Denali National Park

Every year the National Park Service gives out lottery tickets for people to drive into Denali. Last year I had great weather for the 90 mile drive to Wonder Lake. This year, it rained on me most of the day and the road was quite muddy. The drive is still wonderful, the scenery is spectacular even if Denali is obscured by clouds.

The road into the park

This is what most of the road is like. Incredibly, many people drove their cars deep into the park.

Valley Floor

Termination dust on those mountains! It won't be long.

Long, winding road

Grizzly dwarfed by the landscape

This bear was in the middle of the road as I came around a corner. He quickly moved away, it is amazing how fast they can move.

Weather moving in

I was hoping the weather would clear so I could capture an image of Denali. It was not to be.

Ptarmigan

Caribou

Caribou

Caribou trying to cross the road

This guy hung in there with his video camera. The caribou ended up taking a wide berth around him.

From the road

One of my favorite places on the road. Took a fantastic shot here last year.

Moose through the trees

Saw lots of moose, but I see them in my yard.

Eagle and Flag

Another one of my eagle and flag creations.

Eagle and Flag

Another one of my eagle shots extracted and layered over one of my flag shots.

Photographing Hatcher Pass

It is fall time and one of my favorite places to go is Hatcher Pass. It is well known for its winter activities as well, but for me autumn has the colors and light I appreciate.
Hatcher Pass itself can be driven in the summer, the gravel road extends from Wasilla to Willow. I usually do the drive at least once a year.
A few years ago the road was paved to Independence Mine. I would have like to see it remain a dirt road, a lot less traffic. People seem to be "discovering" Hatcher Pass, it gets more crowded every year. I went up to Reed Lakes Trailhead last week and could not get a parking spot.
Here are some shots from this past weekend. I was trying out my new $200 polarizer. The first two shots I used my ND8 filter to slow the water down and not blow out the highlights.

All photos are HDR and processed through Photomatix. I have an HDR tutorial here.

Little Su River

Just before I got wet

Road to Independence Mine

Cabins near The Motherlode Lodge

Just off the road

MotherLode Lodge (looking pretty bad)

Sure wish someone would buy the MotherLode Lodge. It is deteriorating quickly. It is a shame, I have spent many Easters, birthdays, weddings, Mother's Days and Christmas

HDR Photo of the Day Waterfall

This is a HDR of the South Fork Eagle River Falls. Went through quite a bit getting these shots. Slippery, rocky slope with a siberian husky yanking on me wanting to jump in the water. I think it was worth it though.

I have an HDR tutorial here.

Photo of the Day Bald Eagle

This was taken just outside of Juneau, Alaska. Found a bunch of eagles feeding and came across this one diving into the water. I don't know what he has in his mouth.

I have an eagle gallery on my main website www.akphotograph.com or as a blog post here www.akphotograph.com/Alaska%20Blog/?p=201

HDR Photo of the Day...Cruise Ship

Three exposures taken from Mt. Roberts (Juneau) created this photograph.

I have an HDR tutorial here.

HDR Photos of the Day Denali

Denali is my favorite subject, don't tell my wife. The mountain looks different depending on the time of year and how the light hits it. Makes for some interesting or sometimes frustrating photography. It is very hard to photograph Denali in the summer at sunrise because the sun is up so high. Getting up at 3am is not early enough, by the time I get up north and set up the sun is too high and I get those washed out contrasty photos.

Fall is my favorite time of year to photograph the Great One. Last week I made it north for the sunrise and came away with a few keepers.

All these are HDRs. If you want to learn more about HDR photography I have a tutorial here.

Denali

Denali

Denali

Denali

Denali

Denali

Denali