of the already-in-place $200 off for any returning client, and you can really add up some savings!

Not too shabby, huh? Time to start spreading the word!

Aurora #1, Clearwater Range, Alaska ©2011 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D Mk 2, Tokina 16-28/2.8 @ 16mm. 20" @ f/2.8, ISO 3200)

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 were ‘quite good’ shows, 2 were fantastic, and very early Tuesday morning was… well, unequivocally incredible.

We moved our group to a small knoll a quarter mile from the lodge. Above us and rising over the lodge were the Clearwater Mountains, just south of the mighty Alaska Range. Towering over them was a single band of green. It started around 10 pm Monday evening and developed over the next 2 hours. Just after midnight, it erupted and the sky caught fire. We had every classic auroral formation known: curtains, arcs, striations, pillars and a writhing corona directly overhead. We witnessed green, burgundy, yellows and reds. It lasted for about an hour, and then waned. A bright green haze covered the majority of the sky for several hours afterward.

For the most part, the Koreans in my tour were quiet and reserved people through much of our time together. That changed dramatically when the aurora formed that night. Cheers and a tangible awe rose from that small knoll in the middle of a snow covered wilderness. They reverberated off the mountains and climbed up to greet the incredible light show far above.

It was a night I will never forget. A moonless night where the brilliance in the sky made the ground at our feet glow a soft electric green.

I’d be terribly remiss to not thank my good friends, Claude & Jennifer Bondy (owners of Alpine Creek Lodge and our hosts for the 6 day tour), their lodge employee Kyle (I’ve rarely met a harder worker, especially at such a young age!), and of course my good friend Scott Slone of Alaska HDTV – I couldn’t have done it without your help, buddy.

All the seats have been filled for my upcoming Aurora Borealis, Winter Landscapes & Wildlife Photo AdvenTour (March 26-31), but I am starting a list for next years offerings. So, after the success of the first tour, it is never too early to get on the list for March of 2012 – people are already looking to sign up. This is a destination adventure that you don’t want to miss. Click this link to send me an email to join the list!

Aurora over Alpine Creek Lodge, Alaska. ©2011 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D Mk 2, Tokina 16-28/2.8 @ 16mm. 5" @ f/2.8, ISO 3200)

Stay tuned…

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 “Internal Camera Unit” and is a removable and customizable camera compartment that works seamlessly with each F-stop Mountain Series Bag. The camera bag is designed to operate like a cross between a great backcountry pack and a easy access camera bag – so you get the flexibility of carrying the camera gear you need to get the shot and the outdoor gear to keep you comfortable and safe while doing it.

I am frequently ‘off trail’, climbing a mountain in Alaska’s backcountry, navigating a glacier, photographing moose several miles up a valley, or bald eagles along the coast. If the reviews some of my peers have been posting are any indication, F-stop bags should handle everything I throw at them, with ease.

I will have a full review of their Tilopa BC camera bag when mine arrives in just a couple days. I’m really excited to put my new gear through its paces.

Be sure to check out the main F-stop website here & when you are ready to order, please click this link to take you to F-stop’s official store and let them know I sent you.

Stay tuned!

I live here. I travel here as often as possible and I love good food – so I feel pretty good about my recommendations, and my clients have echoed my reviews upon returning from their successful adventures.

I’ve had a list of trusted links on this site for quite some time, but it was always a little hidden. It kind of slipped through the cracks in the hustle and bustle of operating a photo tour company. Well, it’s time to put this page front and center. The businesses I’ve listed on this page had no idea I was going to add them to this list or that I was reviewing them for this project. I wanted to feel like a regular traveler, and not have extra attention thrown my way like a professional reviewer might. Some of these locations and services have become good friends since I’ve utilized their services, and I’m lucky to call them friends.

With a comfy bed to recover in, good food to refuel with, and safe + qualified + knowledgeable guides to show you the way, your Alaskan trip of a lifetime will have a much higher likelihood of success.

