Sitka Alaska w/ Marc Muench Workshop

dadwtwins · September 2, 2010

Every time I join one of <a href="http://www.muenchworkshops.com/">Marc Muench's workshops</a> I become reinvigorated in my photography. I spent the last few weeks in one of the most gorgeous locations in the world filled with extraordinary scenery, wildlife and wonder. Probably none of it better shown than with our guide, friend and fellow photographer <a href="http://www.alaskadanevans.com/">Dan Evans</a>.
When looking at the weather reports leading up to my trip, it looked very grim. It showed rain, rain and more rain. Flying into Sitka from Seattle, my aerial view was nothing but thick vicious looking clouds. My hopes were starting to diminish greatly. By the time I got to the hotel, the weather looked threatening but it was not raining. As a matter of fact, I was even able to capture the moon through my hotel window just before going to sleep. If this shot was a sign of things to come, I was very happy indeed.
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On my first day on Sitka, I went with Andy Williams and Dan Evans on Dan's Boat to tour Sitka surrounding waters and what it had to offer for a few hours. I did not know what to expect since I have never shot of a small boat. I am definitively glad I had my D3 and 200-400mm f/4. With the over cast weather and the boat rocking around, I pushed my camera and the lens as far as it would let me.

Just as we were leaving the harbor, Dan spotted a few Bald Eagles....

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As we traveled from island to island, we encountered many sea otters and harbor seals. Even though the harbor seals were very skittish, we did encounter a few that seemed to tolerate our presence.
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Captain Dan within only a few hours managed to show us some incredible wildlife as well as scenery and this was only day 1....WOW!!! I love this place

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I have no idea what happened to this poor guy but he still seemed to fly ok.
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Sadly, we had to go back to catch up with the rest of the group. I could have easily spent all day with Andy and Capt. Dan cruising around the islands taking pictures in every direction I looked.

What I did not know and quickly came to realize was that everyday I spent in Sitka was a day full of photography opportunities while spending some great time with fellow photographers. The best was yet to come.

That evening, we all went on a charity dinner cruise. I use dinner very loosely here since we all just got a cold slice of pizza but the photo frenzy that persued was well worth over looking such minor details.

Whales were abundant and we ran right into their feeding of krill. When I picked up my D3 w/ my 200-400mm f/4, I realized something was very wrong. The camera was not working and I could not get a shot. Whales were everywhere and here I was struggeling to figure out why my camera was not working. I soon realized that my early morning boat trip the camera must of dropped since my lens mount on my camera was bent and my zoom ring on the lens was dinged bad enough it would not turn....I was Soooooo bummed out.

Dan Evans loaned me a canon w/ a 70-200mm lens but before I was able to figure out how to properly use it, I was only able to snap off a few shots. Oh well...I am glad I brought a back up camera. Too bad it was sitting in my hotel room.

Here were the few shots I was able to snap off...
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I was even able to capture a puffin.....it isn't very sharp but it was the only one I captured on the trip ;-)
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Common Murre's are in the thousounds on St. Lazaria Island. This is an incredible island. It looks like a scene right out of jurasic park. I will defeinitely take more pics of this incredible place next time I visit Sitka. I just wish I had more pics to show you.
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Day 2 I was set to go back out with Capt. Dan and Marc Muench for another half day of boating around Sitka's small Islands and coves.....

I will post more as soon as it is written:thumb

Andy · September 2, 2010

SO AWESOME to have you on another trip with us

I really enjoyed your company, and watching you work. Great stuff, love the double whale tale!

papaross · September 2, 2010

Really nice Dan, if fact, great! Enough to intimidate me as to whither I should post mine.

dadwtwins · September 2, 2010

As I had mentioned in my last post, my D3 had a damaged lens attachment but that is not the end of the story. It turns out, Dave Evans, owns a few old Nikon film cameras which have the same lens adapter and was willing to part with one until I get a new one from Nikon. Yeaaaa!!!! Can Dan do any more to make my Sitka trip even better??? Oh yea....Just wait until I show you some of his secret spots....simply awesome.
With my D3 in Hand and my semi working 200-400mm lens in hand, I was ready for business. We left the harbor early to spend as much time as possible on the water before heading back to land to visit the Sitka National Historical Park which houses the famous totem poles.

