Auke Lake, Fireweed and Cow Parsnip, Juneau, Alaska – Image 2677

I shot this same scene about 12 years ago, but there was only one stock of fireweed. The images were acceptable, but never reached calendar/portfolio level. Twelve years later and the one stock grew into a field of fireweed. It rains a lot in Juneau. Most people really don’t realize just how much it does rain especially in July through November. Anyway, fireweed season is July through early August. Most of the past twelve years it has rained all fireweed season. Last year, Southeast Alaska enjoyed a really dry and sunny summer, and I had the joy of shooting this scene several different days. I shot these images between 6 and 7am with the sun to my right with my assistant holding a sun shade above my lens to stop sun flares. This photo illustrates the cover of my 2011 Juneau Calendar, and the month of June. Enjoy the photo and thanks for visiting.Camera body: Nikon D700, Lens: Nikkor 20-35mm f/2.8, digital capture, ISO 200,Gitzo Tripod, polarized, f/16 © Mark Kelley