This is just a start, over 30 businesses for now. What are they qualifications for being listed here?

#1 – I trust them.

#2 – They offer an amazing service & have passion.

#3 – They are good people.

#4 – Your experience is their paramount concern.

Enough said.

Don’t see your business listed here? Send me an invite. If you match my 4 criteria, I’ll be happy to add you!

If you are interested in seeing who made the cut, just clickee the linkee.

Best Lodges, Restaurants and Guides in Alaska.

1. Best Photos of 2010 by Jim M. Goldstein – JMG-Galleries
2. Best Photos of 2010 by Matthias Wassermann – Mawpix.com
3. Exploring Light -Top Photos 2010 – Chris Moore
4. My Top Ten Photos for 2010 – Tom Varden
5. My Top Ten Photos of 2010 | Craig’s Musings – Craig Vitter
6. Top 10 Photos for 2010 | Dobson Central – Ken Dobson
7. Best Photos of 2010 – Carol Bauer
8. My Best photos from 2010 – Janis Janums
9. My Best Photos of 2010 – David Taylor | SixtyoneNorth.com
10. 2010 – Year In Review – Jon McCormack Photography – Jon McCormack
11. S Zacharias: Best of 2010 – Stephen Zacharias
12. 2010 Photos – David Hernandez
13. Iceman Photography – Top 10 in 2010
14. Best of 2010 – Dave Wilson
15. Skolai Images – Bears of 2010 – Carl Donohue
16. My Best Photos From 2010 – Art Kuntz
17. 2010 in Review – Jay Goodrich
18. My Favourite Images of 2010 – Sven Seebeck
19. Lunchisoptional: Favorites of Year: 2010 Edition — Ken Trout
20. My ten favorite photos of 2010 – Stefan Bäurle
21. Top 10 of 2010 – Behind The Clicks – Mohammad Noman
22. Top Ten Photos Of 2010 – Jed Link
23. 2010 in Review – kRiZ cPEc Photo Blog
24. Chuqui.com- Best Photos 2010 – Chuq Von Rospach
25. My Favorite Photos of 2010 – Ed Rosack
26. 2010 Favorites – Pat Ulrich | Pat Ulrich Photography
27. Favorites of 2010 – Kevin Moore
28. Top 10 of 2010 from BlazingB Photography – Bill Pennington
29. My Favorite Photos of 2010 – Mike Criss
30. My faves from 2010 – Matt Smith
31. My favourite shots of 2010 – Catalin Marin | Momentary Awe
32. 2010 a Year in Review, My Top 10 Memorable/Favorite shots – Mike Criswell
33. Craig Ferguson Images – A Year In Photos – Craig Ferguson
34. Top 50 Images from 2010 and Goal Setting – Mike Cavaroc
35. Jim’s Photography – Jim Wheeler
36. Sharpimage.net – The best of 2010 – David Sharp
37. StephenWeaver Photography/Earth Systems Imaging-Stephen G. Weaver
38. Best of 2010 – Changing Perspectives – Jenni Brehm
39. katzekotz.de – best of 2010 – Thomas Kneppeck
40. 2010 Favorite Images – Alpenglow Images – Greg Russell
41. Best Images of 2010 – Peter Cox Photography – Peter Cox
42. Best of 2010| Simon Says – Simon Ponder
43. My Favorites Shots of 2010 – Fine Art Prints – Jeff Colburn
44. Mountain and Climbing Photography – Alexandre Buisse
45. Siam In Contrast 2010 – Adrian Young
46. Olivier Du Tré | 2010 in review (black and white) | 2010 in review (colour)– Olivier Du Tré
47. John Dunne Photography | My Top 10 Favourite Images of 2010 – John Dunne
48. Best of 2010 Flickr Set – Tony Rath
49. Top 10 from 2010 – Behind-the-lens-lukey – Luke Weymark
