Sixtyone North » Spring

May 2011 – Print of the Month – “The Glow of Spring”

David Taylor — Tue, 03 May 2011 18:16:41 +0000

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.

Want to be kept up to date about all of my Photo Workshops & AdvenTours, tips & tricks, and news? Only Newsletter subscribers receive special discounts on Print of the Month Collectors Prints! Click here to sign up for the free Newsletter. Looking for a way to experience wilderness on a whole new level? Want to step into the Alaskan environment and witness incredible Wild Lands & Wild Life? Be sure to click here to look at The Best Photo Tours offered in Alaska.

Monochrome Fantasy. Which Do You Prefer?

David Taylor — Mon, 02 May 2011 01:49:49 +0000

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.

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…

My Best Photos of 2010

David Taylor — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 07:25:35 +0000

For the past few years, Jim Goldstein has been doing a very fun project to celebrate the efforts of hundreds of photographers over the past 365 days. His “Your Best Photos of 2010″ Project is an amalgamation of a huge variety of photographic and artistic styles, locations, and subjects. It’s always fascinating to see what everyone turns in, and I really enjoy looking back on my years efforts – both successes and failures. I was only able to get to a small fraction of the locations I had hoped to visit, but I’m very happy with this years portfolio. Please let me know which images are your favorites by leaving a comment below!

Here’s to this past year, and a New Year ahead!

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

And one “sh!tty” photograph…

Looking for an amazing way to spend 2011? Consider joining me on a unique Alaskan Photo Tour! Amazing destinations, incredible wildlife, fantastic landscapes. 3 photo tours. 1 amazing state.

Alaska Photo AdvenTours.

Check out The Best Photos of 2009 list on Jim Goldstein’s website.

Field of Lupine and Sheridan Glacier

David Taylor — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 05:30:23 +0000

Not quite sure why I never posted this on the blog before… sometimes I amaze myself. I am really happy with this image, from my last tour to Cordova. There are still a few seats on my small group tour to Cordova in June of 2011. I’ll be posting a full tour description soon, but if you are interested in being on the short list for this tour – don’t wait! Contact me now.

Stay tuned…

The Hartney Bay Experience

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 06:44:30 +0000

Hartney Bay is well known for the visiting migratory birds. This location sees a lot of birds the first week of May.

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.

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.

Stay tuned.

Perspectives

admin — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 04:32:31 +0000

It can be very difficult to portray certain scenes, especially landscapes and macro photos, so that scale is evident. Unless you were standing there yourself, size is all a guessing game. So here is a quick snap I took of one of my clients from this recent tour to Cordova, Eric B. of Missouri.

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).

Stay tuned.

I Can’t Believe it’s not Butter…cup?

admin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:48:42 +0000

Just a quick post to show another variety of wildflower that is everywhere in Cordova. The wild buttercup. I thought this would make a decent subject in front of a group of out of focus lupine as the background. Ahhh… Cordova…

Stay tuned.

Inside the Sapphire Funhouse

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 07:12:52 +0000

Sometimes, words can’t possibly do a place justice.

Sometimes, pictures fall short.

Sometimes, a location hits you so hard that it literally changes your outlook.

It sets your mind reeling, sways your body, and makes your heart long to return – even before you’ve left.

For me, Cordova is that place.

The old saying is so appropriate. “Life is not about how many breaths you take, but how many moments take your breath away.”

I just returned from leading a small group photo tour to Cordova, on the eastern edge of Prince William Sound. Cordova is one of my favorite places on the planet – off the beaten path, yet logistically possible. It holds great variety: ocean, coastline, rainforest, mountains, glaciers, immense river delta. For photographers – it truly is the undiscovered country. I’m already planning a longer tour for next year – shoot me an email if you are interested in traveling to this incredible land – you won’t regret it.

Over the next couple of posts, I’ll be sharing some images from this recent tour. I may not say much, because I can’t adequately describe this place – perhaps that speaks loudest. For me, the images will always fall short – that’s what keeps me going & gives me good reason to return. My mind is still reeling, my body still swaying (some of that is due to our time on the water shooting sea otters), and my heart longs to return.

