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January 29, 2009
Photo of The Week - Friend or Snack?
Friend or Snack? - Photo by Susanna Sharp
See a full size version of the image here.
Posted by Michael at 4:45 PM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2009
Photo of The Week - January Beach
Bishop's Beach - Photo by Michael Sharp
See a full size version of the image here.
The Omega Block suffocating us with sub-zero temperatures was smashed by a series of storms known collectively as a Pineapple Express: Storms connected to the tropics. The massive storms brought 100 m.p.h.(161 k.p.h) winds and several inches of rain. Warm rain. It had been -10ºF (-23ºC) and quickly became 45ºF (7ºC). The snow is all gone, the grass is green. What a tease, it feels like spring, but it is January in Alaska. So we took what we could get, a sunny day on the beach. What a glorious, glorious feeling to walk the sunny beach in January!
Posted by Michael at 9:38 AM | Comments (0)
January 15, 2009
Photo of The Week - Taroka Arm
Bluewater Anchored in Taroka Arm Along the Outer Coast with Tilt Shift Effect - Photo by Michael Sharp
See a full size version of the image here.
Here is a sneak peak of the summer gallery: Bluewater anchored in Taroka Arm, a fjord on the Outer Coast. Past Granite Cape the Outer Coast is seldom visited. The tilt-shift effect gives a sense of scale, perhaps with a greater sense of scale you might better understand how big Alaska is and just how small we feel while exploring here.
We arrived in Taroka Arm quite by accident. Upon leaving Taz Basin the seas were more exuberant than comfortable. At first we assumed that it was a result of the ground swell coming over the continental shelf - as the water get shallower, the swell gets taller - so we made for deeper water expecting that the sea state would moderate. It didn't. By the time we entered deep water, it was too late to turn back. We had come too far to work back against the seas, and rather than suffer and press on farther we tucked into Taroka Arm. We anchored at the head of the fjord behind a gravel spit and once again found ourselves blessed. Neptune sent us someplace we didn't know we wanted to go. Funny how that works out.
Posted by Michael at 3:39 PM | Comments (0)
January 8, 2009
Photo of The Week - Ice Rocks and Tilt-Shift
Ice Rocks and Tilt Shift - Photo by Michael Sharp
See a full size version of the image here.
Everything is a matter of perspective. Are those white pebbles or ice-covered boulders? How big is the sky? How deep is the ocean? The cold temps continue, with highs just above 0ºF (-18ºC) and overnight lows hovering around -8ºF (-23ºC). Everything along that magic space between the sea and land is coated in a thick rind of ice. Cold? Depends. Just an hour north of Homer the daily highs have been hovering at -24ºF (-31ºC) with lows around -35ºF (-37ºC)!
What appear in the photo to be tiny pebbles are actually car-sized boulders. This image was taken from over 200 feet above the beach. The application of the tilt-shift effect tricks your brain into seeing the world as a miniature.
Posted by Michael at 12:11 PM | Comments (0)
January 1, 2009
New Feature - Photo of the Week
Frozen Edges, Michael by the Slurpee Sea - Photo by Susanna Sharp
The first day of the year. A new project. A picture of the week. I can't claim the idea as my own, it comes from a good friend that I don't see nearly enough. Also, keep your eyes peeled for the revival of the Tuesday Tease starting next week.
The new year is starting with lots of promise. It was a balmy 8ºF (-13ºC). The sky was streaked by high clouds and the edge of the sea was almost frozen. Like a giant wave pool full of Slurpee mix. The beach was covered in ice, frozen waves coating the sand and rocks. It must have been cold on the paws, the dogs gave up the chase before we did and clearly wanted to head home.
Posted by Michael at 11:37 PM | Comments (0)