Capture Wild Alaska

Our Fireweed is finally blooming!! This plant here in Alaska is a soil stabilizer. It is usually one of the first plants to come back after a fire or and disturbance of the tundra. The roots of the plant hold the soil in place allowing slower growing vegetation to grab hold.
Some believe this is why its called Fireweed. Others believe it got its name from the bright red foilage that comes after the petals fall off.
The flowers start on the bottom and bloom upward. After it blooms fully the petals start falling from bottom to top. When the last flower falls... summer is over.
We have June-July-August = Spring-Summer-Fall. Darkness is already starting to enter the night sky. The Northern Lights will be returning again soon!

Simple subject but great shots! I volunteer and teach OLLI classes at the University of Fairbanks. This was some of what we got last Thursday morning. My next class is at the Botanical Center in F-banks. I can't wait!!!

I had a small workshop today at Creamer's Field in Fairbanks today. We were all happy this little fella happened along. We got several photos of this Lesser yellowleg. Another good out shooting! Sure beats working!!

I have so much going on at the homestead I can't get to my blind as often as I'd like. Trying to make the best of it.

I made it out very early this morning. I was in my new super-secret spot. It took me two years to figure out how to get to it! I should get some some good stuff hanging out here!!

I've been back n the blind for the last week. Lots of research! I found a great spot! I've been trying to find a way to get across the creek for two years! Yesterday I found a new beaver dam I can walk over to get where I've been wanting to shoot from!!
Hopefully something National Geographic!! The downside... The new spot makes me very nervous!! Anything could be lurking in the shadows.

I’ve added a Birds in Flight Photo Workshop this season. It’s been a long winter. I’m ready to get to work.
Here’s my new rig for shooting YouTube videos. The ice has melted enough the ducks and swans are returning.

The ice is melting fast. It'll soon be that time of year again. Back in the blind!!
Show us your favorite beaver shots!!!

Getting a little more familiar with my new editing software. I think this turned out a little better than the last attempt.

Trying to learn new photo editing software. I can see lots of YouTube in my near future.