It’s a rare experience for me to end up with photos that show the back-end side of work, of framing a picture and working in the field. Amy, an avid photographer who was on the Arrigetch trip, shared some shots of me taking pictures so I thought it would be fun to show both sides–the picture and the picture taking process. Here are a few from that magnificent journey in the Arrigetch Peaks that stands as one of my all-time favorite treks in Alaska.

UPDATE: Images from this entire shoot are now on my website: Arrigetch Peaks photos.

I chose a handful of landscape photos for this gallery, from my recent backpacking trip into the Arrigetch Peaks. The dramatic granite spires are situated in the Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska’s Brooks range mountains. All but two of these images are single exposures, processed in Lightroom. The dynamic range capability within one RAW file, when properly exposed for the scene, is remarkable.

UPDATE: Images from this entire shoot are now on my website: Arrigetch Peaks photos.

When it comes to words, Alaska gets slammed with superlatives. This is true probably because it is a big space with big views and its tough to translate into little black letters. So when I attempt to summarize my recent backpacking trip in the Arrigetch peaks, in the Gates of the Arctic National Park, I feel a bit wordless. I can say this however, the place is off the charts beautiful and dramatic. One has to pay their dues however to taste of its extravagant menu. There is a hefty bushwhacking hike uphill with a loaded pack and while the trail improves the higher you get, 60 pounds on your back makes it a jaunt. The art of backpacking unfolds quickly, and that art is the process of packing only what one needs, or in some cases, regret for either bringing or not bringing something.  Once again, my safe access and return from this beautiful place gets passed on to the air service team of Dirk and Danielle Nickisch, with Coyote Air. I’ll talk more about getting there and around in another post.

I went with two other non-photographer friends on this journey in an effort to break away from the solitary life of a nature photographer. I did photograph plenty, but enjoyed great company with friends as well. For starters, I’ll share a few pics here with more to follow in the upcoming weeks.

Me doing a hand stand on a river rock, which is just a slight gesture of the thrill it was to be in the Aquarius valley, a scenic wonderland in the heart of the Arrigetch peaks. Photo by Amy Johnson

Xanadu and the Arrigetch creek, looking up the Arrigetch creek valley, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska. Canon 5D Mark II, 24-105 (75mm), 3.2 sec @ f/18, w/polarizer, ISO 50 (I forgot my neutral density filter so I used the polarizer and ISO 50 to slow down the exposure as much as possible).

My friends Brad and Amy immersed in mountain reflections in the Arrigetch peaks, Aquarius Valley, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska. Canon 5d Mark II, 24-105 (75mm), 1/30 sec @ f/13, ISO 200

During this week I’ll be backpacking and camping in the Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska’s remote arctic region. It’s a big area and more specifically I’ll be in the Arrigetch peaks, a dramatic conglomeration of granite spires which are breathtaking to say the least. Packing for a trip that requires me to carry everything for miles on a backpack, including camera gear, mountain clothing and food (in a big bear proof canister required by the Park Service), is not a small task. Time will tell how it all works out. I’m excited to see that place from the ground as I’ve only flown over it in the past. Here is a shot I took a few years ago from my friends plane. I’ll share some imagery upon my return.

Aerial of the Arrigetch Peaks, rugged granite spires in the central Brooks Range of arctic Alaska, Gates of the Arctic National Park. The name means 'fingers of the outstreched hand' in the Inupiat language.

Noatak river flows out of the Brooks range in the Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska. Canon 5D Mark III, 24-105 f/4L IS (28mm), 1/1000 @ f/5.6, ISO 400

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 some creative opportunities as well, and I’m fond of all imagery that exhibits a powerful use of light and composition. Just for fun, I thought I would play with this photo for a few minutes in Lightroom. It was a pretty quick rendition of the file by reducing the saturation to “0″ and then cranking the blacks and contrast. It creates a rich and energetic scene, which in reality, is far more dramatic than what the human eye actually saw.

I took the image while flying with Dirk Nickisch of Coyote Air, as we traversed across the Noatak river valley in Alaska’s Brooks range. If you have followed my blog, you already know that I’m particularly fond of the magnificent Brooks range. If you are open to the idea, it will change your life in just a few glances, through its sheer immensity and wild ruggedness–it is sort of a quick work of self reduction.

When shooting aerials–use a high, high, high shutter speed, reduce wind drag on the lens as much as possible, and isolate yourself from the plane vibration, and shoot a lot of frames.

Compare with the color version.

For those photographers out there who have your camera equipment insured, you might appreciate this little bit of economic redemption. Back in 2009 I took a remote river trip in Alaska’s arctic which turned out to be a magnificent venture on many counts, and it included some equipment casualties. My Canon 5D Mark II and 24-105 ended up swimming with me in the river one day, and although I quickly dried out, my little electronic friend did not. I did have it insured, but the deductible still hurts, not to mention the hassles involved in the replacement process. That’s why it made me smile when I made a recent photo sale to Alaska Magazine from that specific trip, for the exact amount of the deductible. Furthermore, it was taken with that 5D before it went swimming. Things don’t always turn out that way, but it feels good when they do. Thanks to Angus Rose for being a great model!