50. Evan Gearing Photography’s Top 10 of 2010 – Evan Gearing
51. 2010 Photos in Review: Water – Rebecca R Jackrel
52. Justin Korn [dot] com – Best of 2010 – Justin Korn
53. My Best Photos of 2010: Learning and Growing> – D. Travis North
54. Uncommon Depth – Roberta Murray
55. Organic Light Photography Best of 2010 – Youssef Ismail / Organic Light Photography
56. The Best of 2010 – blackandwhite.ie – Neil McShane
57. My Best of 2010 – Larry Rosenstein
58. Will Wohler Photography: 2010 A Year in Review – Will Wohler
59. digitizedchaos – best of 2010 – rian castillo
60. My Top 10 from 2010 – Chaz Curry Photography
61. My best underwater photos 2010 – Suzy Walker
62. Favorite Photographs From 2010 – Fine Art Landscape Photography of Seung Kye Lee
63. Best photos from 2010 – Amanda Herbert
64. Wrapping Up 2010: My Favorite Photographs – Ivan Makarov Photography
65. Graf Nature Photography | Reflections on 2010 photographs – MARK GRAF
66. VACANT SHOP IN DOWNTOWN SANTA BARBARA – G. Kaltenbrun
67. Pat O’Brien Photography – A Look Back at 2010 – Pat O’Brien
68. G Dan Mitchell – 2010 Favorites – G Dan Mitchell
69. Favorite Photo of 2010 – Naturalvision-photo.com –Derek Griggs
70. Crest, Cliff & Canyon – Jackson Frishman
71. 2010 In Review – Photoimagery.net – Peter McCabe
72. Favorite Photos from 2010 – In the Field Photo Blog – Richard Wong
73. Year in Review Best Photos of 2010 – Matt Graham Photo Blog – Matt Graham
74. Elizabeth Brown Photography PhotoBlog: Ten Favorite Photos of 2010 – Elizabeth Brown
75. My Top Photos of 2010 – Jonesblog – Bryan William Jones
76. latoga photograph: My Favorite Photos of 2010 – Greg A. Lato
77. Best of 2010 Images – Rob Tilley
78. Living Wilderness: 12 Best from 2010 – Kevin Ebi
79. Highlights of 2010 – TO KNOW MORE WEB JOURNAL – KENT MEARIG
80. My Best Photos of 2010 – Michael Russell | Michael Russell Photography
81. Best Photographs of 2010 – Chuck Goolsbee
82. Favourite Photos from 2010 – Tim Smalley
83. My Best 10 Photos 2010 – A Reconnection to Nature – Mark Fenwick
84. Best of 2010 – Quotidian Photography – Jessica Sweeney
85. My Top Images of 2010 – ANDREW KEE
86. A Photo A Day… Done! – WelliverPhotography – Beth Welliver
87. Batsto Village – Louis Dallara Photo Blog – Louis Dallara
88. Best 10 of 2010 – John Wall’s Natural California
89. 10 from 2010 on the Ann-alog – Ann Torrence
90. Favorite Photos from 2010 – My Photo Blog – Ron Niebrugge
91. My favorite photos 2010 on Flickr – Markus Heinisch
92. My best photos of 2010 – Mike Hellers
93. Dave Reichert’s Best Of 2010 – Dave Reichert
94. Photographs: 2010 Revisited – Joseph Szymanski
95. Best Pics 2010 on Flickr – Michael Rubin
96. My 10 Best Shots of 2010 – ROBIN BLACK PHOTOGRAPHY – ROBIN BLACK
97. Top 10 from 2010 – Anne McKinnell
98. Vanilla Days – Best of 2010 – Pete Carr
99. Top Photos of 2010 – Gary Crabbe / Enlightened Images
100. Top Images from 2010 – Russ Bishop | Nature Photo Blog
101. Favourite photos from 2010 – Bryn Tassell
102. 10 Best Photos of 2010 by Scott Thompson – Scott Thompson
103. My Top 10 photos of 2010 – Alexander S. Kunz
104. My 10 Best for 2010 – Dan Baumbach
