December 12, 2021

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER    "Wow, What A Safari!"

African Jacana, along The Chobe River, Botswana

Late last month, after 5 days in the remote Okavango Delta of Botswana photographing wild dogs and leopards, I returned to civilization to find the Omicron variant had turned the travel world upside down. After booking flights back to the USA and then being cancelled twice, I was finally able to find a seat to Atlanta, only to learn later someone on the plane had the virus. While self-quarantining at home and 3 negative Covid tests later, I'm starting to process images--and, wow, all the drama was worth it! Stay tuned...

Canon R5, RF100-500 f4.5-7.1 lens at 500mm, exposure of 1/2500 sec at f7.1, ISO 500, handheld.

October 28, 2021

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER    "King Of The Woods"

Denali National Park, Alaska

Every fall the moose gather for the rut, where the bulls argue over who will breed with the cows for next year's crop of calves. But as the reigning bulls died off of old age, the number of mature bulls has shrunk considerably, almost to the point of being rare. I think it is safe to assume this bull is the king this year.

Canon R5, EF100-400 f4.5-5.6L II lens at 164mm, exposure of 1/800 sec at f7.1, ISO 400, handheld.

September 26, 2021

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER    "Looks Like An Early Winter"

My Backyard, Alaska Range Mountains, Alaska

After a rather cool and rainy August in Alaska, September followed in the same storm track and gave us more unsettled weather. Turns out this was the coldest September in 18 years.

Then three weeks into September moist air from the Gulf Of Alaska met cold air from the Arctic over the Alaska Range Mountains, dumping four inches of snow, followed by another five inches three days later. Looks like an early winter...

Apple iPhone X at 4mm, exposure of 1/1150 sec at f1.8, ISO 20, handheld.

September 7, 2021

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER    "Fall Fireweed Abstract"

My Backyard, Alaska Range Mountains, Alaska

Fall has arrived here in the Denali area, slightly ahead of the rest of the state. We've had our first snowfall, albeit really only sticking to the vegetation, which is normal. The yellow Balsam Poplar and red Dwarf Birch leaves are a distinct contrast to the green spruces.

Rather than photographing the typical side view of this tall Fireweed, I decided to shoot down the length, and turn it into a near abstract.

Canon R5, EF100 f2.8 macro lens, exposure of 1/320 sec at f4, ISO 320, handheld.

August 2, 2021

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR AUGUST    "Gottcha!"

Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery, Valdez, Alaska

A redux of last August's Image Of The Month. I returned to Valdez to photograph Sea Lions as they fed on returning Pink Salmon. The hatchery wasn't ready for them yet, so the salmon were stalled in front of a weir, making them easy meals for the Sea Lions.

This teenager found a shallow pool in the falling tide that the adults couldn't easily access, so he could practice his catching techniques undisturbed.

Canon R5, EF100-400 f4.5-5.6L II lens at 400mm, exposure of 1/800 sec at f8, ISO 400, handheld.

July 4, 2021

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR JULY    "Delicate Ice"

The Diamond Beach, Iceland

Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon in South Iceland is world famous for the icebergs shed by the Breidamerkurjokull Glacier, but what happens when they are flushed out to sea by the tides? While many simply float away and melt, some are quickly broken up and pieces of them litter the black volcanic sand beach at the mouth of the Jokulsa river.

Large or small, chunky or fragile, these white 'gems' on black sand gave rise to the name Diamond Beach.

Canon 5D Mark IV, EF24-105 f4 lens at 45mm, exposure of 1/125 sec at f5.6, ISO 100, handheld.

May 29, 2021

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR JUNE    "Selfie Time"

Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland

As I described earlier as a 'Tourist Volcano', the easily accessible Fagradalsfjall Volcano is very popular with locals. Icelanders of all ages, shapes and sizes trek up the hill to witness the spectacle. Families spread out their food and have a picnic, pausing to watch each noisy eruption. And just about everyone takes a selfie or dozen!

Canon 5D Mark IV, EF24-105 f4 lens at 50mm, exposure of 1/60 sec at f6.3, ISO 200, handheld.

May 21, 2021

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR MAY    "Tourist Volcano"

Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland

Iceland has a history of destructive volcanos, spewing ash and spouting all consuming lava. But in March, following almost a month of seismic activity, an eruptive fissure appeared that first oozed lava out of nine smaller cones but has since centralized in one large cone.

Thousand of Icelanders and tourists flock to an adjacent hillside to view this smaller, approachable volcano, hence the name "tourist volcano". Click on the thumbnail image for the full vertical image.

Canon 5D Mark IV, EF24-105 f4 lens at 45mm, exposure of 1/50 sec at f5.6, ISO 320, handheld.

April 5, 2021

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL    "Revisiting Film Days"

Masai Mara, Kenya

With the pandemic still raging, especially in Africa where vaccinations are just starting, wildlife safaris are just a hope for the future. With no new digital images to process I had the idea to scan old Kodachrome slides and found this gem taken on my first African safari, over 40 years ago.

Unknown Nikon film camera, probably shot with a 500mm f5.6 lens, on Kodachrome 64 film.

March 1, 2021

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH    "Details From Above"

Cook Inlet, Alaska

The view of the world from 5,000 feet is much different than from the ground.

While descending towards the Ted Stevens airport in Anchorage, my wintery Alaska Airlines flight over Cook Inlet crossed massive fields of ice chunks, all rounded by constant tidal movements. I'm sure those viewing from the Seward Highway didn't see any of these details.

Apple iPhone X at 6mm, exposure of 1/199 sec at f2.4, ISO 16, handheld.

January 20, 2021

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY    "Winter Visitors"

My Backyard, Alaska Range Mountains

Besides abundant crops of Lowbush Cranberries and Crow Berries in my backyard, Reindeer Lichen also flourish. As the name suggests, this lichen and others are the staple food of caribou.

So each winter, as caribou wander the neighborhood in search of food, they frequent my backyard. I interrupted this female and her calf for a minute as they cleared away the snow, and then let them and their friends get back to grazing. (Click on the image to see the full vertical image)

Canon R5, EF100-400 f4.5-5.6L II at 400mm, exposure of 1/320 sec at f5.6, ISO 12,800, handheld.

December 25, 2020

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY    "Blueberry Pancake Abstract Art"

My Kitchen Stove, Alaska Range Mountains

Winter in Interior Alaska isn’t the most conducive place for photography. Only 45 minutes of sunlight makes it through the gap in the mountains, and the temperature outside is nearly -30ºF. After enduring 44 winters here, I’m not that anxious to freeze my fingers anymore.

So this month’s image idea appeared in front of me as I was preparing breakfast…

Apple iPhoneX, lens at 4mm, exposure of 1/15 sec at f1.8, ISO 100, handheld