Rainforests are prime ecosystems for generating moody weather. The Tongass National Forest in the Inside Passage of Southeast Alaska is a perfect example. At 16.7 million acres (6.76 million hectares), it is the largest national forest in the U.S. The…
Oh My, Aurora!
Late last month, two coronal mass ejections (a fancy term for ionized gases that erupt from the surface of the sun) in succession hurled towards the earth. When they arrived on February 26-27, they produced a G3 solar storm that…
Mountain View
Although the Alaska wildflower is the Forget-Me-Not, it would be easy for visitors to the state to assume it was Common Fireweed given its pervasiveness. It is even depicted on the Alaska Scenic Byway Route road signs. Its name derives…
2022 in Review
REFLECTIONS ON 2022 This past year was a challenging one for me personally and professionally as health issues limited my time in the field. Fortunately, I am on the mend and am looking forward to being more photographically productive in…
The Belt of Venus
Photographers are students of light; the more we understand its varied qualities, the better we can capture it for others to see and appreciate. A favorite atmospheric phenomenon of mine is called the Belt of Venus. Named for the breast-band…
The Trees of Winter
As I write this, Southcentral Alaska is in the midst of a January deep freeze reminiscent of winters past. Subzero temperatures combined with ground fog are adorning trees with thick layers of hoarfrost — the foliage of winter. While the…