105. Unified Photography – Best Photos of 2010 – Ken Snyder
106. 5 From 2010 – Contemporary Wildlife Photography – David Lloyd
107. Top 10 Photos of 2010 – Steven Bourelle Digital Arts
108. 2010 Top Ten Photos – Andrew S Gibson
109. 2010 Reflections – Dru Stefan Stone – Dru-Color My World
110. Best of 2010 – Dave Hammaker
111. Top 20 of 2010 – Jenna Stirling
112. LandLopers.com Top Travel Photos of 2010 – Matt Long
113. Best of 2010 – Stephen Davey
114. Landscape Photography Blogger My Favorite Photos of 2010 – David Leland Hyde
115. Views Infinitum – Best of 2010 – Scott Thomas
116. One Per Trip – Favorite Travel Photos From 2010 – The Carey Adventures – PETER WEST CAREY
117. Best of 2010 – I Love It, SF – Kara Murphy
118. My top 10 pictures from 2010 – Duffy Knox
119. Burrard-Lucas Photography – Will & Matt Burrard-Lucas
120. Hank Christensen Photography Top 10 2010 – Hank Christensen
121. My Best Photos from 2010 – 365-1/4 Sra
122. Top Ten Images of 2010 – Michael Frye
123. Jono Hey’s Best of 2010 on Flickr – JONO HEY
124. My Favorite Photographs from 2010 – Stories From Home –David Patterson
125. My 2010 Best Images of California and Arizona – Steve Sieren
126. My Top 10 Landscapes of 2010 – Andre Leopold
127. Best of 2010 set on Flickr – Erik Turner
128. This was 2010 on Flickr – Jeffrey Van Daele
129. Top 10 of 2010 – Brian Mangano
130. Best Photos of 2010 – KBTImages – Kevin Thornhill
131. Best Photos of 2010 – The Sun Shines & The Igloo Melts
132. Top 10 of 2010 – Chad Griggs
133. Best Photos of 2010 – WASEEF AKHTAR
134. My Favorite Images from 2010 – Outdoor Exposure Photography by Sean Bagshaw – Sean Bagshaw
135. My Best Shots of 2010 – Annika Ruohonen Photography – Annika Ruohonen
136. Top sights from 2010 – Mariana Travieso Bassi
137. Year 2010 in Korwel Photography – Iza Korwel
138. WISCONSIN SUMMER – Jarrod Erbe
139. Best Photos of 2010 – Jim Stamates
140. Top 10 of 2010 – Younes Bounhar
141. Light on the Landscape Photoblog/My Favorite Images of 2010 – WILLIAM NEILL
142. My Best Photos of 2010 – Itsa a greyt day for a photo – Terri Jacobson
143. Listening to Nature Photography Blog by Rhoda Maurer – RHODA MAURER
144. My favorites of 2010 – David Richter
145. Best of 2010 – View from the Little Red Tent – Edie Howe
146. tmophoto best of 2010 – Thomas O’Brien
147. Best Photos Of 2010 – Dawnstar Australis – Daniel McNamara
148. Top 10 of 2010 – Cranial Aperture – Jeffrey Yen
149. 10 Best Favorites of 2010 – Sudheendra Kadri
150. Flickr – Best of 2010 – Chris Arts
151. Flickr: Best of 2010 – Heidi Donat
152. Best Photo of 2010 – Anton Huo
153. Best of 2010 – Travel & Landscape – Eugene Cheng
154. Preetalina Photography: 2010 Favorites – Preeti Desai
155. Hidden Light Photography 2010 Favorites – Alan Williams
156. 5Mae 2010 Favourites Flickr Set – Sarah-Mae
157. Best Photos of 2010 – John Fujimagari
158. Best of 2010 – Paavani Bishnoi
159. Best Photos of 2010 – Phil Colla
160. 100 Favorites from 2010 – Patrick J. Endres
161. Top Ten Of 2010 – Steve Cole Photography
162. Some of My Favorite Images From 2010 – Clark Crenshaw Photography

