With the knowledge that autumn passes us by quickly in this part of the world and that opportunities are fleeting, I’ve recently been on a personal mission to document the changing season as thoroughly as possible. Too often though, I find myself looking at the same scene - the grand vista, if you will; so I made it my goal to take a more intimate look at this valley, to appreciate the smaller aspects and all that is happening right in front of me. I admire photographers who can celebrate the ordinary and find beauty in the most common, overlooked places. To me, that is the mark of a true artist. This morning, I found the inspiration I’ve been searching for and took a closer look at autumn in Eagle River Valley. See also: Autumn Colors
A collection of images taken during winter months at the Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska. Most of these were created since taking up residence here in October of 2014.
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Here comes the sun!! After a two-month absence, sunlight has returned to our little corner of Eagle River Valley. I created this time-lapse around noon on January 30, approximately 34 minutes and 288 images condensed into a 12-second clip.
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Since first visiting Denali in 1996, I have returned dozens of times, often in early September when the autumn colors are peaking around North America's tallest mountain. If I were to add up all of my trips into Denali, they would collectively equate to months spent in one of my most cherished places.
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Moving water is one of my favorite subjects. No two waves are identical and therefore, no two photographs are ever the same. This is a collection of seascapes from Alaska, Oregon and New Zealand.
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Harsh, beautiful, and unforgiving; the arctic landscape is like none other. In August of 2006 I fulfilled my dream of visiting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, on a rafting trip with two great friends, Chris McMichael and Leif Heide. We floated from the foothills of the Brooks Range to the coastal plain, enduring horizontal rain and freezing temps along the way.
As a native Minnesotan, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area is a sacred place that is famous for foggy sunrises, grand waterfalls and solitude. Most of my visits to the BWCA took me across the border into Ontario's Quetico Park as well.
While I love the vast wildness and endless opportunities of life in Alaska, I do miss the weather patterns and extreme temperature variations in my home state of Minnesota, which make for stunning skyscapes.
Every day is a constant reminder of why I call Alaska home. Mountain vistas and vast, wild spaces.
Beginning in late November each year when the sun is low on the southern horizon, this part of Eagle River Valley receives no direct sunlight for approximately two months. In order to celebrate the return of the light, I created this time-lapse video on January 30, 2018; consisting of 25 minutes and 288 images condensed into a 12-second clip.
The Crow Pass Trail is a 23-mile trek that begins in Girdwood and ends at the Eagle River Nature Center (Alaska); climbing 2,000 feet from the trailhead to the top of Crow Pass and descending 4,000 feet to Eagle River, where hikers must ford the swift, icy glacial water. The river crossing is roughly the halfway point. It is a very popular trek and each summer the trail sees several hundred hikers. Despite its popularity, it is a true backcountry experience and not for the faint of heart. There are several water crossings and steep portions where sure footing is essential.
Autumn, the most magical time of year. See also: A Closer Look at Autumn
Images of the spectacular, mountainous Eagle River Valley during the long days of Alaskan summer.
Double Rainbow
