May 1, 2008
When people think of the northern lights, they usually think of the northern parts of Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia - Juneau, Alaska usually does not come to mind. But although it's at only about 59° north latitude, the Juneau Icefield is actually nicely situated under the auroral arc. I took this month's featured photo, Storm Range Aurora, about 50 miles north of Juneau in a remote part of the Icefield. What made this photo unique is that the auroral storm occurred over the Storm Range - Gale, Typhoon, and Blizzard peaks, while at the same time the Moon was rising behind Blizzard Peak. Throw in some scattered clouds and a glacier in the foreground, and this is one of my all-time favorite aurora photos. Enjoy!

February 1, 2008
This month's featured photo is once again a photo from McNeil River State Game Sanctuary. Nearly everyone has seen the famous "Got Milk?" ads on TV and in print. Well, the February photo is the bear version of it. Got Milk? shows a mother bear and her two cubs taking time out for a morning breakfast session.

November 1, 2007
The McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, 100 miles west of Homer, Alaska is world-famous for its concentration of coastal brown bears and the incredible viewing and photographic  opportunities. BUT, the only way you can get there is to win a viewing permit in the annual random lottery drawing. With up to 2,500 people applying for only 250 permits, the odds are slim of actually winning one. I've been extremely fortunate in that I've won a permit each of the three times that I've applied! This month's featured photo, Beachcombers, shows a pair of brown bears casually walking the beach, seemingly engrossed in beachcoming to see what they can find.

October 8, 2007
I recently returned from my annual 2-month expedition on the Juneau Icefield. While I didn't take as many photos this year as I normally do, I did manage to get several very nice shots. Out of the Fog shows a dissipating storm on the Taku Glacier, with several peaks poking out above the fog, while at the same time a lone skier makes his way back to camp after a day of research on the glacier.

January 21, 2007
If you like photos of bears and Alaska, I've added one that I think you'll enjoy. The Fishing Hole was taken at the world famous McNeil River State Game Sanctuary. It shows three young bears in search of a tasty salmon snack in one of their favorite fishing holes.

December 22, 2006
In many places in the U.S., autumn is a favorite season for photography. This is particularly true for the eastern hardwood forests and the birch and aspen groves of the west. Alaska also boasts a spectacular autumn season, although it generally lasts one or two weeks before the leaves drop and everything turns brown. But in those brief few days the color on the mountains literally explodes into a kaleidoscope of color. With bright splashes of color, it seems as though this photo, Kaleidoscope, might be Nature's version of a Jackson Pollock painting.

December 16, 2006
       

One of the biggest frustrations I've had in displaying my photographs on the Web is that the practical realities of the Web impose a strict limit on the size of the preview images I can display. Make the photo too small and people can't see all the detail that's present. Make the photo too big and it takes too long to display in a Web browser, which drives people away. However, I've now come up with a solution that let's me post very high-resolution images that don't take forever to display. Whenever you see the Zoomify button, just click it to bring up a high-resolution image which allows you to zoom in and out, and pan around. This is perfect for seeing all the incredible detail of the AlaskaWide Series of panoramas. Check it out here.

December 1, 2006
The featured photo for December is "9/11 Lights". Believe it or not, but it took me four years to get this photo.  Check it out here.

October 22, 2006
I've added a new panorama to the Panorama Gallery. The Little Susitna River is just north of Anchorage, Alaska and is a very scenic river that cascades through a rocky gorge. Check it out here.

September 24, 2006
There hasn't been much in the way of northern lights activity here in Anchorage for the past year, so I'm pleased to add two new northern lights photos that I captured during a short, but intense northern lights storm. Check out my newest shots, Knik Reflections and Fiery Sky.

January 2, 2006
I'm very pleased to announce the launch of my new photo website, PhotoPromote.com! If you have a business, product, website, or anything else that you'd like to promote, PhotoPromote lets you do it in a fun and unique way. It features more of my great Alaska photography, and it allows you to download some of the photos that you see on this website for use as your computer's desktop wallpaper. Take a look at it. I think you'll enjoy it!

