I’m alone on a forgotten beach. A bitter North wind gropes with frozen filaments. The ocean nearby, invisible, is a pool of ink like a portal to nowhere. Sea swells plunge into the sand with a gush and growl. A gibbous moon paints the mountain skirts in icy blue light.
But my gaze is fixed skyward. The night air is crystal clear, alive with electricity. Dancing auroras erupt across the tapestry of stars and galaxies. The most spectacular display I’ve ever seen.
All the elements collide—violent coronal storm, cloudless black skies, fierce magnetic forces—to bring this moment. This is a night when myth is born, a perfect confluence that may have no sequel. Manic with my camera, I rush from composition to composition. Each image on my screen makes me want to cry. The best photos of my life.
Yet, suddenly, I stop. This moment deserves something better. I topple to my back in the sand, unfeeling of the cold and the wind, and stare up as the sky delivers its most unearthly show.
I am humbled. I am nothing. Spears of green and red build and wobble. Plasma vortices writhe and dance. A corona circle, like the eye of a fierce cosmic god, forms above me, gazing down from the heavens. On this deserted beach, this show is only for me. Never before, I realize, have I truly experienced the northern lights. I may never again.
Tonight is legend.
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Four photographers that inspire me to branch out from landscape photography are Trent Parke, Fan Ho, Alexey Titarenko and Todd Hido. Trent Parke's work, The Black Rose, gave me the idea to undertake my own street photography and art photography project that tells the human story of Alaska, not just about the natural beauty but the people who live in and visit it.
Fan Ho's incredible black and white photography helped me to start looking for contrasts, shapes and shadows.
Alexey Titarenko's work, City of Shadows, inspired me to take long exposures of groups of people or things that people were driving.
Todd Hido's moody work using liminal spaces and atmosphere and mood were crucial in helping me envision a new type of possibility in urban and landscape photography.
Join me as I examine the work of these four incredible photographers and try to imitate and apply their styles, twisting their ideas into my own and using them as a jump off point to create something new.
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What can Youtube offer creators? What has a year of Youtube taught me? Is it still worth it to have a Youtube channel even if you have less than 1K subs?
Are you thinking about starting a YouTube photography channel? It can be a fun and worthwhile experience despite the amount of work and lack of financial reward that most channels experience in their first year. I learned a great deal about videography, how to set up great shots, capture crisp sound and tell a compelling story. I still have a long way to go and haven't gained as much traction as I hoped, but the process has been a lot of fun. Ultimately, if you are having fun, then creating a new YouTube channel is worth it.
In this episode of Alaska Brian I look back at a year of posting videos almost weekly on Youtube and think about what I learned from using the platform and what I plan to do going forward.
Here is the short film I made to celebrate a year of YouTube and ponder a bit of what I've learned and whether or not it was worth all the work.
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The Harding Icefield in Kenai Fjords National Park
Alaska is a state of incredible natural beauty. Wildlife, mountains, glaciers, flowers… It is a photographer’s paradise. There is an endless list of photography locations to visit, all of which will provide stunning landscape photography that will dazzle your friends and social media followers. But here are five Alaska locations for landscape photography and wildlife photography that you shouldn’t miss the next time you’re visiting the Last Frontier.
Hatcher Pass
One of Alaska’s great playgrounds is Hatcher Pass. Located just outside of Palmer, Alaska, Hatcher Pass is accessible, dynamic and spectacular. Casual hikers can find excellent views along the road, from the Hatcher Pass lodge or at the historic Independence Mine. And even more drama is available to the more adventurous with one of several long day hikes, such as the Gold Mint Trail or Reed Lakes, or for backpackers who take on the ultra-classic Bomber Traverse.
Kesugi Ridge (Denali State Park)
A lot of travelers make a beeline for Denali National Park when they reach Alaska, and for good reason. But some of the best views of Denali and the Alaska Range are found in Denali State Park. And though some of these views can be seen when you drive the Parks Highway north from Wasilla towards Denali National Park, the very best views come from Kesugi Ridge, a raised escarpment in the Talkeetna Range that parallels the highway. A classic multiday Kesugi Ridge backpack trip is the best way to experience the numerous compositions for photographing Alaska that Kesugi offers, but for those with less time, several trailheads allow you to day hike up to ridge and find those classic views of North America’s tallest mountain and its friends.
