Hello Website surfer, Thank you for stopping by!
I will say little and show much this time around. Enjoy the photos. Were hard at work here in Alaska!
- RK
Chugach Powder Guides Serving up the Chugach Feb 2016.
Chugach Powder guides very own Corey Anderson:
If your in need of something special and don't want to get out of your slippers your in luck! The Sundry Shop @ Hotel Alyeska Has what you need.
I was just out driving to and from when I turned the corner and "Wham!" a photograph hit me right in the face.
Lynsey Dyer Warming up.
Amber Of Rambler Knits posses for a profile shot.
I had a friend visiting me who was thinking about climbing Denali. I say to my friend: "The mountain spirit wants you to hike her Ashley, she does not lift her cloud skirt & show off so often. Just look at how much she showed of herself to you on your first hello!"
Some amazing people in this world. Here is Jodi posing for a head shot she needed for her non profit that helps educate women in Pakistan.
Barry Sless Of Moonalice creates some magic on the slide Guitar:
Lynsey does not have to try too hard to get the shot. I on the other hand work like crazy, half the time skidding into a perfect shot with intuition and luck, somehow no snow fell between my lens and Lynz's face and on top of that I was able to focus my 85 1.2 in the dark and have my lights and exposure just right.
Lynsey "working".
Spine Cell Looking truly epic! This photo taken Second week of Feb before it went under a storm, its got at least five feet of fresh since and its not supposed to stop for another week.
Snow, mountains, curves, light, dark. Beautiful just beautiful.
What up dude?! :) haha
Inspect these next two pics, I'm enjoying a new lens and am quite happy with its quality!
Same Image Cropped tight:
Here Is Brook Edwards skiing Alyeska under the sun and winning me a photo contest! Thank You MSP for liking my photograph and giving me New Skis!
Hello dear website viewer. How is your day? How is your imagination? Is your imagination connected to your daily life? I remember my childhood imagination, a passion a blissful state of wonder and discovery. At times I come in contact with this child, still alive and wanting to connect more with my adult self. It is at these times when I sit and look at some of the images I've been created that I find a piece of youthful euphoria, it is a reflection of self experience, of a shared experience.
People often ask me "how to take a picture". Such a loaded question but, I think it's about identifying the elements and paying attention to each one and the relations to themselves. But I want to ask WHY take a picture. Ya see, ya' cant always know before hand, or the reasons you thought turned out to be so different to the value of the image later. I've been working on a series for a few years now and I guess have been slowly releasing images from this series. It's an artists work, our vision sometimes is so particular we have no need to rush but only to wait for the right images to fall into creation through organic process. Here are a few from my Frozen & In Motion Project, Ice & Water, a focus (this is a working title). It's fantastically rewarding to me on a very personal level, I cant express the fun of this except to recall my blissful states of wonder and discovery I had in my youth.
The Snow is falling and it is full-on winter here in Alaska. I find myself quite fortunate to have the opportunity to photograph Lynsey Dyer and work with local guides,skiers and athletes such as Jeff Hoke, Karl & Maeve Lavtar. There are a plethora of fantastically unique and gifted people here in Alaska, I find myself inspired by long time locals of all types. Life is not easy but as long as you really like the hard it's not that bad.
Funny story: I'm on this photo shoot. I have no idea about High-Fashion and gossip circles of pop culture. Everyone was flown in from all over the place, mostly NYC. We did a day of scouting and I lined this creative and directive team out for locations and light. We had a pretty big crew the day of the shoot. An RV was rented from John @ Great Alaskan Holidays, hair makeup artists were also flown in from NYC as was creative directors etc. I was a photographer but for editorial and journalistic purposes, the fashion photographer was from Barcelona via South Beach Miami Via NYC. And things get rolling; the model she says to me " HI Im Gigi" RK says something like: "Oh cool nice to meet you, damn its cold out here and your totally pro cause I cant tell that your freezing your ass off when you pose!" We had an epic all day shoot, and this pro model Gigi totally rocked it, very impressive. At one point it was less than ten degrees, we were all on top of Alyeska resort with snow cats shooting winter scenes for a catalog. All of us bundled up in down parkas except for the model who was wearing a fantastic knit sweater a skirt with tights and heels. A rad day no doubt but just another day at the office right! ? Well this changed when I tell my fashion photographer friend Josh Martinez. He instantly started flipping out; "OMG GIGI HADID, NO WAY!" We look up pictures of Gigi. Models, they change hair color, eyebrow color, cloths, styles etc, So I see a few pictures and well, yea.. that looks like her, striking chin etc etc totally her... yep. And then it was this professional head trip. 'OMG what was that?... how close was I to this epic fashion shoot, this is an epic opportunity what to do with it?' Totally freaking right. Two days goes by with me having this bubbly mostly uncomfortable feeling of both potential and missing out all at once until I get an email from a producer that says: " I think you thought the model was Gigi Hadid and really it was GIGI.......