We first ran into what many of the local residents do for a living....fishing. These guys and gals work very hard for their living and I have the utmost respect for them.

Sadly, this harsh life style comes with its hazards and Sitka has a monument for those that died at sea.

That last picture leads me right into what we ran into next....whales. These animals are so graceful yet extremely powerful. The noises they make are surreal and beautiful. After awhile, one can actual tell by their noises when they will come up for air....so freaking cool. Unlike the night before in the big boat we were in, Dan' boat was able to get much closer.

With the last wave from the whales, we were off to capture some more wildlife. Since we did not capture breaching whales, we decided to try and capture breaching salmon. Marc, Dan and I spent an hour trying to capture one of these jumping fish in focus off of a boat and believe me, it was not easy. I have hundreds of blurry shots and the ones that were in focus, the fish were looking the other way.....man this was difficult but so much fun. Marc....of course....got a perfect shot. Maybe a few more years of practice and maybe I will capture one tack-sharp as well ;-)

Heading back to the harbor we ran into a deer swimming. Personally, this is the first time I have ever seen a deer swim and they are pretty good at it. I was surprised how fast they can swim.

We stopped off on a little island, the bennies of owning a small aluminum boat is that we can almost go onto any small island for a look around.

Within the islands are dense forest like atmospheres. The greenery is just so bright it almost glows.

Marc with his infamous pose. This is the spot Marc saw a weasel or mink...too bad he had a fish-eye on his camera.

Later in the day we went to the totem pole park but the rain kicked on so we decided to call it a day and go back to the totem pole park the next day. I will end this day with some shots of a Great Blue Heron I took on that day and a few shots of Sitka Harbor at night.

.......stay tuned for part 3

dadwtwins · September 2, 2010

papaross wrote: »

Really nice Dan, if fact, great! Enough to intimidate me as to whither I should post mine.

Hey Ross,

Please post....I saw your shots and they are great

schmoo · September 2, 2010

Dear Dan,

I wouldn't have expected anything less than an adventurous tale and photos that make us green with envy. Welcome home!

dadwtwins · September 2, 2010

Thanks schmoo, I so wish you were able to make it. It was incredible.

Marc Muench · September 2, 2010

I cant wait for your next post and I was there

Your abilities are only trumped by your enthusiasm. I know very few as willing and eager to shoot allllllll hours of every day. I am thrilled you were along and admire your abilities to capture not only a subject in good light but a combination of subjects that create stories. The only advice I can possibly give is........ become "ambi - camerous" by learning how to shoot a Canon

cmkultradome · September 3, 2010

Thanks for posting these!! I was really looking forward to seeing pictures from this workshop. Sounds like an awesome time!!

Stephanie

dadwtwins · September 3, 2010

Marc Muench wrote: »

I cant wait for your next post and I was there

Your abilities are only trumped by your enthusiasm. I know very few as willing and eager to shoot allllllll hours of every day. I am thrilled you were along and admire your abilities to capture not only a subject in good light but a combination of subjects that create stories. The only advice I can possibly give is........ become "ambi - camerous" by learning how to shoot a Canon

I really do need to learn the dark-side camera equipment as well. I was very frustrated trying to figure out the settings on Andy's 7D. Of course it did not help that his camera kept on freezing up as well. I did not know if it was me or the camera. I felt a little better finding out the camera had electronic problems.

cmkultradome wrote: »

Thanks for posting these!! I was really looking forward to seeing pictures from this workshop. Sounds like an awesome time!!

Stephanie

Thank you Stephanie. Even though Sitka was an awesome experience, after five workshops, I have come to the realization that it is not just the places I go but going with Marc Muench Workshops that make the trips special. Every workshop I have gone on has been simply amazing. Amazing places, amazing guides and amazing tutorials. I have come home with great shots from every trip and I always look forward to the next one. I just wish I had the time off for the African trip that is planned for next year:cry

dadwtwins · September 3, 2010

Sitka part 3
I combined two days worth of pics since the rain did kick on. Even though the rain was not heavy it did narrow our shooting to a few locations but that did not stop us from shooting away.