Kachemak Bay State Park
Located a short boat ride from the scenic coastal town of Homer, Kachemak Bay State Park is a relatively accessible wonderland for adventure and photography. Individual locations are numerous, but some favorites include Grewingk Glacier Lake, the town of Seldovia, and Grace Ridge.
Harding Icefield
Though the Harding Icefield Trail, known locally as the “H.I.T,” is a strenuous nine mile hike that gains nearly 3,000’, it epitomizes Alaska and climaxes with an astonishing view of the Harding Icefield, the largest icefield entirely in the United States. The Harding Icefield and the many glaciers that flow off it form a continuous sheet of ice approximately 1,000 square miles in size. It is one of the crown jewels of Kenai Fjords National Park. The sheer scale of the icefield is almost impossible to believe when you stand its edge from the end of the H.I.T.
Boat tour
All right, this feels like a cop-out because it isn’t really a location. But one of the best ways to see and photograph the stunning coasts of Alaska is on a boat tour. From the sea you get views of some of the most beautiful but otherwise inaccessible terrain in the state. In the process you’ll almost assuredly see whales, puffins, sea lions, and other Alaska wildlife. There are many locations from which you can launch on a boat tour, but some of the best include Glacier Bay National Park, Prince William Sound, and Kenai Fjords National Park.
Here is the video:
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July 4, 2012. Seward, Alaska. During one the most popular foot races in state, Mount Marathon, a racer disappears, never to be seen again.
This is the story of the vanishing of Michael LeMaitre.
The Mount Marathon Race is one of America’s oldest foot races. Almost every 4th of July for well over 100 years people have gathered in Seward,
Alaska to cheer on runners as they scale the steep, barren slopes of Mount Marathon. Starting near sea level on 4th Street in downtown, the relatively short race ascends nearly 3,000 feet to a false summit called Race Point on the great mountain’s eastern flank. To win Mount Marathon is to become an instant legend in the circles of Alaska athletics. And though many compete to steal that honor, only one can stand atop the victory podium and bask in that glory. The names of those who do are etched into race lore forever….
Will Michael LeMaitre ever be found? What happened to Michael LeMaitre? I climb to Mt. Marathon's Race Point to examine this curious, eerie disappearance for myself and try to guess at what happened to the racer who disappeared during the Mount Marathon Race.
Online theories to explain his disappearance range from alien abduction, to interdimensional portals, to an intentional disappearing act pulled off by LeMaitre.
Until some sign of LeMaitre is discovered, the real truth of what happened that day, will always be one of Alaska’s greatest outdoor mysteries
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Somewhere under a blanket of ice hundreds of feet deep, runnels of water squeeze through tunnels and cracks, collecting in pockets. Gathering momentum. Finally, after a seemingly endless journey through the dark, it erupts into daylight as a churning, turbid stream. A creek Is born and it begins its descent to the sea.
This is the life of a river… Ice to Ocean.
Our Alaska packrafting adventure started at the Exit Glacier trailhead in Kenai Fjords National Park. Exit Glacier is one of about 40 glaciers spawned from the Harding Icefield, a massive sheet of ice that covers roughly 1,000 square miles. That’s about the size of Rhode Island. Our destination was the toe of the glacier, where Exit Creek emerges from under the ice and, like us in our packrafts, begins its tumble downhill.
We used to put-in much closer to the glacier, but a sudden glacier outburst flood of Exit Glacier June 14, 2021 sent a wall of water charging through the narrow gorge, re-arranging the channel and prompting the park service to close the canyon. It’s hard, as we spread our gear over glacial moraine, not to look up at the wall of ice and imagine seeing that rushing chocolate water and tumbling mass of boulders bearing down on us.
