“Capturing Alaska”
with Wayde Carroll






Stepping Outside My Box!



     OK, I’ll try not to veer away from Alaska too often in this “Chatalaska” blog but I stumbled across something very interesting and exciting to me as I was going through the images from my recent Costa Rica trip.
     I was working as the photography guide for Journey’s International, helping clients improve their image taking skills. The focus of the trip, of course, was photographing the diverse flora and fauna, varying ecosystems, and, to some extent, the people. The majority of the trip was spent in exotic locales for just that purpose. I was lucky enough to spend time “working” in a cloud forest, and at the foot of an active volcano, in the heart of a jungle, and on a coffee plantation. The photo opportunities were incredible and I can’t wait to get back next May to lead another photo safari. (I know, no kidding, duh!)
     The surprise came when I was “off” duty. I had a couple of days to myself in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, before and after the official safari dates. San Jose is at the center of a huge metropolitan area comprised of 1.6 million people. It is relatively safe, according to statistics, but everyone from our local guide to the hotel clerks advised strongly that I didn’t bring my “big” cameras out on the street’s as they would be a serious target for thieves. This worried me enough that during my first two days in the city I did indeed leave my cameras in my hotel room as I wandered about. It was a very difficult decision to do so. I couldn’t believe I was in a new place and I couldn’t take photos! I waffled and waffled and finally went out sans camera. (I will note here that during the four days I spent in the city I only saw one person with a “serious” camera.) I was seriously frustrated but felt I was doing the right thing. I couldn’t afford to lose a camera before my work began.
     On my last two days, after the safari, I couldn’t take it anymore. I had missed too many delicious photo-ops while wandering around town. I decided I’d take my camera out of the box (hotel room) and sneak some photos just around the block, not go too far. I only took one body and one lens. I took several images just around the corner and it felt good. Really good! I couldn’t resist the urge to keep on going. I decided I’d just keep my eyes open, grip my camera firmly and not venture into areas that were just plain foolish. (For a brief moment I was drawn towards some dilapidated buildings but thought better of it.)
     I’m finally getting to the point of all of this! My outdoor photography is usually done in beautiful natural settings. I usually get out of any big cities as fast as I can. I’m suffocated and confused. But because of scheduling, I ended up having to spend some time in this one. Much to my surprise though, something clicked. It seemed I couldn’t stop finding interesting compositions, colors, and subjects. It turned out to be one of those rare occasions where I got completely absorbed by my art and came out at the end of a chunk of time not knowing how long it had been and marveling at what I had just experienced. Pure creative freedom. I had no expectations and no pressures to perform. This was image making just for the pleasure of it. I don’t know if it was the exotic country or the completely new subject matter but I came up with a set of images that I love and I’m excited to pursue similar work here and abroad. I’m curious to see if the same type of inspiration takes me in my home city of Anchorage. I’ll keep you posted.
     By leaving my hotel room, camera in hand, and taking images outside my normal expertise, I stepped out of my literal and metaphorical boxes and found new creative opportunity. I’m constantly amazed at the gifts given me through this career, photography.