Can I roll my eyes at myself any harder? Seriously how funny! I just have to laugh at the head spin that one did to me. I'll do my best to learn from this. SO when you are going to take a picture, What is your intention for that photo? How is it going to be used? Are you selling it? To who?? These are vital questions to a working photographer, the artist should ask: How will I display this? What will I print it on? Is it cold or is it warm? What am I trying to say?
It's an ongoing journey to say the least. Well enough of that, enjoy some photos.
I’m honored by your interest dear website viewer! Please leave comments, I love to hear from you all.
- rk
So many weddings, but each one is so touching and so sweet, Look at this blissful newlywed moment from Alix & Hans this last fall.
This is photography @ f1.2
Getting er' done winning the peoples choice but not the official big air @ Alyeska's Competition.
Yellowstone National Park California, Frozen & In Motion. This one makes me feel like a little kid!
We can thank Asha seen here for her lovely and inspirational artwork in the book: Be Here Now, Now Be Here by Ram Dass. Truly an Honor to photograph!
Lynsey Dyer is an artist before she's an athlete. She is extremely dynamic, this is a side of her few have seen but it's more wholesome than it looks, she is defending her right to be human, to make mistakes and to be herself. Funny how that's hard for others, for you to be yourself and to be human! Ever experience that?! Thank you for your courage Lynsey!
Not this bear, but another bear stole and ate all my food this late fall. Im sure that bear is sleeping happy, this one was still awake!
The goods are @ Alyeska Resort!
Lynsey Dyer Skiing Pow @ Alyeska Resort Dec 4 2015
Waldo Is not that lost after all.
LEZ Zepplin rocks to a sold out show @ Alyeska, Waldo was in the crowd.
These Next two images I shot from the hip using a 50 1.2 The first is a musician the second was either hair or makeup or both from NYC.
The Quickly & personally Infamous Catalog shoot.
Real Life @ a wedding party. I enjoyed my light set-up here Using Speed lights. And although one of these people is out of focus the series was not perfect, in another someone had their hands down their pants... Its just the fun lighting
Deshutes Beer dinner @ Alyeska resort
Man Myth And in your upcoming Totally rad Content from Go pro the One and Only Marshall Miller!
This Woman owns AND is captain of a 60' salmon fishing boat on the prince william sound that SHE BUILT! Inspiring to say the least.
Suz Ghram in her Happy place.
AK Pete gets a wave late summer
It was Turkey Time @ Alyeska Resort!
Yellowstone National Park: From the upcoming Series By yours truly Frozen & In Motion.
SHE JUMPS!
This Happened.
Lynz works extremely hard for you-all and it shows!
I expect to see much more of this (eloping photo shoots) in the coming year!
A new Alaskan exploring and enjoying the turnagain arm SUP style. Interesting to see how much I LOVE the sun in my photos as a supporting subject.
OK SO when a Photog is really excited and wants you to do something like " GO STAND OVER in that SPOT!" you should really really Go and stand in That SPot! and at least start doing what is suggested.
Alix & Hans about in Vermont about ready to get hitched! Quite the dynamic and artistic couple. Congratulations are due to everyone cause these two are special and were all so lucky to have them!
So that bear from before, She is gracing the back of a catalog right now with her friend the Crow.
Thanks for looking through all of these. I hope they were at the least entertaining to you, and perhaps even inspirational.
! Rock on ! - RK
HELLO :)
Lots of fantastic life since my last post. Weddings galore, including an amazing wedding in Germany, east of Berlin in a Castle. This last winter was also fruitful I found myself filming for Pretty Faces and working with some athletes flying around in helicopters in the Chugach mountains of Alaska. Ill Let the photos speak for themselves Here ya go:
Hand Held for 4.5 seconds!!! :) The Castle of Love was once a Soviet boarding school. And here from a fantastic wedding in east Germany.
KOVI rips up Valdez
Speed Riding is taking off in AK in a big way!
From Thompson Pass looking into the Valley of the Tusk.
Mike Wilson cat naps.
A lucky guy and his lovely Bride
I dream of this light, the fantastic long lingering magic that lasts hours and hours in early spring in AK.
"Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world"
Although wedding photography is demanding and often just plain chaos in action it is also very rewarding to bring something so important, and give something so special to my clients.
Flying in Helicopters has to be one of the best perks of being a Photographer in Alaska.
More of that Alaskan magic light.
Oh yes these ladies knew how to have fun and look good for the special day.
Mike Wilson loving life.
A Helicopter named Oprah
Hanging with the boys; and one lady.