Hiking in the Brooks range at the headwaters of the Nigu River, Gates of the Arctic National Park. Thanks Angus for playing model! Love those tattoos on the calf!

“There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds.”

G. K. Chesterton

My growing affinity for something as intangible and transient as clouds is the result of years of treading the land and looking up. The magic and art of the sky is ever changing, fleeting, ominous, lovely and at times simply spellbinding. I don’t know if this is a hidden source for my fondness for landscape photography, but indeed, a dramatic happening in the clouds is a sure ingredient for a striking landscape photo. The big, open and ever changing skies that unfold across Alaska’s mountainous landscape is one aspect that ties me to this chunk of geography.  I wanted to share some with you here in a gallery.

There is no lack of top five, top ten, top whatever lists…these days. When making any list or selection, the process is influenced by many factors. I’ve picked a few images, 100 to be exact that were notable to me in some way during the past year. In retrospect, my photography seemed minimized in diversity in 2010, but nevertheless was filled with many great experiences. Here is a little gallery for your enjoyment.

Wild and scenic Kobuk river, Gates of the Arctic National Preserve, western Brooks Range, Alaska. Canon 5D Mark II, 16-35mm f/2.8L (26mm), 1/800 @ f.9, ISO 400

The Kobuk river in the western Brooks range is designated a wild and scenic river. Last weekend was the first time I’ve flown over it, and it kindled an interest to make a river trip sometime in the near future. Break up this year along Alaska’s major river systems of the interior was relatively gentle, in comparison to other years when ice jams generated high water and floods throughout the Yukon river basin. While ice still filled the main channel of the Kobuk it was flowing without obstruction.

Wild and scenic Kobuk river, Gates of the Arctic National Preserve, western Brooks Range, Alaska. Canon 5D Mark II, 16-35mm f/2.8L (16mm), 1/640 @ f.9, ISO 400

The dark and foreboding clouds looming over the hills makes for a moody scene, and it reminds me how much I like this type of lighting as opposed to a cloudless, blue sky day. Although, I would have to say that the blue sky days sure make flying a little more predictable. This particular plane was not outfitted with a window that opened enough for unobstructed photography, so I had to shoot through the glass, something I’m not keen to normally do. However, the glass was very clean, and the results are not bad. It made me think however, that some sort of black fabric, like the old large format photographers used to drape over their head, would be a way to minimize reflections on the glass. But you would have to figure some way to attach it just above the top of the window. Perhaps its time for a little duct tape and piece of black fabric, it could prove useful on the next bush flight–pending the pilots approval of course. . .

Hammond River Canyon, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska. Canon 1Ds Mark III, 24-105mm (40mm), 1/1250 @ f/4, ISO 800

If you have been following my blog recently, you have seen a few images of my attempts of aerial photography in the Brooks range mountains of northern Alaska. My two trips prior to this one were confounded by the forest fire smoke that engulfed much of Alaska’s interior. Arranging and coordinating flying in accordance with the proper weather and lighting is tricky. It is further complicated by the distance between my home and this location, and the sheer vastness and weather variation of the region itself. Fortunately on this last trip, I was able to make two flights. The first one was touch and go, moving through rain showers and squalls, which produced some interesting lighting and mood, reflected in this photo of the Hammond river in the Gates of the Arctic National Park. The second trip, which was a bluebird, cloudless day, was by far less interesting. Contrary to what the average person thinks, a clear cloudless day is not the preferred scenario for a landscape photographer. Clouds obscure light, which introduce shadow and variation of tone–not total overcast clouds, but the type that let the light dance around them a bit. I was able to get a few good images on this trip but hope to be back there again in a week or so hoping for the seemingly elusive perfect conditions. Autumn and it’s richly colored landscape is under transformation right now, and one week’s more time should render it brilliant.

I flew with Coyote Air in a Dehavilland beaver with the door removed. Hooked in with a harness anchored to the seat mounts, it is a comfortable feel, even looking straight down at the radical landscapes below. As for my camera, I clip that into a shoulder harness made by Kinesis Gear, which has proved a valuable little piece of equipment not only for aerial photography work, but also to relieve the weight of heavy cameras hanging from my neck!

You might wonder why I shot this at ISO 800. I did so for the main reason of keeping the shutter speed high. Camera blur can creep in quite easily based on how much I have to torque and twist my body position, which sometimes makes me touch the frame of the plane, transferring engine vibration. Additionally, if the lens protrudes just a few inches into the draft of the open door, it will quickly generate wind vibration. Photographing while hanging out of the door of a plane sounds really cool, but because of the wind and vibration, it is not a very “true to the trade” concept. I must confess though, I bet it would be a rush indeed!