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Black Oystercatcher, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska – Image 2718

Black Oystercatcher, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska – Image 2718

I love the black oystercatcher's colorful face which seems more tropical than Alaskan. But, it is a common shore bird along the rocky beaches of much of the sub-arctic Alaska. This bird sits on its nest which are usually found at the high tide line consisting of not much more than a swallow depression lined with small pebbles and shells. To protect their nesting sites the oystercatchers have elaborate behaviors such as false nesting and broken wing routines to steer one away from ...
Arctic Tern, Iceberg, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska – Image 2717

Arctic Tern, Iceberg, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska – Image 2717

Arctic terns are the long distance migratory champions of the world. Everyyear these medium sized birds (length: 13-15 inches and wingspan:26-30inches) fly from its Arctic breeding grounds (Alaska) to Antarctic and backagain each year. This 38,000km (24,000 miles) round trip ensures that thesebirds see two summers and more daylight than any other creature on theplanet. This is by far the longest regular migration by any known animal.Their migration takes up to four months. These are ...
Mountain Goat, Gloomy Knob, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska – Image 2716

Mountain Goat, Gloomy Knob, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska – Image 2716

I have done over ten photo books on Alaska subjects. Before I start to shooting any book project, I write down a photo list of all the possible images I want in the book. This list becomes my road map on how to navigate the shoot. On my Glacier Bay book, I had allotted four days to get my goat photos. I was going to start at Gloomy Knob in the early spring because the goats are close to sea level. Later in the summer the goats move really high, and it is really hard to access them. ...
Coastal Brown Bear Prints, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska – Image 2715

Coastal Brown Bear Prints, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska – Image 2715

I have seen a lot of good images of bear tracks, but I had never taken one until I came across these tracks in the sand on a beach in Glacier Bay National Park. Besides the deep clear paw impressions, the eagle feather is a nice touch. Both the coastal brown bear and bald eagle are iconic images of Southeast Alaska. But, I have to admit I moved the eagle feather into the frame. It was just out of the frame by about three feet. I was on a backpacking expedition and was not carrying an ...
Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska – Image 2714

Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska – Image 2714

This image shows what a coastal brown bear is suppose to look like...big round dish face, long claws, and big shoulder humps. I photographed this bear from a kayak with my assistant, Brien. While this bear was approaching in a very forceful manner, Brien and I were having a conversation about if this bear was coming for us. I thought we ought to back off a little bit, but Brien insisted we stay put. He said that this bear was not going to jump in and swim for us. He was in control of ...
Coastal brown bear, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska – Image 2713

Coastal brown bear, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska – Image 2713

I photographed this brown bear from a double kayak while shooting the images for my Glacier Bay book. I had an assistant with me to paddle the boat while I attempted to photograph wildlife close-up. I found that paddling and photographing at the same time was a fool's errand. It always seemed I should be shooting when I was paddling and vise-a-versa when I was photographing. My budgets do not always allow for an assistant, but for this book project I had an assistant along for the eight ...
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“As a kid in Buffalo, New York, I always wondered what it would be like to encounter a whale,” says Mark Kelley. Learn more about Mark...