Capturing Alaska

with Wayde Carroll

 

 

Wonder Lake

 

 

View from Eielson Visitor's Center

 

 

Reflection Pond

 

 

Denali and friends

 

 

 

 

Grizzly Scenic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh Snow!

 

 

Grizzly Mother and Cub

 

 

Grizzly Sow

 

 

Grizzly Cub

 

 

Red Fox

 

Willow Ptarmigan

 

The following images are from the Kantishna Roadhouse. The portraits are of Emmitt Peters Jr. His father won the second Iditarod and he himself will be training for the race once he finishes film school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Splendor!: Denali National Park and Preserve

 

 

   I've been hearing about the glorious, yet elusive, fall color spectacular in Denali National Park and Preserve for years. I have been to the park many times but I've never been able to time the fall colors just right.

  In Denali, the colors are at their height for only a brief time, maybe a week or two. I've been there when I could see the flora starting to turn. I've been there when the peak had clearly passed and the tundra was a dull brown as opposed to the fabled brilliant red of fall. A few times I had heard from other photographers that the peak is happening right "NOW"! But obligations kept me from hustling on up there.

   Well, this year it finally happened! On my third, and final, trip of the summer I was rewarded with what was truly some of the most magnificent scenery I've ever been privileged to set eyes upon.

   I was in the park for three days and you could literally see a difference every day. On the way in I felt  "Wow, this truly is stunning" On the last morning It was more like "Holy Smokes" (something along those lines), this is unbelievable!" To add to the glorious coloring I was blessed with a low angled, early morning, sun that added a warm glow to everything as well as interesting shadows and nice side lighting on the mountains to make every detail "pop". There wasn't a trace of haze in the skies.

   Maybe for the first time, I couldn't take my eyes away from the scenery as we took the bus out of Kantishna and back to the park entrance. I had been given a gift and I wasn't going to waste it.

  I took some nice photos when I could. I even saw some nice wildlife, but on this day the Park itself stole the show.