“Capturing Alaska”
with Wayde Carroll






Fur Rendezvous


     Back in 1935 Vern Johnson and a group of his friends decided that Anchorage was in sore need of some distraction from the long Alaska winters. They decided to start a festival that would coincide with the time of year that miners and trappers were bringing in their winters’ yields. They dubbed the new event the “Fur Rendezvous” to pay homage to the fur trade, which was Alaska’s third largest industry at the time.
   Thankfully, tradition reigns in modern day Anchorage and the “Fur Rondy” continues bigger than ever. There is a plethora of events and characters to keep a photographer busy. I love it because it really gives me a chance to utilize a wide variety of lenses and techniques and hone my reaction skills. Weather I’m shooting the World Championship Sled Dog Race, snowshoe softball, the Running of the Reindeer, the Outhouse Races, the carnival, blanket toss, or the numerous fur-clad persona at the auctions, I’m able to practice my craft non-stop. Wide angle, telephoto, portraits, fast action, details, story telling, the Rondy has it all.
   I highly recommend grabbing your camera and going crazy at this wonderful festival. Bring lots of memory cards, and batteries (it can be very cold, though this year’s opening weekend was quite warm-in the 40’s), and be ready to shoot away!
 During events like this I advise that you sit down and make a plan of action. Break out the schedule of events and write your own list of times and locations. Sometimes I get so caught up in one event that I forget about something I really wanted to get to! Also, if you’re blatantly taking photos of a particular person it’s always wise to get their permission first. Don’t give up if someone says no, there are plenty of people that will say yes.
   It’s a great feeling when, at the end of the day, I look back at all the interesting people I’ve met, and unique events I’ve gotten to witness, all in the name of photography.