Cellist Patrick Hopkins on Alaska Live

Alaska, Music, Photography, Portraits

I recently wrapped up my professional media internship for my undergraduate degree at UAF. I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity then working with Lori Neufeld and KUAC. I got to help with the live-radio program Alaska Live, be an on-air host for all the fantastic NPR shows, and even host my own music programs. My audio skill set has grown dramatically.

One of the last projects I worked on was an Alaska Live with Fairbanks-raised cellist Patrick Hopkins, who recently graduated from Juilliard Music School. Check out the podcast with music and conversation on KUAC’s website.

One of my favorite music images came form this shoot. It has more layers then a standard shot, and includes my work station.

Recording levels, wavelengths and board lights in the foreground, cello playing in the background.

Patrick Hopkins concentrates on the music.

Black and White, 35mm Moss Studies

Abstract, Alaska, Black & White, Film, Landscapes, Photography

My passion for photography began when I took a darkroom class in high school. To this day I continue to shoot film and make fiber prints, admittedly, not as much I would like.

I have long been working on a portfolio titled Creamers Field on Film. Creamers Field is an old dairy farm turned migratory waterfowl refuge. The criteria for the portfolio is simple: shot on film, at Creamers Field. Right on the northern edge of Fairbanks, with beautiful historic buildings and an incredible range of landscapes, I highly recommend a trip there for anyone visiting Fairbanks.

The three images today were shot on B&W 35mm Illford Delta 100, the digital files are scans from 8×10 fiber prints.

Shot just one day before the first snowfall, the moss was all but dead, resembling skin draped over bones.

Dusk and Dawn Landscapes

Alaska, Landscapes, Photography, Travel

It’s a subject I’ve talked about before, long Alaskan summer light. Dusk and dawn, referred to as “golden light” in photography, are but a few short hours apart. A fishing trip to the Copper River Valley early June gave me a prime opportunity to photograph both ends.

In the first image: Alpenglow illuminates Mount Drum, left, and Mount Sanford, right. Shot at 11:10 p.m., June 11, 2013.

Alpenglow highlights mountains along the Richardson Highway,11:10 p.m., June 11, 2013.

Before getting on the boat the next morning I walked down to the Copper River to photograph a gorgeous sunrise, At 4:30 in the morning, just over five hours later.

Sunrise over the Copper River at 4:30 a.m., June 11, 2013.

Evening Bike: Plane, Rail and Road.

Alaska, Photography, Street, Uncategorized

Fairbanks is fortunate to receive the late-night light that blankets high-latitude lands. There rarely seems to be a shortage of it, and it makes many activities available all times of day. May 15 the sun had set just before midnight, while I was out riding my bike. The afterglow provided some fun photo effects.

My favorite was illuminated railroad tracks and a descending plane above. Shot at 11:57 p.m.

A Boeing 737 approaches Fairbanks International Airport. May 15, 11:57 p.m.

A few things attracted me to the next shot, the soft sliver of a moon contrasted the flattened and fragmented patterns of the car carrier and building.

Car transport parked with crescent moon above. May 16, 12:02 a.m.

Wendy as The Firebird in UAF’s Graffiti Hall

Abstract, Alaska, Black & White, Photography, Portraits

Between performances of The Firebird Wendy did a quick photo shoot in the graffiti hall, right outside the Salisbury Theatre.

With only time for a short shoot, and unsure the aesthetic I was going for, I decided just to experiment with the lively and colorful background. The difference between color images and black and white is stark. Even with slight desaturation, there is a color discord which emphasizes certain forms and elements. Black and white images seem to be more about mood and design.

I think I like the black and white. I’m sure I’m biased.

Redpolls, robin egg, beehives and PRI.

Alaska, Landscapes, Macro, Photography, Wildlife

My old theme had been giving me problems, hence the new appearance.

A very similar story to the subject of this post was on Public Radio International during my drive to UAF: Magpies as pests. The story about how magpies, cousins of the fascinating raven I love to photograph, are often exterminated because of their aggressive nest-plundering habits. In defense of the magpie it was said other animals, raccoons, squirrels and deer probably steal more eggs. I’ve been unsuccessful finding the podcast, if I do I’ll post it.

In truth it’s just nature, the favorable location or easy meal will get taken.

I have three examples of similar subject matter today: First, a bird home overtaken by bees; second, former chickadee’s nest taken by redpolls; and finally, a scavenged North American Robin egg.

A beehive in a bird house at Creamers Field, late April, 2013.

Snow flies as a redpoll eyes its nest.

A redpoll warms the eggs, May 17, 2013.

Three of the four light-light blue eggs in a rotting birch tree.

Bright blue and broken.

Orbital.

May Skiing and a Dog

Alaska, Landscapes, Photography

I received a comment from a viewer that there’s overlapping issues when they view my site on Internet Explorer, has anyone else witnessed this or anything similar?

Over the next few days I’ll be featuring some of my favorite images from skiing and snowboarding last winter.

There has been a few good opportunities to snowboard this May, both at Skiland and backcountry. A group of friends and myself took a trip to a local south-facing slope and did a little hiking. What I really like about this series of two pictures: they’re two photos of only eight I took, one frame after the other. It’s just a good feeling, not shooting heavy, but getting a few strong images. I like the first photo because of the scale, two small hikers and an expansive horizon. The three main elements and the triangular composition of the second picture are simple, but pleasing to the eye.

Russle Walker, foreground, and Nick Konefal work back up the hill, May 9, 2013.

A dog watches the road

Music Monday: Bruce Adolphe

Alaska, Black & White, Music, Photography, Portraits

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: raw files are superior to jpeg. It is rather disappointing to be photographing and realize the camera is only recoding jpegs. That is what happened during this shoot. Enough on that.

Perhaps best known for his weekly Pianno Puzzlers segment on NPR’s Performance Today, Bruce Adolphe recently played in Fairbanks. Piano Puzzlers, as his website describe, “…Adolphe at the piano, playing folk tunes and popular songs in the styles of famous Classical composers,” was played with live contestants in the studio for the first time ever on Alaska Live, at KUAC.

All three contestants got the answers right, check out the puzzlers, fun conversations, and great piano playing in a series of two podcasts.

Bruce Adolphe, host of Piano Puzzler, warms up before playing for conetestants.

Bruce Adolphe plays a Piano Puzzler for contestant April Jaillet.

: Left to right: Maryanne Babij, April Jaillet, Jeff Iverson, Bruce Adolphe and host Lori Neufeld.

Rough-legged Hawk

Alaska, Landscapes, Photography, Wildlife

It’s May 18, and it snowed in Fairbanks again today. Lovely fall weather we’re having. Such dramatic weather must be hard on wildlife. There has been some crazy bird spectacles, as reported by the Fairbanks News-Miner.

This included, to the best of my knowledge, a Rough-Legged Hawk hanging around Farmers Loop Rd. I got a few opportunities to photograph it, though nothing spectacular it was good practice in an area I have little experience.

A Rough-Legged Hawk hung around Farmers Loop Rd for a few days early in May, 2013.

Spot News: Mobile-Home Fire

Alaska, Photography

While stopped for gas a few weeks ago I noticed a stream of firetrucks head north out of Fairbanks. Being the direction I was headed I kept an eye out, spot news relies largely on chance, and I had a feeling I would find some. Sure enough about 3 miles up the road a column of smoke was rising high above the tree line.

A mobile home in a residential neighborhood had caught fire. Luckily no one was injured.