We were disheartened, and immediately started to consider backup plans. None of which included the large expanse of beauty surrounding us. We thought of hiking all the way back to the car and driving further south to scout other locations. But we both hesitated when we saw another trail branching off. It hadn’t seen the same use as the main trail, but as Robert Frost once beautifully wrote,

“I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

No, this image wasn’t created while taking this less used trail. It happened because we stuck around and explored. Instead of packing up our gear and heading for a different location, we settled in and embraced our surroundings. In turn, Winter embraced us.

This seems to be a recurring theme with me. I’ve taken paths less traveled throughout my life. Sure, I went to college. And like many others, I dropped out. But I did it with style, I did it twice. I got a great job with a great group of people in my hometown. It was where I was comfortable, the job was comfortable, the future I saw was… comfortable. I saw myself in five years with a wife, a nice 3 bedroom ranch-style home, two and a half kids and a mortgage. Very soon, that future became less comfortable. In it’s predictability it became dull. Early on I adopted the writing of another writer, Marcel Proust,

“The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

But I needed new landscapes. I needed a new voyage. And perhaps I reasoned that those landscapes needed to be seen with my new eyes. So I set my eyes on Alaska, and upon developing my photography in “The Great Land”. Marcel Proust also wrote about dreaming,

“If a little dreaming is dangerous, the cure for it is not to dream less but to dream more. To dream all the time.”

I decided to stop dreaming of Alaska and a career in photography and take a chance. My dream became my reality. I took a path that may not have been as comfortable for me, or my parents. But they grew to accept it and have always supported my path. It was a path less traveled by. And it, like my families support, has made all the difference.

"Winter's Embrace", Chugach National Forest ©2010 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D Mk 2, 24-105 @ 24mm. 1/13" @ f16, ISO 200. Singh-Ray 2 Stop Soft-Edge Grad ND)

Although this particular image is only a few days old, this scene has been acting out each winter for ages. I just happened to stumble upon it this go around. As day gave way to night, the forest closed in and embraced us once again.

How many times has similar light settled in across this valley, brushed across those trees, glanced upon that mountain, and bathed that cold sky in warmth? Certainly it has done so before and will do so again. Some sunsets are more spectacular, some less – these are “The Challengers”, and they always return.

This was a good afternoon, and if for no other reason than to see “The Challengers”, I will return too.

Consider your path through life. Are you “comfortable” in it? Or is there a path that would make all the difference?

This image has been added to my “Best Nature Photos of 2010″ Gallery.

____________________

“Paths Less Taken”

I have a 2 seats left in the “Aurora, Winter Landscapes & Wildlife Photo AdvenTour” from March 26-31, 2011. So if you are looking for a path definitely less taken, this might be right up your alley. Click here to view the aurora photo tour description page.

Also available are a few seats on my “Cordova: Wild Lands & Wild Life” Photo Tour. This is a one-of-a-kind Alaska destination. It is less visited and holds an amazing variety of subjects that have not been shot to death like so many other places. Imagine, just a small group of like-minded photographers around you, surrounded by an amazing wilderness of glaciers, mountains, rainforest, ocean and sky. All while staying at a beautiful coastal adventure lodge… How does that sound? Click here to view this unique Alaskan photo tour description page.

Guy Tal

A few days ago, I “sat down” with professional photographer and writer, Guy Tal. Guy lives in Torrey, Utah, and specializes in photographing wild spaces in the American Southwest. I recently reviewed his new eBook, “Creative Landscape Photography” and found it to be vital reading material that belongs on every nature photographer’s book shelf (physical or digital). I’ve been a fan of Guy’s photography and writing for several years now, since I first started participating in various photography forums. His photography is absolutely stunning and shines through in its inherent simplicity. It makes you drop your jaw in awe. His writing is inspirational and contemplative, subtle in style but bold in context. It makes you think.

