Two Birds and a Baby Moose

Taken in 2014, here are a few of my personal favorite animal portraits. From Denali, Alaska to Grahamsville, New York--ain't life grand? 

 

Totemic

In Alaska and Canada, I looked at a lot of First Nation totem poles. Each is beautiful and unique. I also saw the work of the great, Bill Reid, a comtemporary carver. The color photograph is of is of his sculpture, Raven and The First Men at the UBC Museum of Anthropology. It depicts part of a Haida creation myth. The Raven represents the Trickster figure common to many mythologies. The totem poles also led me to think about the treatment of First Nation Peoples, and led me to support this project on Kickstarter, the Survivors Totem Pole. They need less than $907.00 to finish the pole and make a base for it. The master carver is Skundaal (Bernie Williams), from the Haida and Coast Salish Nations. She is the only female apprentice of the late master Haida carver, Bill Reid. I am glad the tradition of totem poles is still alive.

Chance Moments

Sometimes you get handed a gift. This Alaska landscape was taken through the distorting window glass of the ARR train speeding towards Denali. I like being an artist because we get to recognize those moments.

 

The Bigness of it All

 Alaska still has the vastness to take one back to 19th century photographs of space. These were taken at the Mendenhall Glacier. Think Timothy O'Sullivan or Eadweard Muybridge or just go 21st century — to the Mendenhall Glacier weather web cam.

And yes, I love landscape. 2 Views of Alaska.

Behavioral Study...Alaskan Style

Alas..ka