Northern Lights

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 Posted in Arctic Coastal Plain, Aurora, Haul Road, Northern Lights, Recent Shoots, Trips No comments

Northern Lights with a shooting star, Northern AK
Northern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights with a shooting star, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights with a shooting star, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights with the almost full moon low on the horizon, Northern AK
Northern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights with a shooting star, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AK
Northern Lights over an idling semi truck, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights starting to intentsify, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AKNorthern Lights, Northern AK

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Northern lights (Aurora borealis) when it appears, it always seems to entertain.  It is the main cause of sleep deprivation among a handful of photographers here in Alaska.  I am one of the few who is addicted to the occurrences of the Aurora.  I have over the years put on thousands of miles chasing the colors in the sky.  On the recent trip up the Haul Rd. I was lucky enough to not have to drive anywhere.  We simply camped in a location that we felt would give us a good scenic view in most directions or at least in the direction that the Aurora usually occur.  This sort of proved pointless because at that latitude we had miscalculated the common direction.  No worries because the is very little that obstructs your view in most areas.  So Tom & I came up with a schedule of waking to check the skies.  This worked out relatively well.  I think we only missed one short display due to sleep.

Like most of the Aurora displays this season it wasn’t until the wee hours of the morning.  I think 2:15 was the earliest that we began photographing, with most nights be 4:00 AM on.  In some of the shots above the snow has a red to orange tint to due to an idling semi truck in the pullout (they leave their running lights on).  Less than perfect conditions but with not knowing how long the display would last we decided to stay put.  After all, I have have nights where the display will last a few minutes and others where it is from sundown to sun up.  All in all well worth the sleep loss, at least I think so.

by Rob

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Muskox

Monday, April 4, 2011 Posted in Arctic Coastal Plain, Haul Road, Muskox, Recent Shoots, Trips, Uncategorized No comments

Muskox, Arctic Coastal Plain
Muskox herd on the move, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox walking shows hoofed foot, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox walking shows its hoofed front foot, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal Plain
Muskox, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal PlainLargest one in the middle displaying an ear tag from researchers. Muskox, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal PlainNap time, entire herd had their back to me. Muskox, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox keeping watchful eye on me, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal Plain
Muskox, Arctic Coastal PlainYoung Muskox (second head from the left) guarded by the herd. Arctic Coastal Plain.Muskox paying close attention, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox bed down for a little relaxation, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal PlainMale Muskox trying to scratch itself, using its rear leg.Male Muskox, Arctic Coastal Plain4 Muskox standing guard while one beds down.Muskox, Arctic Coastal PlainMuskox, Arctic Coastal Plain

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Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) are social ungulates (hoofed) that travel in in herds.  Males can weight as much as 900 lbs. with females topping out around 400 lbs.  I have tried for several years to photograph them in the wild.  Sometimes I think my life would be easier if I did not make up rules for myself, such as I won’t/don’t photograph captive animals.  Nothing wrong with it just isn’t for me.  So a few years ago I flew out to Nome, AK during the summer to photograph a herd of Muskox.  First day there I found them.  Great!  They were several hundred yards from the road.  So I approached slowly.  Traveling only a hundred yards or so in an hours time.  About that time a van full of birders pulls up, out jumps one very enthusiastic individual who charges on to the tundra.  Meanwhile I am watching the Muskox turn and look.  I no sooner look up and see this guy running by me at them.  About 50 yards past me was the breaking point for the Muskox.  They simply ran up and over a distant ridge.  That would be the last time I saw them for the week I spent out there.

On this trip I knew that A: I would be lucky to find them in a location that I could photograph them and B: It would take a great deal of time to get close.  When we did find them on three occasions, the first was horrible light but I was happy to just know they were there.  The second time it was warm late evening light and they were relatively tolerant of us approaching.  We however, could not get close enough to get single individuals or even just 2 in the frame.  We were getting picky at that point but the sun was setting and they did not want us any closer.  While hiking out to the trucks we discussed coming back in the morning, knowing that it was a gamble to think they would be in sight from the road.  So after a late night shooting Aurora we headed down the road to find the Muskox.  When we arrived at the location, they were no where to be found, at least with the naked eye.  After glassing the horizon for a little while ,I spotted 2 pass between a couple of knolls.  That was it I had to try to get out there.  So I donned the snowshoes and warm gear and off I went.  It took, I don’t know how long to actually go the 3/4 mile out to them because of frequent stops so they could get used to me.  As I got close a strange thing happened that actually scared me, a little.  They all started running, but unlike in Nome it wasn’t away from me, it was towards me.  They then turned and put their backs to me and stared down on to the Sagavanirktok River or Sag River.  I still do not know what got their attention but my guess would be a wolf.   After a few minutes had passed I started to approach, with only an occasional glance from them.  I was able to spend 1 1/2 hours with them prior to them moving on.  This time Luck was on my side.

Rob

by Rob

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Scenics from the James Dalton Highway (Haul Rd.)