Jay Goodrich, a friend of Guy’s, said it best in his review of the new eBook. “It is very rare for a person to master multiple disciplines and Guy proves his mastery with this new book.” In fact, Guy excels at this interweaving of disciplines. It’s a rare gift, and yet Guy seems to be at ease when standing before both canvases.

© Guy Tal

This interview was a lot of fun for me to do. I got to delve deeper into the mind of one of today’s greatest outdoor photographers. Just as I did in his eBook, I learned a great deal from our emailed conversations. I considered myself to be a fairly thoughtful photographer, but I now know that I have a long ways to go if I desire to reach the same level of intimateness with a landscape that Guy has achieved.

But that’s the point, isn’t it? Reaching that level of enlightenment is only part of the fun. It’s not only about the destination, but the journey as well.

I hope you enjoy this interview with Guy Tal. Please find links to his various sites and social networking options after the interview.

1 – Let’s start with the obligatory opening question. Was it the chicken or the egg that came first? Your love of the natural world that drove you to pick up a camera, or was it the camera that led you outdoors? How old were you?

2 – When did you realize that you were meant to be a photographer?

3 – What did you do before you made the transition to a full time photographer? Was that shift in careers difficult? Are there things that you would do differently, if you could do it all over again?

4 – From the outside looking in, one of the few things that rivals your photography is your writing prowess. Is the writing process something that you’ve nurtured or struggled with or was it a natural transition to help ‘complete the story arc’ after you’ve clicked the shutter? Is it truly the fact that, although a picture may be worth a thousand words, images with words speak volumes?

© Guy Tal

5 – You’ve recently released your brilliant ebook, ‘Creative Landscape Photography’. I’m not the only one that thinks it is a “must have” for every nature photographer’s library. It seems that, like me, you really enjoy the ‘sharing of concepts’ and education of photography – whether through your website, books, or workshops. Do you ever consider that you might be training your competition? You seem very candid and open about your ‘process’. Did you ever consider ‘holding back’ on the amount you share out of ‘self-preservation’?

6 – Are there any ‘secrets’ any more, and do they do any good to our art and profession?

© Guy Tal

7 – How long did the process of writing this ebook take, from concept to distribution?

8 – Any plans for a hardcopy, or version 2.0?

9 – I can’t count how many times I’ve been told, “You must have a nice camera”. How much does gear factor in? Is there a piece of gear that you’d really like to get your hands on?

© Guy Tal

10 – You primarily use 35 mm digital equipment. Have you ever been tempted to switch to medium format digital, or do you feel that the advantages of size, weight and flexibility – not to mention cost – of the 35mm digital SLR system outweighs any resolution advantages that medium format can offer?

11 – What impact do you hope to have with your career? Is it legacy as an artist, conservation of wild places, be known as one of the premier photographic educators, or all of the above?

12 – Many photographers, myself included, feel that photographers should “make images for themselves first” and not for what they may believe will sell or that others may like? Do you agree with this and why? What is your motivation when you take a photograph?

© Guy Tal

13 – Do you recommend that photographers diversify their portfolio or specialize in a certain theme/genre, and why?

14 – What are your personal goals for your images. Do you aim for  ”realism”, or your personal perception of a scene? What are your ethical considerations, both for conduct in the field and in the digital darkroom?

15 – Do you find that the longer you photograph, the less the work of others inspires you, and the more the landscape takes hold of the inspiration? As a follow up question: are there exceptions?

16 – The late Galen Rowell spoke of “murdering your darlings”. He took the phrase from a writer who used it as a way to get away from a phrase that they really wanted to use, but couldn’t find the correct context to make it work. The writer reasoned that this fascination with a phrase was actually holding them back from seeing other options. In Galen’s context it was an idea for an image that may be hindering his ability to see other beautiful compositions. Do you have any ‘darlings’ that you have kept in your mind, an image idea that, despite repeated attempts, has been ever elusive?

17 – Any advice for amateur photographers that want to take their art to the next level?

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions, Guy!