Monthly Archives: June 2011

The arctic tundra expanse

The arctic tundra flats of Alaska’s north slope present a vast, expansive region filled with summer life. While it is notorious for its prodigious mosquito population, it is also a summer home to many animals and birds. The constant summer sunlight and insect population draws birds from all over the world. Apparently they consider it…

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Camouflaged willow ptarmigan

Female willow ptarmigan Camouflage is at the heart of this bird’s survival. The willow ptarmigan has many color morphs, depending on the season and the terrain in which it lives. In this case, the tundra is just awakening to spring, and the dull brown colors are a perfect match for her brown feathers. In the…

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Male king eider duck portrait

Male King Eider duck Earlier in the week I posted a photo of a male king eider duck that I took at midnight in Alaska ‘s arctic, under cloudy skies. In contrast, I wanted to share a photo of the same species, but under completely different lighting conditions.  I took this picture at 12 noon,…

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Noatak River, Gates of the Arctic NP

I’m often asked if I shoot black and white. The answer is no, in general. My world is one of color, and while I appreciate both the constraints and liberties of excluding color from an image, I generally prefer the invoked psychological elements that the inclusion of color creates. But throwing away color opens up…

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King Eider

The king eider is a bird I have long wanted to see. While it is hard to call out a favorite bird, it ranks up there with the best with its  unique features, feathers, and colors. While in the very high arctic, I had only one evening to shoot due to a tight schedule and…

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