After the first set of crux rapids, we settled in to rhythm of this river. Dodging sharp rocks, logs and brush, and always being alert for the deepest channel to avoid running aground.
After two and half miles, Exit Creek spills into Resurrection River and we continued downstream with triple the flow.
The next six miles were much the same, only on a larger scale. Braided islands and swift corners punctuated by occasional small rapids. Though the river is tame, the setting is incredible. Towering mountains leap skyward, crystalline cascades pouring down their jagged faces. Glaciers cling to the highest alpine rungs despite the apex of summer. It is, in a word, inspiring.
At mile 9 we passed the lowest takeout I’d ever used. From here down we were entering the unknown. Well not exactly. This was the most industrial and urban part of the river. Our route took us through a gravel pit, under a busy highway and alongside the runway of a small airport. But eagles lounged on the riverbank, scouting for salmon. Busy helicopters circled towards the alpine cirques.
Ahead, the stream was opening up. And we knew the ocean was near.
We suspected paddling our lightweight Alpacka packrafts on Alaska's Resurrection Bay would be a challenge. We were not wrong. The mile-long paddle was slog across shallow mudflats, angling into a south wind, as small breakers lapped over our gunwales. At times it felt like we were making no progress. But eventually, somehow, we washed ashore just fifty feet from the car.
Ice to Ocean. We’d packrafted fourteen miles, 13 by river and one by sea. We’d sniffed out the river source, and saw it all the way to its mouth. We’d descended 700 feet and navigated countless swift corners and braided channels. My vision of a dynamic day adventure had come true.
Watch video documentary here:
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Three days, 3 toddlers and an Alaska glacier. What could go
wrong?
Iceberg at Spencer Glacier Lake
Spencer glacier just off Alaska’s Turnagain Arm, is a
perfect taste of the Alaska backcountry without feeling too committing.
Accessed from a whistle stop off the Alaska railroad and an easy one mile hike,
it is close and convenient yet stunning with its sheet of wrinkled ice and broad
lake dotted with gleaming icebergs. It seemed ideal for a first backpack trip with
a three year old.
But as we set off into the wild, I felt a growing unease
about the things that could go wrong. Even though Spencer is close to the most populous
part of the Last Frontier, it still is, well, the Frontier. Were we putting our
daughter in danger just by bringing her to a place like this? Were we setting ourselves
up for misery and failure? The next three days would tell.
Our journey started at the Portage Train depot where the
three of us and some friends boarded the steaming, blue and gold Alaska
railroad. It was my daughter’s first train ride and her eyes filled with wonder
as we rolled into the forest. It was a short trip to the whistle stop, and once
we left the crowds behind, a hush fell over the landscape.
It was a wet, chilly night. After a soggy breakfast the next
morning, we settled on a hike around the lake for a better view of the enormous
glacier, and its many icebergs.
After lunch, the rain tapered just enough to inflate the
boats and head out the water.
It’s humbling to float through the maze of blue ice. They
stand like frozen, dynamic sculptures. We drifted in the calm water, trying to
decide what animals they resembled. The challenges of endless rain and
sleepless nights with a toddler washed away.
Sometime during the night, the blanket of clouds tore apart.
The morning air was crisp and calm. The lake surface mirrored the sky above. It
was perfect for photography and for another paddle.
Day pressed on. The yellow sun quickly felt hot. We basked
in warm of a perfect Alaska afternoon.
When the time came for the short hike out,we left all our challenges and fears behind. Without
questions, it was all worth it.
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What is it like to live and spend time in the Alaska, the 49 state? In this video I show you a little glimpse into the world of the Last Frontier. Include drone video, timelapse photography, and some of my best landscape photography, street photography and mostly set in the Kenai Peninsula of southern Alaska. Locations include Seward, Alaska, Resurrection Bay, Homer, Alaska, Denali, Hatcher Pass, and more.