The first location I would like to show you is Sitka's Historical National Park that houses a dozen or so Totem poles that were built by the indigenous peoples known as the Tinglets over the past hundred or so years.

Marc held an off camera flash class during this time since this is the perfect situation where an off camera flash will help with a little fill light onto the subject for dramatic looks or even to just fill in some of the shadows. Some of the totem's are buried in the dense dark cover of the parks foliage. Here are a few examples of where I used my flash with the help of my shooting and workshop buddy Ross.

I used Dan's paper coffee cup as a snoot to light up the top character of this totem. Nothing like using what you have handy.

Natural right from the right and my fill flash from the left. I actually used Marc's flash by triggering it with my off camera flash on a flash cord. Thanks Marc...I know it was not your intention for me to use your flash but it was just so convenient. Maybe this is the start of Nikon and Canon working together in harmony ;-)

Fill flash was used here just to fill in some of the harsh shadowing of the totem's facial features.

Again, natural light from the right and some fill flash on the left side of the totem.

The last one is a vertical pano I did with pathfinder, another great photographer and friend, shooting his wide angle. This is the only totem that is out in the open and i did not use a flash. The original file for this shot is super sharp and is 24" by 72". I think I took a total of 12 shots for this. 6 vertical by two rows using a 70-200mm lens.

Here is a small portion to show you how much detail is in the pano. Nothing extraordinary but it was fun to do and great practice at a vertical pan

Another very cool place Dan brought us to was the The Medvejie Hatchery. The workers there gave us intense details of how they retrieve the eggs and sperm from the salmon, mix them and then incubate them. Each batch of fertilized eggs are carefully marked, track and tested. After depletion of the eggs and sperm form the salmon, the fish go to a process center where they are turned into pet food or even human consumption outside of the US.

These two specialize in clubbing the fish evident by the blood splattered on one of their faces. I think they like their jobs.

Even Ross got into the action...I will leave out the violent side of Ross for all the kids sake but I would not want to get on Ross' bad side. :-D

Da

A fresh vat full of fertilized eggs ready to be incubated and eventually set free back into the ocean.

Along the hatchery was a shallow stream full of pink salmon...a smaller species of the King salmon or Chinooks in the pictures above.

With the bright coloured moss in the stream with the fish crowding the waters, it almost looked like an oil painting.

Water was no obstacle to Dan while trying to capture a great shot.

......Part 4 on its way soon....

Fred W · September 3, 2010

Hi Dan, I enjoyed meeting and shooting with you at the workshop. You've definately got talent and the eye for composition.

All the wild life shots you posted are fantastic. My favorite of all your pictures though is the first one with the moon and bridge structure. I should have done some night shooting at Sitka. Great job on all.

thumb

Roaddog 52 · September 4, 2010

Wow! what a trip it must have been. So many great images, I am glad that you had a back up camera.

Phil

dadwtwins · September 4, 2010

Fred W wrote: »

Hi Dan, I enjoyed meeting and shooting with you at the workshop. You've definately got talent and the eye for composition.

All the wild life shots you posted are fantastic. My favorite of all your pictures though is the first one with the moon and bridge structure. I should have done some night shooting at Sitka. Great job on all. thumb

Thanks Fred....I am so glad to have finally met you. It was a great trip and really hope to see some of your shots

I have a few more parts to show with more night shots....I could not get enough photography in while we were there. Even though I stayed a few extra days...I could of stayed a few extra months

dadwtwins · September 4, 2010

Roaddog 52 wrote: »

Wow! what a trip it must have been. So many great images, I am glad that you had a back up camera.