Standing on the shoulder of Mt Marcus Baker
Shooting still photographs from a Heli, door off, is like firing a machine gun from a moving target at a moving target. So much is moving around you, the centrifical forces are pushing and pulling you around. Harnessed in, but having my feet out the door the wind rushing over my hands and camera creates an effect, you realize there is a speed at which you can't hold let alone aim and fire a camera with much of a desired function at those moments you just hold on and hope your hands do what you beg them too. But its the view you can get from a Heli that is just unsurpassed. This Shot is Carson Klein who is totally rocking it on the World Wing Suit racing circuit. Totally amazing to watch Carson, he is a human eagle in so many ways. Sending a big shout out to him and all the Human Birds as they head to China for the next race.
Carson Klein putting his wings on.
I love the patterns of snow as seen from above. No you shouldn't attempt to walk or ski here but looking at it, yea thats safe.
Lynsey Dyer And Rachel Burks after victory filming in the Northern Chugach for Pretty Faces.
Ingrid Backstrom smiles big.
Rachel Burks and Lynsey Dyer, Quite a combo to photograph, lets do that again!
Doing the dip, ok ladies take note, one could be a little more relaxed and be sure to show off your shoes.
I send my love and peace to all of my friends family and relations. The patterns of our life are fractal just as in images of nature, we are truly expressions of the universe that birthed us. I am available for photography and film projects, so let me know if you have anything going on.
ROCK ON!!
- RK
There is so much to do, see and experience if you can be tough enough to endure Alaskan Weather! I have good friends for this kind of endeavor we ventured out onto the Prince William Sound for kayaking and adventure. I think it is funny, when your an artist, what you end up taking pictures of after awhile. All this epic coast line, water falls, rain forests, glaciers and beyond. Such an impossible environment for photo gear, especially this last trip; everything was soaked, even while wearing a Dry Suit with rubber gaskets and a hood; still I felt wet somehow! Likely because one couldn't touch anything dry without totally slobbering it with ocean, rain, silt or desperate snack food grease! So with all this epic scenery around on so many levels this next shot is what was inspiring me and what I pulled my camera out for:
ICE aka frozen Water!
Its apart of a very special print series/ show coming soon. "Frozen & In-Motion; a Focus on Water"
It took a lot to get to the ice; journey not the destination right?! it was in fact a trip of mostly just getting to the ice and back via a fun loving experience seeking crew of 2. We just did our best to stay alive and dry and enjoy the beauty that is Alaska! here are some snap shots:
Yes this is me having fun.
SOmeone had a good time! :)
I realize im leaving out quite a bit in this blog.. like 20 weddings or something... I will get to sharing a few of those this fall. Here are a few hot off the edit line, which is backed up blessedly to a steady busy schedule of commercial and private shoots.
Christina Deseret:
Kasilof River, Kenai Alaska
Kenai River, Alaska; Dip Netting and Subsistance Fishing
I will announce formally the print series and perhaps even launch a new website once the weather turns to unbearable without any chance of fun.
rock on!
-RK
Camera Obscura you arouse me and yet our relations are fickle and clouded by circumstance. I see my minds eye through your wizards glass, through infinite lenses of possibility if the world were not set in dollars and cents. Alas I will always see endless potential through lenses for which I have no dollars, leaving me to dream of new dimensions and new realms of possibility as I click away, capturing at my best. Infinite novelty consumes me as I compose, expose, express and click away, I realize that as I do my best it is far from all and can never be the rest.
Fractal reflections, the combination and the blending of units in time, light, form structure and intelegence observed. My perspective forced upon you or just an eye given to me to share. Not much else really makes sense to me, but the shutter, light, form, timing, composition, subject and its relation to some greater whole. After some time one sees the novelty around, I think it is natural to want to share and express it. Photography is indeed an art through and through; the visual finished product is one I love, in print and nowhere else. But I suppose better seen and experienced on your screen than not. So Ill say no more but footnotes from here on... ENjoy! :)
-rk
An R44 flight deep into the Chugach.
Light and textures, ... how many types of snow here?!
I must be a fan of the female form. As seen on this beast of a mountain
Pretty sweet.. did I see that mountain in some porn film? Gosh I'm gonna have to watch em all again!
One of those guys..
these textures go on for miles, by miles i mean like forever!
Ansel Adams, dont you wish you had a Heli?!!
Mt. Gannet and an r44
So look above to see this same snow/ ice feature for scale, I do think it is ski-base-able!
THe blood and the veins of the Earth.
MT MARCUS BAKER and my dirty sensor
Friends and I hiked the cool-y on the left! Its way bigger than even we thought! You can still kinda see our boot pack some 2 weeks later.
I moonlight as a portrait shooter and ran across this fantastically talented skier woman artist friend globe trotter who knows how to work the other side of a lens, here is a sneak peak:
Next Up: A few weddings. ROck on! :)