Cooler Days

Well, we have a reprieve from the heat and the air has cleared out a bit in Eagle River Valley but it looks like we are in for more high temps later this week with no rain in the immediate forecast.

These images were taken last week, during the warm spell. I don't recall a time when the heat persisted like it did after the sun dropped behind the mountains. If you look at Eagle Peak in the second photo, you will notice a large patch of snow that broke loose last week as well.

Anyway, I will enjoy the brief respite. Thank you for following along and a reminder that I have a few spots left in my summer photography class here at the Eagle River Nature Center(Alaska) on Sunday, July 21: https://www.ernc.org/courses/digital-photography-workshop

Colin

Sunset, June 27, 2019

Sunset, June 27, 2019

Eagle Peak

Eagle Peak

Sunset, June 30, 2019

Sunset, June 30, 2019

Hazy Days

Happy Sunday, friends. What you are looking at here is Eagle Peak shrouded in the haze of wildfires. If you've visited the Eagle River Nature Center (Alaska) or perhaps if you live in the vicinity, you know how this peak looms large and prominently in the valley. It is the centerpiece in our backyard and today it is barely visible. The smoke is so pervasive that the stench is evident indoors and the temperature hit 90˙F yesterday with no relief in sight.

Uneasy times, for certain. Let's keep doing our rain dances and hope for a change soon!

Colin

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New Perspective

Sometimes all you need for a change in scenery is a change in perspective. As many times as I've photographed from this spot, I've never quite looked at the valley from this angle before, using the cow parsnip flowers as a strong foreground element.

For the record, I took this from the Beaver Viewing Deck at the Eagle River Nature Center and no flowers were harmed in the making of this photo. I did not go past the sign and below the deck, which clearly states not to enter, and thereby ruin the scene for future visitors.

Have a great weekend and please don't trample the wildflowers!

Colin

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Bald Eagle in Flight

Wildlife closeups are great when the situation allows but I often find it more artful to include a dramatic backdrop to show the environment in which the subject lives. I captured this bald eagle in flight a couple nights ago after it flew from the top of a spruce tree. Shooting at the treetop from a low angle didn't produce any interesting images but it quickly took flight into a beam of golden light against the muted mountainside in the background and this is what I ended up with.

As always, thank you for following along and feel free to share my site with your friends.

Colin

Image taken with Nikon D850 and Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II Lens, hand-held. ISO 400, 1/800" @ f/6.3

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Summer Solstice Sunset

Sunset on the longest day of the year...

Now the pendulum swings back the other way and six months from now we will celebrate the winter solstice and the return of the light. On another note, the forest fire smoke has been creating some interesting light in the evenings, though I am grateful it's cleared out a bit today.

Happy Sunday out there!

Colin

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Summer Solstice 2019

Happy Summer Solstice! Today marks the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere with the sun setting at 11:43 pm this evening in this part of the world.


This was taken two years ago through a haze of forest fire smoke, similar to what we are seeing now due to the fire on the Kenai Peninsula. The atmospheric particles diffuse the sun and if you look closely, you can see an active sunspot, which is the source of aurora borealis. The sun is "spot-less" right now and even if there were auroras, it doesn't get dark enough at night to see them this time of year. In any case, I hope the fire is extinguished soon.

Have a great weekend and get out & chase the light!

Colin

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Late Golden Hour

When the golden hour doesn't start until close to 10 pm, it's tough to stick to an early to bed/early to rise schedule. Try as might I just can't pass up evening light like this, so I will soak it up while it lasts and six months from now when we are in perpetual winter shade, I'll be glad I did.

Have a great weekend. The forecast calls for ample light and beautiful opportunities!

Colin

Alaska Wild Rose

Alaska Wild Rose

Greater yellowlegs perched in a spruce tree.

Greater yellowlegs perched in a spruce tree.

Empty Nesting

Look 'hoo' is out of the nest! When I visited this great horned owl family previously, this juvenile was still in the nest while its sibling had ventured out to a nearby branch. Now they are both out of the nest and will not return. Young may leave the nest as early as 5 weeks old by hopping onto branches and begin flying at 9-10 weeks of age.

Seeing as how this is graduation season, are there any human parents out there experiencing empty nest feelings??

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend and thank you for following along!

✌️🦉 Colin

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Saw-Whet! Say What??

"I saw it!"

"Saw what?"

"A saw-whet!"

"Say what???"

That's right, I saw it! The northern saw-whet owl. At 7-8 inches in height and weighing less then 4 ounces, it is one of the smallest owls in North America and we are on the northern edge of its range here in Southcentral Alaska. In fact, saw-whets just started showing up in this area within the past 10 years. They are elusive little creatures and mostly nocturnal.

Have a great Memorial Day out there and enjoy this last day of the holiday weekend!

Colin

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Earth Day Solitude

Yesterday's theme was solitude. I spent the entire day hiking in Eagle River Valley without another soul around. Snow fell throughout the day, adding to my peaceful surroundings. Pictured here is Dew Lake, where I stopped on my way to search for another lake a few miles further back and across the river. I found the hidden lake, or Knob Lake, as it's named on local maps. It's a location I will revisit when the time is right, or if I just need a bit of solitude.

Colin

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Feather Detail

After photographing this pair of swans in the same small body of water for five consecutive springs, it can be difficult to come up with new and interesting compositions. In this instance, I decided to let go of the big picture and just appreciate the exquisite detail in the feathers.

Have a great day out there and maybe try look at a familiar scene from a new perspective...

Colin

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Farewell, Swans...

Fun Friday Fact: More than half of North American trumpeter swans breed in Alaska, Northern British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory during summer months. It appears that this pair has left the Nature Center and moved on toward their summer nesting grounds. Typically they stay here from 2-4 weeks and I have to assume it is the same pair that returns each spring. They're always a welcome sight and I look forward to their return next year.

Have a great weekend out there!

Colin

Bathing and preening shortly after their arrival two weeks ago.

Bathing and preening shortly after their arrival two weeks ago.