November 27, 2005
If you're a physics teacher, you've most likely seen my northern lights photo on the cover of the December issue of The Physics Teacher. If you're planning to attend the American Association of Physics Teachers Conference in Anchorage this coming January, be sure to stop by Stephan Fine Arts (600 W. 6th Avenue) to see more of my spectacular northern lights photographs.

November 1, 2005
The featured print for November is "Bearadise". This photo was taken at the world-famous McNeil River State Game Sanctuary in Alaska, and shows a young brown bear lounging in the grass and enjoying a warm and sunny summer day. The Sanctuary is open only to permit holders who have been lucky enough to have their name selected in a lottery drawing. Thousands apply annually, but only a lucky few win a permit. I must be extremely lucky - I've applied twice, and won a permit both times!

September 11, 2005
I've added a special photo to the Aurora Gallery. It's a spectacular photo of the northern lights blazing over an Anchorage lake and the Alpenglow Star. The star is illuminated on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. I've been trying to get this photo for four years, but it's nearly impossible to have bright aurora over the star on September 11, with a clear sky, and a calm lake to provide a reflection. Finally, today it all came together for this rare photograph.

June 30, 2005
I'm now gone for July and August doing my annual glacier research on the Juneau Icefield. If you'd like to order any prints, my automated ordering system will still process your order, however I won't be able to ship your print until early September. In the meantime, if you'd like to see what I'm doing on the Juneau Icefield, take a look at my other website, www.crevassezone.org. If you've ever wondered what hundreds of square miles of snow, ice, and rock looks like, the pictures on the site will satisfy your curiosity!

June 29, 2005
We've been having fantastic weather here in Anchorage during the last week, with afternoon and evening thunderstorms providing ample photographic subject matter. I went to one of my favorite Anchorage overlooks and captured this photograph of a vibrant rainbow right over downtown.

June 25, 2005
I've returned from my second trip to the world famous McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, viewing the wild brown bears of the Alaska coast. During my four days there, I took just over 2,100 photos, nine of which comprise the featured print for July and August, Waiting for the Run. These four bears are awaiting a run of salmon with the next incoming tide. The incomparable Alaskan landscape provides a dramatic backdrop for the bear's home along Mikfik Creek.

June 6, 2005
I've been tromping around the woods the last few days in search of my latest series of photos -- springtime forest and flower scenes. My interest in this subject matter is a result of my recent purchase of a 17 megapixel digital camera. The resolution of this camera is absolutely phenomenal, rendering even the smallest details. To see an example of this detail, click on the magnifying glass icon in this photograph, Busy Bee.

May 30, 2005
In addition to several of my panoramas, Stephan Fine Arts now has a selection of my northern lights photographs in their 6th Avenue gallery in downtown Anchorage, Alaska. If you happen to be in Anchorage, stop by their gallery to see these dramatic prints in person.

December 19, 2004
If you're a business owner, doctor, dentist, attorney, or otherwise maintain an office, you know how important it is to project a professional image for your clients. You spend great care in choosing  furnishings and optimizing your interior design. Don't skimp when it comes to your wall hangings. Alaska Photographics can furnish your office with beautiful, inspiring photographs based on several themes - northern lights, wildlife, landscapes, and even our exclusive and impressive series of panoramas. I understand your time is valuable, that's why I will visit your office for private consultations. If you're interested in a particular photo or photos , let me know and I'll bring them to your office so you can see how they look in your office setting. And if you chose, I can take care of the framing and hand deliver the framed prints to you (obviously, I can't offer this service throughout the entire USA, so this is good only for my local area from Girdwood to Big Lake, which includes Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, and Wasilla). Additionally, I offer a 10% discount on orders of five prints or more. So feel free to browse my Galleries and if you see something you like, click here to let me know and we'll work something out!

