Alaska has been my home for nearly 30 years, and its epic landscape continues to lure me, both personally, and professionally as a freelance stock and assignment photographer.
I grew up in a small town in southern Wisconsin, surrounded by the rolling hills of green farmland and hardwood forests. Adolescent curiosities and dreams of the future turned my vision north, and at age eighteen I ventured to Alaska—that seemingly mythical realm of adventure and land of extremes. I am not unlike many northern sojourners, lured to Alaska for reasons of intrigue and fascination, and compelled to remain by its giant space and rugged wilderness. Adventure is the seed of discovery, and Alaska is a place fertile and rich with opportunities for both.
Alaska’s natural world serves as a gateway into ubiquitous photographic material, from which I have sampled abundantly, but it is the layers and depth of its landscapes that now lure me most. While style is often found in the rear view mirror, I know that my long-time fascination with color and light, two fundamental aspects of painting and photography, weave their way into what may be descriptive of my work. I’m constantly intrigued by the influence of one upon the other.
My professional career is best summarized by nearly 30,000 images that span the last 17 years. These images are marketed through my business stock photography website www.alaskaphotographics.com and they represent isolated moments in a fluid journey across Alaska’s vibrant landscape. Some are the result of serendipity, some of extensive planning and scouting, but all tell a small part of larger story. The process of their creation has been a voiceless, but not silent teacher, and I as the student am perpetually exhorted that the gift of seeing requires more than the eyes that see.
I’ll be sharing some visual goods and comments about my ventures here so stop back often and let this be your virtual Alaska.
Thanks for visiting,
AlaskaPhotoGraphics
2923 Moose Mountain Road
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
907.750.4065
Business office hours: 8am to 5pm Alaska Time (4 hours behind NY)
Great to see these, Pat. There’s nothing but miles and miles of flat land where I am, so it’s good to get a mountain fix!
Penny
Hey Patrick
Great collection of a great mountain. Congrats.
I think Image # is my favorite, simply because I haven’t seen it before.
From Image #16/17, I suspect we’ve stepped in each other’s footprints.
Cheers
Carl
Patrick,
Indeed a fine collection of images of The Great One!
Many years ago I sat on a Denali Park hillside looking at Denali and to rest and to take in some nourishment after a long morning of climbing for Dall sheep photos. I was also waiting for better light on the mountain so I could create some images. Other photogs passing by asked me why I wanted images of the mountain, explaining how Ansel and other great photographers had already done it and there was “no money” in creating more images of Denali. Well, I chuckled and waved them off. More to this stuff -and to life – than just making money. I find looking at the mountain theraputic and never tire of such time spent. And wouldn’t you know it, some of those images appeared in many magazines, a couple of books, advertisements, and one music album! Go figure. Move over Ansel.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Jim
Hey Patrick – of course, I totally hosed that comment .. I meant to say Image #24 is my favorite.
Cheers
Carl
Hey folks, thanks for the comments, my message notification was malfunctioning so I just saw your comments on this rather old post. So a belated response:
@Penny, glad to pass on a mountain fix for you down there, are you coming back north?
@Carl, yes, there are probably a few other locations in the state in which we have shared the same footprint.
@Jim, I concur, there is a lot to be absorbed from a view of that mountain.