Phil

Thanks Phil....more shots to come and in my opinion I still have not shown my favs:D

PHOTOempt · September 4, 2010

hi dan - i've finally surfaced and discovered your fabulous shots of alaska - well, i'm more than a bit sorry that i wasn't there with you guys. looks like you had a magical trip, and as usual, you have produced some stunning images. i know how i felt when my camera gave up the ghost, only briefly, but it doesn't look like it stopped you for very long. your wildlife shots are just wonderful - you'd better find a way to africa.... i look forward to seeing you there

ciao sarah

dadwtwins · September 4, 2010

PHOTOempt wrote: »

hi dan - i've finally surfaced and discovered your fabulous shots of alaska - well, i'm more than a bit sorry that i wasn't there with you guys. looks like you had a magical trip, and as usual, you have produced some stunning images. i know how i felt when my camera gave up the ghost, only briefly, but it doesn't look like it stopped you for very long. your wildlife shots are just wonderful - you'd better find a way to africa.... i look forward to seeing you there ciao sarah

Oh my goodness Sarah....I had such a great time. This is one of those places that just seemed magical every time you turn around. I can do without the tourists in town but we were not there very often so I was able tolerate it. I dislike tourists off of cruise ships very much. All they do is buy plastic trinkets made in china no matter what city in the world they are in.

Am I stereo typing too much

When will I be able to see your Patagonia trip pics????

dadwtwins · September 4, 2010

Last day of workshop but not the last day in Sitka
Dan showed of his back yard to us which is acres of bog and forests. I really need to have a summer home in Sitka with spreads like Dans. The bog is full of picture opportunities and a great place for a macro lens. Did I mention it is the one lens I left at home :-(. No bother, I used my 70-200mm and snapped off a few shots.

I think Dan's "yellow" lab had the most fun diving into the mud ponds chasing sticks. I do admit, I had a blast watching this girl having fun. It reminded me of my never say quit to playing fetch yellow lab at home.

Dan also brought us to an overlook. While we were driving up the mountain I had severe doubts that there was anything to take pictures of since the higher we got the thicker the fog was. Lesson learned...never doubt a local that has shot this area for over 30 years ;-). I loved the location he brought us to. It was just such a surreal place with the foliage and fog mixed together.

....And super yummy salmon berries

This was either Marc or Fred taking a shot in the mist. It was just too thick to see who was who.

Every once in awhile a clear spot would pass us through the clouds to show off some beautiful scenery.

The last night of the workshop Dan and his wife Janet spoiled us with a super meal. Surf and turf with some outstanding hors d'oeuvres.

Please pardon the iphone pictures but it was the only camera I had at the time. :-D

I think I ate at least three crabs that night....so good

This may have been the last night of the workshop but I had a few days of pure joy still left in Sitka.....stay tuned:D

Andy · September 4, 2010

so awesome, more more more!

PHOTOempt · September 4, 2010

dadwtwins wrote: »

Oh my goodness Sarah....I had such a great time. This is one of those places that just seemed magical every time you turn around. I can do without the tourists in town but we were not there very often so I was able tolerate it. I dislike tourists off of cruise ships very much. All they do is buy plastic trinkets made in china no matter what city in the world they are in. Am I stereo typing too much

When will I be able to see your Patagonia trip pics????

up on our photoempt site, and a few on smugmug.. we had 'weather' too. got blown over a few times - i've never been in such a wind before, let alone tried taking photos in it!! your images are lovely - really misty, moody, and the last of those is just gorgeous.

living in umbria, we don't get too many cruise ships, but i get the impression that they are more the hit and run type tourist....we really enjoy it when the end of august arrives and the tourist quota diminishes. wooden pinocchios on sale are the big souvenir items over here.

fabulous shots - the dog images are just great. your sense of timing and technique just shines. congratulations!!

clap

dadwtwins · September 4, 2010

PHOTOempt wrote: »

up on our photoempt site, and a few on smugmug.. we had 'weather' too. got blown over a few times - i've never been in such a wind before, let alone tried taking photos in it!! your images are lovely - really misty, moody, and the last of those is just gorgeous.

living in umbria, we don't get too many cruise ships, but i get the impression that they are more the hit and run type tourist....we really enjoy it when the end of august arrives and the tourist quota diminishes. wooden pinocchios on sale are the big souvenir items over here.

fabulous shots - the dog images are just great. your sense of timing and technique just shines. congratulations!!clap

no fun shooting in the elements but it does make for a better story ;-)

dadwtwins · September 4, 2010

Sitka's Raptors and Bears
Most of the workshop participants were flying home on this day but some of us were lucky enough to enjoy a few more days. One of the participants staying for another day was Chris. She and I decided to share a cab ride and go visit the raptor center and the forest of the bears.

