Surprise!

By the look in her eye, it appears I took this moose by surprise while she was feeding in Denali National Park last week. I've photographed several moose over the years, yet there is always room for something new.

Another Denali Autumn

Denali National Park and Preserve is vast - larger than some states, and often referred to as North America's Serengeti. While it is teeming with wildlife, the seemingly endless expanse of tundra feels empty and void of life at times. The light can remain flat for hours, even days, making it feel impossible to capture an image that translates the true beauty and immensity of the park. Most of the images I've taken amount to a mere snippet of the days, weeks and months I've spent there since my first visit in 1996. Yet something draws me back nearly every year, even though I don't always return with stunning new images. I guess it's more out of tradition that I love to spend a few days there in autumn, seeking solitude and gentle reminders of why I choose to live in Alaska.

Termination Dust

The clouds cleared early this morning and winter began to rear its head in the most beautiful way.

Success!!

This little brown bear is finally learning to catch salmon. To be honest though, they're half dead and I could probably catch one with my teeth at this point. Nevertheless, it's encouraging to see.

I'm trying to get ready to leave for Denali but I keep getting distracted by bears, mating moose and owls. I'd better get moving...

Love is in the Air

Love is in the air!! It sure was for this bull moose today, anyhow. I spotted the cow this morning and was attempting to photograph her when this guy walked onto the scene. She continued to browse, ignoring his advances until it was clear she wasn't in the mood, at which point she could buck and run away. Watching a pair of Alaskan moose crash about right in front of you can be a bit intimidating and when the bull's body language made it clear he no longer wanted me around, I obliged and moved on. If there is one thing I've learned over the years, it's that you don't want a rutting bull moose to perceive you as competition for his girl.

Autumn Sunrise on Denali

Another sunrise on North America's tallest peak, Denali. This was taken from an overlook near the Wonder Lake campground in September of 2011, while leading a group of photo enthusiasts. I will be headed to Denali National Park next week for my usual fall pilgrimage. This year I will be camping at Teklanika, which is closer to the park Entrance.

Denali

It's official, North America's tallest mountain will now be referred to by its original Athabascan name, 'Denali.' I took this at sunrise from the aptly named Reflection Pond in 2006.

Trending on Nat Geo →

I posted this photo to my National Geographic profile yesterday and it quickly generated a lot of responses. This morning I received a message that it's currently one of the most popular images on Nat Geo's "Your Shot." As I've said before, every little step is a step in the right direction.

Colin

More weekend auroras...

If you’ve ever witnessed the aurora dance across a night sky, you might agree that words and photographs cannot adequately convey the transcendent experience or the feeling of insignificance elicited as the sky fills with electricity and the landscape is illuminated by a magnetic green glow.

Here is another image from Saturday night/Sunday morning during one of the more intense periods of the show, with the Big Dipper gleaming boldly above the Chugach Mountains.

Misty Morning Moose

Another misty morning moose. Temperatures are dropping overnight and light is fading quickly. While I don't want to see summer draw to a close, I enjoy autumn and the seasonal changes that come with it, like morning fog in the valley.

Shot in the Dark

For the past couple weeks, both morning and night, under varying light and backgrounds, I have been trying to capture an image of a great-horned owl taking flight. Focusing on a bird in flight is challenging enough in broad daylight but when the sunlight has retreated and your subject is nothing more than a silhouette against a cobalt sky, it is quite literally a shot in the dark.

This evening, as I watched one of the owls perched in a usual spot waiting for its mate to show, I heard the tell-tale screech directly behind and turned around to see the second owl in a tree barely 30 feet away, looking directly at me. Knowing this particular owl tended to move around frequently, I reasoned that it would take flight again momentarily. As I set up and waited, something told me this would be my moment. My face was glued to the viewfinder for several minutes until the owl fell forward and spread its wings for me. I had but one shot at nailing this as the flash takes a moment to recharge after firing at full power, and that one shot was all it took.

Shortly afterward, a sow black bear with three little cubs showed up, followed by a moose. I smiled with gratitude, knowing I'd come away with the image I wanted. 

Little Poser

This little bear wasn't the best at catching salmon but she sure was photogenic.

Another Day at the Office

Another day at the office...I had the opportunity to watch this young brown bear chasing salmon at the Nature Center this afternoon. Apparently he or she hasn't quite mastered the art of fishing yet as it was always coming up empty-handed (empty-pawed?). With winter approaching, hopefully it will sharpen its skills and be able to fatten up before denning.

Moose in the Mist

After enjoying the stretch of warm, sunny weather last week, staying up late with the owls and rising early each morning, I was happy to have a few days of rain to catch up on sleep as well as some long overdue editing. I went out last night after the skies cleared to catch the last bit of light in the misty evening and as I was setting up to shoot the sunset, this bull moose walked onto the scene. As a result, I didn’t get any sunset photos but I was happy to come away with this. I love shooting in fog; it always adds an ethereal quality. 

Evenings with the Owls

Owl I can say is, I've truly enjoyed observing and photographing this magnificent pair of birds recently and I hope they continue to present opportunities like these...

Golden Opportunity

If you put your time in, consciously studying light patterns and getting to know your subject, eventually you will find opportunity - golden opportunity. Such is the case with this pair of great-horned owls I have been photographing and getting to know over the past several days. After numerous hours of patiently waiting and employing different techniques in varying conditions, this evening they presented themselves onto a stoic, moss-covered tree during the final minutes before sundown. Moments like these are rare; this pose was merely a matter of seconds. In the world of photography, time is light and light is fleeting. When you waste time you waste light, and you miss golden opportunities. 

After the Hunt

"The Circle of Life." After watching the owls hunting and swooping after a family of ducks last night, I spent another hour with them early this morning before they went to roost for the day. When I spotted them, the male was perched in a tree and the female was on the ground hastily eating. As I approached I clearly saw a webbed duck foot hanging from her beak. She appears to have taken a defensive posture here, possibly thinking I may have wanted to eat her last leg of duck, which is clearly being held tightly in the grips of her left talon.

Owl Hunt

Last night I witnessed this pair of great-horned owls hunting. I watched them call back and forth while periodically dive-bombing a family of ducks that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is never a dull moment in this valley!

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