Alaska in a slideshow...

photogmomma

My trip to Alaska was amazing. My parents are up there for the summer in the Kenai Peninsula shooting photos and generally having an amazing time...

Driving around the first day was okay, but it was so overcast that I didn't get a very good feel for what Alaska was like at first. It's almost as though it was slowly revealed to me - kinda fun!

It's so incredibly lush there. I really expected it to be much more like Crested Butte (where I live), but frankly, it's even more stunning. And I don't say that lightly!

There is almost NO ONE there. There are 650,000 in the WHOLE state and only about 250,000 in Anchorage. The Kenai peninsula, where we were, was one of the most populated and yet you could drive for miles and miles and see nothing except the landscape. Incredible!

I did go fishing for salmon (I didn't bring my camera that time), but I wasn't able to bring any of the three fish I hooked. Frankly, I was okay with that. Once you catch them, you have to whack them on the head to kill them. Bleh.

My girls (4 and 6) and I took a trip driving around and ended up at the Captain Cook State Park - and at the end of that road! It was spectacular being able to see Mt Redoubt in the far distance, the way the water had receded and the huge rocks left behind. The girls loved it! (They are fascinated by volcanoes so it was too cute watching them.)

We also went to Moose Pass for dinner one night and saw several float planes - including one flying. (I have no clue how I missed adding that to the movie. Doh!)

Homer was cool, but WAY too touristy. There were SO many people there that after walking the beach, getting my single beer, we got some kettle corn and headed out. I'd love to go back when it's not tourist season.

But the absolute coolest thing was the Kenai Fjords Glacier Tour. Wow!

I hope you enjoy....

Oh, you can see the HD version of this here

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Prezwoodz

Glad you enjoyed Alaska and that is a great little slideshow. What did you use to make it?

photogmomma

I used iMovie '09... Thanks

Prezwoodz

Oh cool thanks!

I know what you mean about Homer, even i get overwhelmed there. Anchorage can be kind of a crazy place during the summer as far as downtown goes.

AuntKiki

photogmomma wrote:

I used iMovie '09... Thanks

Is iMovie '09 better than '08? I was so disappointed with '08 that I'm a little hesitant to upgrade again!

I was very impressed with the slideshow and the photos! Wow! Remarkable. I lived in Alaska for 2 years and didn't really get into photography until a month before I moved back to Wisconsin. I bought a nice Canon and wish that would have been my first purchase before I even moved! Looking at your pictures makes me want to go back even more. It's a phenomenal place to go, that's for sure!!

Thanks again for sharing!
Melissa

CoryUT

Cool slideshow! Alaska is near the top of my list of places to visit.

Elaine

Hi Andi!

Loved the slideshow! So glad you got to enjoy Alaska. My Alaskan in-laws are visiting us right now...hubby grew up in Anchorage and we love it up there. Thanks for sharing your awesome pics.

Derry

thanks for the great presentation of Alaska,,

what a nice way to see others photos,,

Derry

photogmomma

AuntKiki wrote:

Is iMovie '09 better than '08? I was so disappointed with '08 that I'm a little hesitant to upgrade again!

I was very impressed with the slideshow and the photos! Wow! Remarkable. I lived in Alaska for 2 years and didn't really get into photography until a month before I moved back to Wisconsin. I bought a nice Canon and wish that would have been my first purchase before I even moved! Looking at your pictures makes me want to go back even more. It's a phenomenal place to go, that's for sure!!

Thanks again for sharing!
Melissa

Thanks, Melissa! Honestly, I rarely used '08. There are definitely some things I'd like to see changed (like the ability to do better zooming and panning with vertical photos - many of mine were static, if you noticed), but I've used many other programs and enjoyed it the most... But i'm by no means an expert! Fat lotta help I am, eh? !

Thanks for your kind words!

Cool slideshow! Alaska is near the top of my list of places to visit.

I have to admit, I wasn't that jazzed about going. I thought it would be too much like where I already live... But it was STUNNING and soooo worth the trip! I would go back in a heartbeat!

Thank you!

Hi Andi!

Loved the slideshow! So glad you got to enjoy Alaska. My Alaskan in-laws are visiting us right now...hubby grew up in Anchorage and we love it up there. Thanks for sharing your awesome pics.

Hey, Elaine! Nice to "see" you! This summer has been insanely busy and I haven't gotten onto DGrin for a looong time... I am really hoping to post more frequently and catch up with my friends!

Thanks for the nice words... We loved it! Just amazing. Have a GREAT time with your in-laws!!!

thanks for the great presentation of Alaska,,

what a nice way to see others photos,,

Derry

Thank you so much, Derry!!

coldclimb

photogmomma wrote:

I have to admit, I wasn't that jazzed about going. I thought it would be too much like where I already live... But it was STUNNING and soooo worth the trip! I would go back in a heartbeat!

Hehe... with a land mass that is one fifth of the entire united states, there's enough room for a little of everything. Glad you enjoyed your trip!

CynthiaM

Lovely slideshow. Great images. We were in Alaska last summer; probably did the same Kenai fjords cruise! You did a nice job of capturing the sense of being there. And the girls are adorable. I have 2, myself, but much older; 21 & 24. Brings back memories. Enjoy them.

Best regards,

tonichelle

Once you catch them, you have to whack them on the head to kill them.

There is such a thing as catch and release, and we do practice it up here.

and I AM SO GLAD SOMEONE took a trip to the peninsula and didn't just cruise it. That is my biggest pet peeves of Alaskan tourists who have "seen all of Alaska" because they went on a boat ride. They don't even seen a quarter of what Alaska REALLY is...

I grew up in Kenai... and I HATE Anchorage (thsoe of us from the peninsula refer to Anchorage as that town just outside of Alaska... drive for about an hour in any direction and you can make it into the state).

coldclimb

tonichelle wrote:

I grew up in Kenai... and I HATE Anchorage (thsoe of us from the peninsula refer to Anchorage as that town just outside of Alaska... drive for about an hour in any direction and you can make it into the state).

Haha I agree completely. I can't really stand the city, and the great part is that compared to real cities elsewhere, Anchorage is small. Alaska is empty, and I love it.