November 29, 2024

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER    "Falling Man"

Gold Butte National Monument, Nevada

Petroglyphs, scratchings made in darker desert varnish by ancients, are found throughout the American Southwest. Depending on other artifacts and dwelling remains, archaeologists can usually estimate the age of them but can only estimate Falling Man to be 700 to 2000 years old since both the Anasazi and Paiute Indians once inhabited the area.

There are several theories on the meaning--a rock artist falling from the cliff or maybe someone falling from the sky (as in space alien)?

Canon R5, RF24-70 f2.8 lens at 47mm, exposure of 1/200 second at f9, ISO 640, handheld.

November 1, 2024

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER    "Down The Hatch"

Fazenda San Francisco, Mato Grosso South, Brazil

Normally I do not photograph captive animals, but this Toucan is a wild bird being fed to give the tourists an up close encounter with a bird they probably wouldn't see otherwise. So, sort of a gray area for me...

But who could resist photographing such a beautiful bird!

Canon R5, RF100-500 f4.5-7.1 lens at 254mm, exposure of 1/800 second at f7.1, ISO 400, handheld.

October 5, 2024

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER    "Winter Is Nigh"

My Backyard, Interior Alaska

The last of the Tall Fireweed seed pods are blowing away, leaving the skeletal remains of the stems and leaves, signaling the end of another summer. The seed pods parachute in the wind on delicate fluffy hairs and can travel far.

And for the photographer, the now low angled sun creates shadows for a dark background.

Canon R5 Mark II, RF100-500 f4.5-7.1 lens at 400mm, exposure of 1/500 second at f7.1, ISO 320, handheld.

September 13, 2024

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER    "Where's Waldo?"

Meeting Of The Waters State Park, Pantanal, Brazil

With apologies to the 'real' Waldo, this jaguar is hiding within the dense vegetation as it searches for a caiman in the floating water hyacinth below. Caimans, the South American relative of the alligator, are just one of the jaguar's varied prey.

Canon R5, RF100-500 f4.5-7.1 lens at 400mm, exposure of 1/800 second at f8, ISO 640, handheld.

August 2, 2024

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR AUGUST    "Drive It Like A Rental"

Highlands of Iceland

There is an old saying when driving a car like an idiot: "Drive it like you stole it or it's a rental" and I happened to see that in the Highlands of Iceland. Three Land Rovers were crossing this wide but shallow river at a too high speed, unnecessarily spraying water as they crossed.

Yes, they were rentals...

Canon R5, RF100-500 f4.5-7.1 lens at 500mm, exposure of 1/1250 second at f7.1, ISO 250, handheld.

July 4, 2024

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR JULY    "Just When I Needed An Image"

Denali National Park, Alaska

Last Sunday while I was trying to decide on what image to use for this feature I received a Denali neighborhood alert that a forest fire had started near the entrance. For several days the fire continued to spread up towards Mt. Healy, but within three days the firefighters had it under control and contained. Four days later helicopters were dropping buckets of water on the few remaining hotspots.

Sure, I needed an image, but I wish it wasn't this one...

Canon R5, RF100-500 f4.5-7.1 lens at 100mm, exposure of 1/640 second at f7.1, ISO 400, handheld.

June 1, 2024

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR JUNE    "Russian Invasion?"

Crater Sulphur Mine, Death Valley NP, California

About a 150 years ago the central and western states were rapidly invaded by the Russian Thistle, better know as Tumbleweed. Not actually a thistle, just a weed from Eastern Europe/Russia/Siberia that was accidentally introduced with imported hay and carried by trains as they headed west. When the plant matures and dries, it detaches from the roots and easily rolls in the wind, spreading its seeds.

High in the mountains of Death Valley NP I happened to see this very effective tumbleweed collector…

iPhone 13 Pro, lens at f1.5, exposure of 1/6000 second, ISO 50.

May 4, 2024

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR MAY    "Ancient Rock Art"

Grapevine Canyon In The Spirit Mountain Wilderness, Lake Mead NRA, Nevada

As far back as nine centuries what are thought to have been the Mojave people created Rock Art in what is now know as Grapevine Canyon. Desert Varnish is a dark coating that forms over rocks in arid environments, and is easily scraped away with sharp rocks to reveal the lighter colored rock beneath. The artists then created different shapes, animals and people—over 700 in all—that are still visible today.

I wondered how the petroglyphs high up were made until I saw a drawing of one person standing on the shoulders of another…

iPhone 13 Pro, lens at f1.5, exposure of 1/120 second, ISO 50.

April 1, 2024

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL    "A Lake In Death Valley?"

Lake Manly, At The Bottom Of Death Valley

Every Alaskan deserves a break from winter's snow and cold, so I've just returned from a short Southwest trip. One of the reasons I wanted to visit Death Valley was the rare lake in Badwater Basin, some 282 feet below sea level. It formed in August last year after Hurricane Hillary dumped 2.2 inches of rain, and then was replenished by another atmospheric river in February.

Tourists are flocking to the lake to experience something that will soon evaporate away...

iPhone 13 Pro, lens at f1.5, exposure of 1/4600 second, ISO 50.

February 25, 2024

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH    "Such A Cute Pest"

Alaska Range Mountains Of Interior Alaska

Anyone living in rural Alaska has a love/hate relationship with Red Squirrels. On one hand they are so cute collecting spruce cones for the winter and then perching on a branch while eating them. On the other hand they can be quite destructive if they find a way into your attic or shed.

The secret is to train your resident squirrel--like keeping off the house--and they in turn will defend their territory from 'non-trained' squirrels. A symbiotic relationship...

Canon R5, RF600 f4 lens, exposure of 1/1000 second at f5.6, ISO 10,000, handheld. A vertical crop, processed with Topaz DeNoise.

January 29, 2024

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY    "Stand Or Flee?"

Scorseby Sound, East Greenland

Most East Greenlanders are subsistence hunters and fishers so are able to hunt musk ox and polar bears any time of the year. So when our group of three slowly approached these bulls, using all our collective non-threatening techniques, they were both inquisitive and wary. After deeming us harmless, they ambled up the mountain.

Canon R5, RF100-500 f4.5-7.1 lens at 451mm, exposure of 1/640 second at f8, ISO 500, handheld.

December 24, 2023

IMAGE OF THE MONTH FOR JANUARY    "A Natural Lightshow"

Scorseby Sound, East Greenland

Freezing hands or not, when such a brilliant aurora display occurs, I photograph! The forecast was for a KP Index 7, which is very high. Picture 40 some photographers crowded along the ship's railing trying to properly compose and expose the display while the ship slowly rotated, and you can understand why I got only one keeper.

Blue and purple colors only occur during intense solar activity.

Canon R5, EF16-35 f4 lens at 16mm, exposure of 4 seconds at f4, ISO 12,800, Feisol tripod. Topaz DeNoise used to reduce the sensor noise.