December 18, 2004
In order to make your buying experience absolutely safe, I have added Comodo SSL Security to this website! Now you can browse and buy with confidence that your transaction data will be encrypted and cannot be intercepted over the Internet. By paying with your credit card, you are protected by two levels of security. First, my Comodo SSL Certificate assures my identity, and the identity of this website, with a warranty of $10,000. Second, purchases made with your credit card are protected against fraud by your credit card company. Click here to view my Security Credentials.

November 16, 2004
  Photos are the kind of thing that are best seen in person, and viewing them on your computer monitor is a poor substitute for the real thing. In an effort to address this limitation, I've started adding close-up, detailed views of selected images. I know it's not like seeing the photographs in person, but it will give you a much better idea of the detail that is inherent in my photographs. Whenever you come across a photo with a magnifying glass icon superimposed on it, click the icon and you'll get a close-up view. To see how this works, click here to see my panorama entitled "Water Colors". Note that the magnifying glass icon is present only on the preview images here on this website -- it is not on the actual prints.

November 7, 2004
I've made significant changes to the Panorama Gallery, which features my series. Among the changes, I've added several new panoramas, including Sunrise Moonset, Ruby Red, Water Colors, and Trilight. Also, there was an article in the Anchorage Daily News today about plans for installing 33 400-foot high wind turbines on Fire Island, just off the coast of Anchorage. This would have a huge impact on the scenic and aesthetic qualities of the entire Anchorage, Turnagain Arm, and Cook Inlet areas. It would create a skyline that far exceeds that even of downtown Anchorage. While it's true that wind-generated electricity is free of the fuel-related impacts of coal, oil, and natural gas fired power plants, the visual and aesthetic impact of tens or hundreds of 400-foot tall structures can't be denied. The solution is to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to perform visibility analysis so that these types of projects can be optimally sited based on numerous criteria, including aesthetic considerations.  If you want to see what Fire Island looks like today, before it is developed, click here.

October 19, 2004
If you've seen my recent award-winning photograph, Defending the Homeland, and wondered what it looked like in person, I've just posted the video of this dramatic encounter. Click the link on the Home Page, or here, to view the video (3.4 MB download).

October 16, 2004
I just had several my northern lights photographs published in Skywatch West: The Complete Weather Guide by Richard A. Keen. This guide to the weather of the western United States, Canada, and Alaska is a fascinating and lively in-depth examination of all aspects of meteorology in the West. Highly recommended! You can purchase a copy at Amazon.com.

September 3, 2004
I'm pleased to announce the opening of my show at Stephan Fine Arts in the Captain Cook Hotel, in downtown Anchorage. The show features ten photographs from my  panorama series, which will be on display throughout the month of September. So if you're in the Anchorage area, stop by and have a look!

September 1, 2004
I just returned home from my annual two-month expedition on the Juneau Icefield and learned that Defending the Homeland and Emerald Sky had been published in the Anchorage Daily News while I was away. The photos were accompanied by a short article about the annual AlaskaWILD photography competition and exhibition. Unfortunately, I didn't know the photos were going to be published and in my rush to pack for the Icefield, I wasn't able to post Defending the Homeland here on the website. If you happened to be looking for a print of this photo but didn't see it, you can now order your very own print.

June 15, 2004
If you're going to be in the Anchorage, Alaska area from September 3-10, 2004, be sure to check out my First Friday show at the Stephan Fine Arts gallery in the Captain Cook Hotel (4th & K Street). I'll be showing ten spectacular photographs from my panorama series. Among the photos on display will be The Great One, Denali Sunrise, Turnagain Winter, Emerald Sky, Knik River at Sunset, Winter's End, Bird Point Summer, and Seagull's Paradise. I'll be at the show on Friday, September 3, so stop on by for a chat and a look at these wonderful images.

June 1, 2004
The Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers holds an annual juried photo contest and traveling exhibition called AlaskaWILD. I'm very pleased to announce that all four of my submissions were chosen for the year-long traveling show. And in addition, I won Best of Show, Best Wildlife photo, Best Nature photo, and captured an Honorable Mention in the Landscape category!!! Visit the ASONP website to view all the winning entries from the 2004 exhibition.