Alaska. One minute you’re as serene as heaven, the next you serve me a dose of humble pie. I stare in awe at your highest peaks, and dance under your wondrous northern lights. But you are fierce, cold, unforgiving. Just when I think I’ve mastered you, you send me scurrying like a scolded pup. You are intense. Playful. Powerful. You make us weep for joy and in fear. But what would we do without you. We became addicted to your highs, and now nothing ever quite holds a candle to them. From the meanest grizzly to the tamest shrew, tallest mountain to tiniest flower… You just are…. Well, Alaska.
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For four weeks in 2024 I left had a game cam at the edge of my property ninety yards from my house in Seward, Alaska. I set it up pointing at a game trail. What sorts of Alaska wildlife might I capture? Would I capture black bears? Moose? Coyotes? Wolves? Maybe even a grizzly bear or brown bear? A group of meth heads? I had no idea what to expect, and as I first started to sift through the images it seemed I had only captured a few of the neighborhood pets. Finally, after nearly a month I go and retrieve my camera and reveal what I captured. Needless to say, I was a little surprised by the results....
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In this episode I travel to the "big city" of Anchorage, Alaska to run some errands. But while I'm there, I might as well try to channel my inner Alex Webb and attempt some street photography and cityscape photography, two styles of photography which I am not very experienced at. I start off near the Atwood Theatre, meander through some of the some in the downtown area, frame up the Captain Cook Hotel, and try to find any other thing I can that looks interesting to point my Nikon D810 camera at. Also, while I'm downtown, I check out a local photography shop and purchase a 80-400mm telephoto lens and on the way home stop at Turnagain Pass along the Seward Highway to test it out.
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Today, I'm thrilled to share with you an incredible journey I embarked on in Seward, Alaska, nestled along the majestic Kenai Peninsula. As a landscape photographer and vlogger, I live for moments that take my breath away, and let me tell you, this sunrise experience was nothing short of magical.
Picture this: it's the heart of winter, and I find myself standing on a serene beach near Seward, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and the gentle lapping of waves. Armed with my camera gear and an insatiable sense of wonder, I eagerly await the first light of dawn to paint the sky in hues of pink and gold.
Setting up my equipment amidst the tranquil beauty of nature, I begin capturing the unfolding spectacle with a series of mesmerizing time-lapse shots. Each frame captures the subtle shift of colors as the sun makes its grand entrance, casting a warm glow over the icy landscape.
But the real showstopper of the morning comes in the form of a majestic eagle, soaring gracefully overhead against the backdrop of the vibrant sky. It's a moment of pure serenity and awe as I watch this magnificent creature navigate the crisp morning air with effortless grace.
As the sun rises higher, illuminating the snow-kissed beach in a soft, golden light, I can't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for moments like these – moments that remind us of the raw beauty and resilience of our natural world.
Now, I invite you to join me on this unforgettable journey by watching the video below. Trust me, it's an experience you won't want to miss!
So there you have it – a glimpse into one of the best winter sunrises captured near Seward, Alaska. Stay tuned for more adventures, and until next time, keep chasing the dawn. Happy exploring!
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Landscape photography on frozen Kenai Lake in Southern Alaska in winter. In this episode of Alaska Brian, I stumble around on a the ice of a frozen lake on a cloudless sunrise with my Nikon D810, DJI Mini 2 drone, and GoPro Hero 7 Black looking for photos and video. But do I come home with anything more than cold feet?
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What is a good KP value to see the aurora? What is the interplanetary magnetic field and how does it affect the northern lights? What is the IMF BZ and what does it mean for the aurora? What is the DSCOVR satellite and how can I use its data? Why do I keep going out on nights with a high KP forecast and not seeing any northern lights?
In this video, I attempt to give some answers to these questions and more. Also included is information about the Halloween 2003 KP-9 solar storm and the strongest known solar storm of all time, the Carrington Event, as well as some pretty cool photos of the aurora.