Friday, April 1, 2011 Posted in Alaska Pipeline, Haul Road, industry, Landscapes, Recent Shoots, scenics, Trips No comments

James Dalton Highway with the Alaska Pipeline paralleling it.View from one of the many pullouts along the road.Straight section of the James Dalton Highway leading to the mountains.Section of the highway that gives the illusion that the road passes under the pipeline.James Dalton Highway leading you to a rock surface mountain.Semi truck making good time under relatively clear skies.Spruce trees point to the fun clouds that were moving in.Ice covered section of the James Dalton Highway.The vast flat section leading to the sharp detail peaks in the distance.Alaska Pipeline as it winds its way through the mountains.
Alaska DOT road grader sends the south side of Atigun pass.Alaska DOT road grader descends the south side of Atigun pass.A northbound Tanker truck meets a southbound semi truck in Atigun Pass.The Alaska Pipeline snaking its way through the rolling landscape.Super moon setting in Happy Valley.Early morning light on the James Dalton Highway. Arctic Coastal Plain.Drill rig in Deadhorse, AK.This section of the James Dalton Highway actually reminded me of a drive through Kansa many years ago. It was that flatSemi carrying a 21 ft. wide piece of equipment travels north to Prudhoe BayAlaska Pipeline and the James Dalton Highway.
Remains from a semi spilling its contents along the James Dalton Highway.Tanker truck off the road.One of the many pump stations (left side) along the James Dalton HighwaySteam/mist rising from fresh over flow along side the james Dalton Highway.James Dalton highway and the Alaska Pipeline.Alaska Pipeline showing the radiators that cool the support structures.Alaska Pipeline.Ice covered section of the James Dalton Highway.Sun peaking out from one of the very pretty mountains. Image was converted to B & W and then tonemapped to give an HDR look.Semi with an oversized load heads north on the James Dalton Highway.

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Completed in 1974 the James Dalton Highway or Haul Road exists only to bring supplies and equipment to the oil field of northern Alaska.  In 1994 the road was open to public travel.  Out of the 414 miles I spent probably 100 or so mile driving on icy rumble strips.  This happens when the heavy semi trucks use chains on their drive tires in order to get traction on the snow and ice.  For most of the drive, the weather was amazing.  Clear skies day and night which made the visibility unlimited.  This was good because the Semis have the right of way.  So when one is approaching you must yield by pulling as far over as possible.  Worst case scenario is when you get caught in between a north and a south bound trucks.  This happened only 3 times throughout the trip.  Ironically, all in a 3 mile stretch of road.  I can now tell you that it is quite scary to see a semi skidding in your mirror knowing that their is nothing you can do.  After all my little truck would do more damage than a trucker hitting a deer or moose, but I would not fair any better than the animal in that situation.  I have always had respect for the individuals who drive that road for a living, but after doing it myself, I am now confident they earn every penny they make.  Some of the road sections are 12% grade, now add in a rough, icy surface, a blind corner, and trucks weighing over 90,000 lbs. just to make things interesting.

Enjoy.

by Rob

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Spring Break!

Sunday, March 27, 2011 Posted in Aurora, Landscapes, Musk Ox, Northern Lights, Recent Shoots, Trips No comments

Alaska Pipeline along side the James Dalton Highway.

Most people  gravitate to warmer climates at this time of year, since I am not one to follow the crowd I headed north.  If I am not mistaken to the farthest north point that you can legally drive on the road system in the US.  Upon returning home I had clocked roughly 2100 miles in a week or so.   The days were cold, and the nights were colder.  Pretty sure it was -20 F one night.  But the nightlife kept you moving and in constant awe.

Northern Lights (Aurora borealis) Atigun Pass

The days were filled with driving miles and miles either glassing the landscape for signs of life or simply trying to catch my breath from the magnificent vistas.  After several days the only critters that I was able to locate were Musk Ox.  This shooting opportunity was a thrill because on my last Musk Ox oriented trip I had less that stellar results.  That is after all part of business.  Wildlife photography is about the gamble, which sometimes doesn’t pay out.  However, this time luck was on my side.

5 Musk Oxen (Ovibos moschatus) Arctic Coastal Plain.

Unlike previous posts where I have only posted a few images from a trip similar to those above, I have chosen to break this trip into 4 posts.  The following 3 posts will consist of a small write up about the above mentioned subjects along with a gallery that should contain a dozen or so images each.

by Rob

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Last night’s entertainment, the Aurora.

Thursday, March 10, 2011 Posted in Anchorage, Aurora, Landscapes, Northern Lights, Recent Shoots No comments

Last night was the first time in a very long time that I was actually able to shoot the Northern Lights (Aurora borealis) and come home with something worth showing.

Ever since I saw a beautiful Aurora photo on the cover of our local newspaper well over a decade ago I have been hooked.  I shutter to think how many hours/days I have spent standing in the middle of nowhere looking up in amazement.  Also how many hours of sleep I have missed.  Thanks Calvin!

Lately, at least for me the displays of Aurora have been few and far between, but last night with the help of my dogs who need to go to the bathroom I had confirmation that they were occurring.  So out I went.

by Rob

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