Photography

[ozzie]

WOW!
The news said there was a possibility we could see something here in North Texas, but that never materialized for us. My  sister did send me a couple of pix that my niece took in Buffalo though.
Great shots, Moose.

[LennG]

Great pix Moose. What camera were you using and for how long did you have it open.

I have seen the Northern lights several times especially on our Artic cruise but was never able to get a pix from my camera on the ship.

[Moose135]

Thank you, guys! Lenn, I was shooting with a Canon 5D3 and a Rokinon 14mm lens. The shots were in the 10 - 15 second range, f/2.8, and ISO 800.

[Moose135]

Since we left off on some photos of the Northern Lights, how about a few more?

We took a trip to Alaska last week, flying into Fairbanks to start.  We had a couple of days there on our own before joining a tour group. The World Ice Art Championships were underway at a park in Fairbanks, and we stopped by to check out the work.







We also took a dog sled ride!

This wasn't us; it was another sled out on the trail.



This was us!

[Moose135]

I know, I know, I promised Northern Lights. They're coming...

But first, Denali! The tallest mountain in North America at 20,310 feet. They say only about 30% of visitors to Alaska actually get to see Denali, as it is often shrouded in clouds, but we were treated to a beautiful view!







We also got to check out the Trans Alaska Pipeline.



And yes, we did get to see moose, although this one was in a wildlife refuge near Anchorage. A couple were spotted in the wild from our bus, but without a chance to photograph those.



After our drive past Denali, we spent a couple of nights in Talkeetna, about halfway between Fairbanks and Anchorage. It's a town of about 600 people and was the inspiration for the town in the show 'Northern Exposure'. Our hotel faced Denali, and we got to spend some time on the back deck checking out the Northern Lights.

From there, we headed down to Anchorage for two days. The 'ceremonial' start to the Iditarod race took place while we were there, so we got up close with some more sled dogs - photos to come! It's been a warmer than normal winter in those parts - I don't think it really got below 0F while we were there, but we heard stories of temps down to -40F and more in the past!

[Moose135]

We went out on our first night with the group, but clouds and low solar activity prevented any sightings of the Northern Lights. On our second night we headed out of town a little further, and were treated to an amazing display of the lights.









This was from the deck of our hotel in Talkeetna the next night.

[LennG]

Great pics as always Moose.

We have been to Alaska 3 times, Anchorage twice, but circumstances prevented us from getting to Denali. I have visited that Wildlife park near Anchorage, pretty amazing.

Your shots of the Northern Lights are great. We did an Artic Crusie a couple of years ago, and we were out t o see the Lights just about every night when it was clear enough. My problem was that we were always on a moving ship and I wasn't able to use my regular camera to photograph anything of them.
I was so frustrated as all these people who had Apple phones, were just pointing them at the sky and came away with amazing pics. People never even knew what they were shooting and again, had amazing pics and all I had were memories.

[LennG]

I haven't posted on this thread in quite a while, but because of Moose, I had to go back and look at some of our pics from our last time in Alaska. Last time we were there we fully intended to dive to Denali, but this year, Alaska was burning with wildfire and it was so bad around Anchorage that you didn't know there were even mountains surrounding the city. We cancelled Denali and did our best to entertain ourselves in and around Anchorage. We even got to go to the Alaska State Fair, which was amazing.
We were there at the beginning of September and the leaves were already changing in the Northern part of the state, where we were.

Since we are on this subject, I thought I'd also share a few pics with everyone.





Because of the smoke we headed out of Anchorage to a smaller Glacier and we got to walk on it




Some of the colors of Alaska in the Fall










By chance, we were driving and I thought I saw something in the bushes, so I stopped and there was a mother and her calf. Used my telephoto and got some great shots




Just some of the smoke around Anchorage that did make for some interesting shots





As we were boarding our ship this appeared basically out of nowhere







All ships stop by any of several glaciers. I had the amazing fortune to see a huge piece break off just as I had my camera in that spot, (Calving)








A couple of random shots



And to prove I am old and have been to Alaska before

[ozzie]

Wow! Where do I start? Moose and Lenn, you guys both have such a gift for creating incredible shots. Each one more wonderful than the last.
Thanks for sharing them and keeping this thread going.

[Moose135]

Terrific images, Lenn! It was an amazing experience, and we're already talking about another visit, probably in the summertime. And thank you, Ozzie, as well!

[LennG]

We loved Alaska and would go back in a heartbeat. I am determined to get to Denali, or whatever it is now called.
As you can attest, it is a photographer's heaven.

When we were driving, I happened to see a bear grabbing a salmon right out of the river, but by the time we stopped and I got my camera out, the moment was gone.   For sure, summer, as late as you can do, is the best time to go. The wildlife are all out and the bears are gathering food for the long winter. As in some of my pics, the color changing is different from where we usually go, the Northeast as there are really no maples so most of the colors are bright yellows that clash with the still green evergreens. That nip of autumn is in the air. You'll love it.

[Moose135]

I am determined to get to Denali, or whatever it is now called.

It's still called Denali, no matter what some people may tell you.

[LennG]

It's still called Denali, no matter what some people may tell you.

Same in my house.       

[LennG]

Since I was going back and looking at several of my pics, most who have been following my shots know there isn't a sunset that I don't like and photograph. As we are avid cruisers, there is sometimes no better place to shoot sunsets than on a ship on the ocean. I tell my wife we need to go out and watch the sunset. She thinks it's romantic, and I do too. Too bad I spend all my time taking pics of it, switching lenses to be romantic. Well, she understands and any photographer's wife will also.
































And, one of my shots I have taken in a while, we were in Istanbul last year. Maybe it isn't the best overall sunset, but I love this pic





Sometimes the best sunsets aren't the actual sun itself, but what happens after the sun actually sets. I'll post some of these a bit later.

[ozzie]

Wow, that last shot is just stunning Lenn!