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)
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What a great set of pictures! In all the pictures it’s so neat to see the star field along with the northern lights!
Great stuff Patrick. I should not have had those two beers with the pizza at 3 a.m. that first night.
Ditto Mark!!! but glad I went back out. Is that you in number 23?
Hi Patrick. It’s possible the third person in the background is me, but there’s not enough detail to say for certain. I think the first in the photo is Darren, not sure who the second one is, but it looks like they were using a Manfrotto/Bogen tripod. James perhaps? Next time someone offers me beer on a night like that someone should slap me upside the head if I accept.
Aurora seems to have a diffuse side and a hard edged side. Is the diffuse side always toward the equator? I’m interested in writing a program to create aurora and wanted it to be correct. Thanks!
Jay, I’m not sure about that question.
Spectacular, Patrick!! Just so sorry I had to miss out on much of this.
Wow, what an amazing prolific display, and over such a short time frame too! Looks like a very fast lens? Is the water moving in some of those pics?
Patrick–I’ve been a fan of your aurora pictures for a long time, but these are the best! I can only imagine what it must have felt like to witness this light show.
- Karen, thanks
- Kathy, sorry you were not feeling 100% that night, but hopefully you captured some of it.
-Steve, I shot most of the stuff with the Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 and a few with the canon 24mm f/1.4, There is some flowing ice/water in a few shots. Others are reflections on ice.
[...] These images were taken earlier this month by a group of photographers. I am not sure where they were (somewhere in Alaska I think), but I know they would not have been in Anchorage … the sky is too bright because of all the city lights. http://www.alaskaphotographyblog.com/2012/10/october-northern-lights/ [...]
Patrick, these are got to be the best northern light photos I ever seen in my life!!! Congratulations! The red, the white, the green, the reflection on ice, the amazing shapes and patterns,… I am speechless! A great pleasure to meet you during dinner with Hugh and the group in Fairbanks!
Woh, Patrick. That might be your best set yet. Looking forward to doing that trip again some day. Pat
Thanks Pat and Tin Man, would love to have you both on a future trip.
Beautiful set Patrick. Hoping for a great year of Aurora photography.
Great stuff, Patrick – and to Jay, the answer is a resounding “no” ;; with the caveat that for the aurora BOREALIS (not to be confused with Australis), what you’re calling the ‘diffuse side’ is generally towards to south; but certainly not always the case.
Cheers
Carl
Thanks Mike and Carl, I wish you both some great aurora shooting this year, it could be a good one.
Steve – I thought I answered your question but I guess it did not post. Regarding moving water in the pics, yes, there is some open water, and some reflections on ice. I used both the f/1.4 and a 2.8 lens, mostly the 2.8 since it was 14mm.
You’re killing me. What an incredible display. I can close me eyes and feel the cold and exhilaration and awe. I can see the runs to the vans to warm up and jumping out again while still cold because it is all too amazing to waste time worried about being cold. Instead of seeing this breathtaking display, I experienced a different sort of nature’s awe last week: Hurricane Sandy. Man, were we ever clobbered. Still reeling here–horrible mess. By the grace of God Bri and I came through it ok. Thank you for sharing so many of the photos.
Eric, it was a great light show. Glad to hear you came through the great storm o.k.