The northern lights can be a tricky and sometimes frustrating trophy to chase. Many times, in my early Alaska years, I waited around freezing my fingers off staring at a dark, desolate sky with nothing to show for it. After too many of these bitter disappointments, I was determined to learn as much as I could about the science behind the northern lights, so that I would never go out on fruitless late night chases again. Today I’m going to talk about a few of the basic numbers that can help you go out on efficient Solar storm chases. Don’t waste your time staring at empty skies, know exactly when and where the northern lights are going to dance.
Watch my video guide to understanding the numbers of the aurora borealis here:
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It is with great excitement, and a lot of anxiety, that I announce the launch of my new photography/vlog/humor Youtube channel, Alaska Brian. Many Alaskans are world-class adventurers, daring boat captains, self-sufficient homesteaders and hunters... I am none of those. Instead, I am a mediocre photographer, coward adventurer and all-around sleepyhead who is in bed by 9:30 pm more often than not. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy being mediocre and embrace being a goofball at the same time.
My channel will not get too deep into photography how-to's and gear reviews; there are already so many great channels that do that better than I ever could. Instead, I want to share my strange but beautiful corner of the world and give insight to what it's like to be to be a landscape photographer, outdoors enthusiast and family guy above 60 degrees latitude. I've embedded my most recent episode below. If you enjoy, please consider liking, subscribing, and commenting. They are easy to do and help me out a lot!
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Eklutna Lake, a large reservoir on the fringes of the Anchorage Municipality, provides a hub for recreation of all types. On warm summer afternoons bikers, kayakers, hikers and backpackers flock to the 7-mile-long lake. The rugged peaks of the Chugach Range surround the upstream ends and melt from the Eklutna Glacier spills from the mountains to replenish the water. As the main source of drinking water and electricity for the City of Anchorage, it is not an overstatement to say that Eklutna Lake is a central figure in the life of Alaska's largest city.
On a recent trip to Eklutna Lake, my wife, daughter and I passed a night at one of the cabins on the lakeshore. I took the opportunity to photograph yet another new location, something I have been lucky to do quite a bit this summer. Though I found it somewhat difficult to find ideal compositions during my trip, there was plenty of curvy lake bends, side streams, and nearby mountains to frame up a few good shots. Though I doubt any will end up in my portfolio, I got a few worth sharing here in my blog. With an abundance of cottonwood and poplars, I imagine that fall colors can really explode here at the lake. I would love to return in mid-September when finding a true masterpiece might just be possible.
Besides the photography, however, spending a couple days in a cabin along the lake proved well worth the time and effort. Though the first mile of the trail was fairly busy, once we got down to our cabin a sense of calm and peace fell over the landscape. The trail is very easy, and more or less flat, making it ideal for a getaway without too much of a challenge. However, the twelve-mile trail provides an almost endless cruise for the taking for anyone motivated to try it.
Eklutna Lake Image Gallery- Click for higher resolution images
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Denali boasts many accolades. It is North America's highest peak and one of the Seven Summits. It is the world's third most prominent peak by the official "topographical prominence" measure. It has, by far, the highest latitude of the Seven Summits. By all measures, it is an incredible mountain.
Denali is also elusive. A widely used anecdote claims that only 30% of visitors who seek the mountain even get to see it. The other 70% find only a swirl of clouds where the mountain should be. That is why on a recent trip when we got three full days of completely unimpeded views of the "Great One," we were truly lucky.
A visit to Denali National Park & Preserve, however, is much more than just a visit to this great mountain. Along the way we also saw two grizzly bears, six caribou and three Dall sheep, three of "Big Five" Alaskan animals (wolves and moose were elusive on this trip, though I have seen both, especially moose, before). Though many of these encounters were too far even for the 400 mm lens to capture a good image, there were times when I just had to put the camera down and realize this adventure wasn't just about photos.
After leaving the park, we were treated to incredible views of the big mountain all along the Parks Highway. The glaciated summit and ridges swan in and out of view like a ghost rising and sinking through the trees. We made several pit stops to frame up new views of the mountain's many facades. And before heading back to my home on the Kenai Peninsula, we passed a night in the quaint town of Talkeetna where the views of the mountain somehow seemed even better.