This first post is dedicated to the Sheridan Glacier. I’m still trying to catch my breath.

Lining the trail to the glacier, and then rimming the hills overlooking it were fields of lupine. We caught them at their prime.

But the real adventure lay within the glacier. Now, a quick note. Glacier travel is inherently dangerous. I recommend traveling with a glacier guide if at all possible and respect the glacier’s ability to swallow you whole. I also recommend never going inside a glacial ice cave – they are one of the more dangerous aspects to a glacier. Seriously.

Now that I have that out of the way…

This particular cave was perhaps 30 feet deep and around 8 feet tall at the center. My 3 trips inside were perhaps the scariest yet most amazing I’ve had behind a camera. The blue is unbelievable. The sense of claustrophobia chokes you. The photographic opportunities were mind boggling. I wish I had more time, but these things can collapse at any moment. The only thing better than being inside an ice cave with your camera, is coming out again with photographs.

I have lots more photos to post.

Stay tuned.

The World Up Close

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 06:14:15 +0000

Here in Alaska, we are heading into prime time for wild flowers. It starts in early June and rolls on through August. Lupine, wild rose, forget-me-nots, columbine, monkshood, fireweed… and so many more. Alaska is known for its grand landscapes, and they are grand. But the macro world has so much to offer here. Here’s a small selection of some recent images, taken over the past 2 weeks.

I’m heading back to Cordova tomorrow. Absolutely, positively, one of my favorite places on the planet. I will probably be out of contact for a while, since wifi and cell coverage is spotty there… at best. But that’s one of the reasons I like it so much, it is one of the best places to unplug. Until I return, I hope you all have a great weekend – and get out and shoot, wherever you are!

Stay tuned!

Dirt is Beautiful

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 05:02:05 +0000

Yeah. I said it.

I love dirt.

Rather, I love silt. Glacial silt to be specific. Glacial silt is velvety, the granules are so small that it is more like a powder, or talc. A few weekends ago, Jena and I went out to the Matanuska Glacier. Watching someone who has never seen a glacier before (other than in photographs and videos) standing atop one is a a great experience.

Something changes in a person when they witness something so gigantic beneath their feet. Something that has seen so much history. Something that starts as a light, ephemeral snow flake. It is hard to conceive that that same snow flake can slice through a mountain, carve valleys, and transform a landscape completely over many millennia. The things that glacier has witnessed; ice ages, devastating earthquakes, volcanoes erupting then becoming dormant and repeating the cycle. Forests growing from grasslands newly seeded, then plowed over by the advancing ice sheet. Ancient people. Mammoth, sabre toothed tigers, and gazelles on a continent that would become known as North America. We are but a flash in a pan compared to the enduring legacy of the glacier.

If we are lucky, we may walk this land for 100 years. Many glaciers are several thousands of years old. Sometimes, they are much older. As the snow falls in the mountains, it is compressed over time by later flurries and blizzards. When there is enough weight, the air is compressed as the snow becomes ice. The weight of the ice is pulled down hill. If there is enough weight and enough ice, it will level/carve/grind through anything in its way.

As the ice sheet flows down over rock and earth, mountains are ground down to large boulders, rocks, pebbles, then into silt. These pieces are carried along on top of and within the ice strata. Finally, when the ice reaches the end of its journey, the silt is flushed away from melt water and deposited for miles in front of the glacier. Sometimes, hundreds of miles from its source.

The patterns glacial silt take on can be mesmerizing; swirls, strata, etchings, dunes and channels. The variety is endless, as are the colors and textures. It’s a playground for intimate landscape photographs – not quite macros, and not landscapes. These are the remnants of ancient mountain ranges, from lands that were never witnessed by human eyes. Standing atop the Matanuska Glacier, I reached down and cradled a small fistful of damp silt in my right hand. In that moment, I held a mountain and stood atop the ruins of countless others.

Stay tuned…