Alaskan Wonderland

I am by no means a wildlife photographer or seeker of extreme experiences, unless you count going for a winter drive in my little corner of the world. Fairbanks, Alaska may be known as the “Land of the Midnight Sun,” but come winter the more appropriate name would be “Land of the Three Hour Sun.” Winter in the far north can be brutal as you fight not only darkness night and day, but also temperatures that drop well below zero and stay that way for months. This past winter we even set a new record, 180 days at 40 degrees or more below zero. That is almost half a year living in temperatures that could kill you in a matter of minutes! If the extreme temperatures don’t get you then the animals themselves might. Having a moose in your yard is not uncommon, and a legitimate reason to be late for work. These gorgeous vegetarian giants may seem harmless, but in reality they injure more people every year than the feared grizzly. I guess with that in mind, I am willing to go to extremes for a picture.

You might expect an animal sighting to be no big deal to me by now, but not so. Driving the Richardson Highway to Valdez the car hums with enthusiasm as we spy a black bear snacking near one of the breathtaking waterfalls; we both wish and fear he would come closer for a better view. Joy washes over me watching an Arctic fox dash across my walking path. Touching the stump of a gnawed off tree, I look around with wonder, hoping to discover the beaver and his dam. I gap in awe at majestic eagles flying over crystal waters on the hunt for lunch. In anticipation, I watch fluffy bunnies change their fur from woodland tan to snowball white, attempting to camouflage better with their winter surroundings. My heart still flutters excitedly when I look out my window and stare into large brown eyes, as a moose munches on our frozen Halloween pumpkins. Doused in 40% or more DEET mosquito repellent, to keep our dreaded “state bird” at bay, I gaze in gratitude at the herds of caribou making their way to breeding grounds. Walking the wooden plank paths through marshlands at Creamer’s Field, a bird sanctuary, I am amazed at the variety of birds that migrate thousands of miles to call this place home for a short time. Thrill courses through my veins as I haul in a sockeye; stroking his silver scales I thank him for providing food for my family, just as his ancestors have done for centuries. With all the wonders around me, I can’t help but be an amateur photographer, documenting the marvels I see.

Getting this particular shot was not terribly difficult to do; moose are abundant in Alaska. The challenge in winter is light, and thankfully this mama and her calf crossed our path while the sun was still above the horizon. We came across them while traveling to my son’s hockey competition. The snow had been flowing from the heavens hard that day, and the earth already deep with a white blanket received a fresh clean layer. The snowplows, working hard to reach everywhere, had not yet plowed through this long stretch of road. We found ourselves driving through a foot or more of snow and playing the “Where is our lane really” game. We helped pull three vehicles out of the snow that trip; thank you 4-wheel drive! We were very thankful we did not become prey to the snow piles while slowing down to avoid the moose and calf. My boys shouting with glee, we stared in wonder at the pair, loving, as always, the contrast their rich brown made against the white backdrop.

Editing photos is something I rarely get around to doing, and honestly I have little understanding of what to do. I know it is possible and I have played around a little with Apples editing features. I decided to try it out with my picture and see how it went. I started with cropping it down a little to show less of the dirty road snow. Then, moving through each option I would go from one extreme to the next, stopping where it appeared best to me. My goal was to help the moose pop out even more than they do naturally and also to help show off the stunning snow/frost covered trees. Winter works magic on trees here, covering each tiny branch in a thick layer of frost topped with snow deposits from each winter storm. When the colorful sunrise or sunset light hits the coated trees just right it makes my heart sing. Suddenly, the perfect white holds a pink hue; reminding me break up is coming and sweet summer buds will once again appear, bringing much needed nourishment to the magnificent animals that share this land with me.

My pink trees, the camera can never quite capture what the eye can see. Also, there is an animal out there, but he bolted for safety before my frozen glove bound fingers could get the phone out.

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If you enjoyed reading about the beauties of my home perhaps you’d like one of these fictional story that share a bit more about it.