Though the skies were too blue and there was no sunrise and sunset in July to make for ideal photography conditions, it is hard to complain about three incredible days circling one of the world's iconic mountains, and some of the images I captured were good enough to satiate the photographer inside me.
Denali area image gallery (click to view higher resolution images)
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Experiencing the Aurora Borealis is one of the most magical things about living Alaska. Living in coastal southern Alaska, these lights often feel tantalizingly close yet elusive. Too often overcast skies block views during strong geomagnetic storms. In late winter 2023, however, several incredible aurora nights coincided with clears skies and the opportunity to witness and capture the dancing aurora was incredible. Anyone who has never seen this lights, and wants to, I can't encourage you enough to make it happen. It is something you will never forget.
Photographing the northern lights is not easy. I have seen many photographs on Instagram and online with blurry foregrounds or skies filled with distracting noise. The trick I found is to point your camera at the farthest away light source you can find, like the moon or a distant street light, and get the camera in focus. Once you have done that don't touch the focus ring or change your zoom! And don't be afraid to boost your ISO. It's better to have a little noise in the sky than have a terrible under-exposed image. You can always use one of the great denoise AI programs, like Topaz or the 2023 Lightroom/Camera Raw AI denoise update, to get rid of that distraction and create a clean, well-exposed image. While no photograph could ever capture the majesty and movement of the lights that dance, northern lights photographs are guaranteed to make people's jaws drop.
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My wife and I had not had a night alone together since our daughter was born. Not that I am complaining; I love my sweet little two-year-old daughter more than anything. But when the chance came to hand our kiddo off to the grandparents and do an overnight exploration of Grace Ridge in Kachemak Bay State Park near Homer, Alaska, we took it.
Kachemak Bay State Park is a wonderland of impressive crags, sharp ridges and cracked glaciers. It was one of the first places in Alaska I was able to explore back in 2007 and one of the reasons I fell in love with Alaska. In 2020 we backpacked in to Grewingk Glacier with our packrafts and paddled around the towering icebergs that splinter off in the lake at the toe of that mammoth glacier. This time, we wanted to see a new area of the park, and we were not disappointed.
Grace Ridge is a 9-mile hike up and over a mountain through the alpine tundra with views of Tutka Bay and Sadie Cove off to each side. We approached it by staying at the Kayak Beach yurt the night before. It was what I kept calling an "old school" adventure for us, the type that we used to take all the time before undertaking the even bigger adventure of becoming parents. It had all the features of one of our trips circa 2010: a mountain climb, some evening lounging after gulping down backpacking food, even a splash of inclement weather. We were treated to an incredible display of light that left me clicking the shutter for hours on my camera the evening before our hike. The pictures I got that night and during the foggy climb the next day were incredible.
All-in-all it was a super successful overnight trip in a part of Alaska that gives a taste of adventure without being too out-of-reach. I highly recommend it to any photographer (or anyone, really) who happens to be in the area. The views and the photographic compositions are hard to beat.
(A collection of photos from the location/trip. For best results, click to enlarge)
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There is nothing like unplugging from civilization. Places like Kayaker's Cove in Alaska's Resurrection Bay, near the town of Seward, are perfect to retreat from the worries of civilization, even if only for a short while. You cannot get service at Kayaker's Cove, so unless you paddle out around the tall rock escarpments that surround the tiny cache of cabins, you are forced to entertain yourself the old fashioned way: with good company, and a sound mind.
We've made a point to take an annual trip out to Kayaker's Cove. Unfortunately, this year the weather didn't co-operate perhaps as we'd hoped. The rain didn't let up, not even for a moment, for the entire three days we were out there. From a photography standpoint, however, the mist and fog presented a different opportunity. Challenging conditions force me to look for compositions that differ from my normal style. I find myself finding shots that I might not have if the light and the weather had been different.
So here is a small collection of shots from or three-day trip to Kayaker's Cove. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. And if you really enjoy, consider liking my Facebook or Instagram pages, or sharing this post with your friends. It is always much appreciated.
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