May 1, 2004
I just learned today that one of my recent northern lights photographs, Sunset Lights was one of 10 photos selected, of thousands submitted, for the annual Alaska Airlines/Horizon Airlines Magazine photo contest! Although I didn't get the Grand Prize, I did get an Honorable Mention. You can order a print of this photo here.

February 1, 2004
I'm pleased to announce my partnership with Stephan Fine Arts, the premier fine art gallery in Anchorage, Alaska. Stephan Fine Arts has been in business at the same downtown location since 1977, and features works by such noted Alaskan artists as Charles Gause, Fred Machetanz, Rie Munoz, and Ernest Robertson. They also feature the wildlife and nature photography of Thomas Mangleson and Johnny Johnson. If you happen to be in Anchorage, stop by the gallery at 600 West 6th Avenue and you can view and purchase several wide-format panoramas from my series — Denali Sunrise, Turnagain Winter, and Knik River Sunset.

January 27, 2004
The northern lights were out over Anchorage on Saturday, the 24th. I grabbed the camera and headed into the mountains overlooking town, and captured a spectacular panorama of the aurora arcing over the Chugach Mountains and the lights of Anchorage. This photo has been published in the Anchorage Daily News today. Click here to see it on the ADN website.

October 24, 2003
In June 2003, I was fortunate enough to win a lottery permit to photograph the bears at McNeil River State Game Sanctuary. I took thousands of photos during my five days there, and have posted one of my favorites in the Wildlife Gallery.

October 18, 2003
The northern lights have been fairly good the last several nights. I drove up toward Denali National Park and was able to capture this dramatic photograph of the lights shimmering over the summit of Denali.

October 1, 2003
It seems I was lucky enough to have a second photo selected as the "Photo of the Month" on the Norwegian northern lights website www.northern-lights.no. This website features some of the best aurora photography available, so give it a visit. My winning photo, Heavenly Hands, captures a unique display of northern lights at sunset over the Juneau Icefield in Alaska, with a dual auroral band that resembles a pair of hands reaching down from the sky. This striking 24" x 16" photograph is available for purchase by clicking here.

September 26, 2003
It seems my recent northern lights photograph, Moonlight Aurora, has been a BIG hit! It recently was picked up by The Associated Press and has been published in newspapers around the United States. It has also been published on numerous websites, including "The Week in Pictures (Sept. 11-18)" on msnbc.com and Coast to Coast AM with George Noory. If you'd like to own your very own 24" x 16" museum-quality print of this stunning photograph click here to go to the order page.

September 17, 2003
Although recent predictions called for little to no northern lights, I was lucky enough to capture several nice shots recently of the aurora shimmering above a lake nearby my home. In fact, one of them was even published on the front page of the Anchorage Daily News newspaper! You can get your own signed, Numbered Edition print of this photo by clicking here.

June 24, 2003
The featured photo for July and August is Alien Planet #2. This photo was selected as the winner of the May, 2003  "Photo of the Month" contest on the Norwegian northern lights website www.northern-lights.no. This monthly photo contest features consistently stiff competition, and Alien Planet #2 received a score of 3.72 out of 4, the highest score of any northern lights photo so far this year! I'm offering this spectacular photograph in a large 18" wide by 24.5" tall size, each one individually signed and numbered  by myself. Click here to view this striking aurora photograph.

October 14, 2002
In response to comments from numerous viewers, I have added a Guest Book to the site. Please feel free to leave your comments regarding the site, its contents, or any ideas you have which may help me to make the site even better.

October 6, 2002
I have updated the website to include a new look, which I hope is more aesthetically pleasing than the original version. I'd like to hear what you think about it. Drop me a short note with comments or suggestions. Click here to send me an e-mail.

May 11, 2002

You can now use your credit card to buy your favorite prints. Purchasing prints is a snap with the addition of the PayPal online ordering system. Using 128-bit SSL secure encryption and shopping cart technology, your purchases are guaranteed safe and convenient.