The raptor center is to help those unfortunate raptors that get in the way of those pesky human elements like cars or even bullets. Aren't humans great.

The forest of the bears was next on our list of activities. An odd place since it was built using old very large vats that once was used to manufacture pulp. There were three of these very large vats that housed several bears that have been rescued and now being treated before being released to a variety of zoos through out the country. This little non-profit place is doing a lot of good for those local brown bears that would otherwise be left for dead.

They just received three orphaned cubs. The mother bear was killed by once again those great humans that just wanted her hide.

Cubs doing what they do best....playing

They also had some full size brown bear. Man these guys are HUGE. Just check out those claws. I see how one swipe with those can kill a person or rip a door off a car.

As all of you probably are....this guy was getting tired of bear shots. I think I gave him a head ache :-D

Next was something unexpected and very special....stay tuned

Sam · September 4, 2010

Dan,

Nice story and images. You have some great images here as well as super memories, and I am seriously jealous. I can't win that lottery soon enough.

Thanks for posting!!!

Sam

Andy · September 4, 2010

:lurk

papaross · September 4, 2010

These are fabulous Dan. I am really sorry I didn't go with you.

dadwtwins · September 4, 2010

papaross wrote: »

These are fabulous Dan. I am really sorry I didn't go with you.

Me too....damn "Do Not Bother" sign through me for a loop :cry

dadwtwins · September 5, 2010

Sitka, the finale
I was extremely fortunate that Andy and Marc got me invited to Dan Evans' cabin on Baranof Island, at Baranof Warm Springs to spend my last few days in Sitka. This was totally unexpected and a wonderful gift from Andy, Marc and Dan. What a royal treat this was. Marc, Andy, myself with Dan, Janet and their dog Neva all piled in their little boat for a four hour ride to a place I will not soon forget.

Andy was very kind to offer his driving skills to relieve Dan from almost 6 days straight of driving the boat. Good job Andy....smooth driving all the way ;-)

During the ride we some spectacular scenery and wildlife which included a water fall with an Eagle flying across the scene. Too bad I was too busy adjusting my aperture to capture it in real time. I know Andy got the shot but with the miracle of modern day photography....I can at least show you what we all saw ;-)

I think this was the only Sea Lion I saw on the trip. All the previous seal shots were of Harbor seals. I am all too familiar with the loud bark of these guys. Every year sea lions invade San Francisco piers and cause a big nuisance for the local fisherman and harbor masters alike.

The one thing I sort of blew it on this trip was not taking a snap shot of one of the coolest things I say Dan do. He had a dinner plan to make fresh fish once we made it to the cabin but the only problem was that we did not have any fish yet.

Dan pulled into a little cove en route to Baranof, rigged his fishing pole with a lure that had a treble hook, cast the lure out a few yards and WAMOOO!!!!!.....A fish was on. The fish came off the hook but it did not take too many more casts before Dan had a solid hook into a salmon. Instead of grabbing my camera, I grabbed a gaffing hook to bring the nice size salmon onto the boat and into a bucket. The fish probably weighed a good 15 pounds. After the fun and exciting drama, I earned the name gaffer Dan to help distinguish between the two Dans on the trip.

After the beautiful four hour trip, we finally pulled into a very surreal cove that must of been straight out of a movie. I huge rushing waterfall to one side while a few cabin homes lined the shore. Simply amazing. The only way in this place was either by boat or float plane.

I met this young kid James fly fishing in the cove. Very nice kid...earns his money on a boat that does guides in and around Sitka. Too bad he does not work for the best..Dan Evans or as we know him through this adventure, Sitka Dan. No one will be able to top Dan...NO ONE!!!

The path leading to Dan's cabin continues until it reaches a serene lake that Janet loves to kayak on with her incredible air filled kayak. The picture bellow is not the kayak of course but a boat that seems to have a permanent home right where it is at.

This lake feeds a very fast moving river down to the huge waterfall that leads right into the cove.

If you were knowledgeable enough of the area and of course we had Dan, there is a small slipper trail that veers off the main trail and into some natural hot springs that have a few pools right near the above rushing river. This was just the coolest thing ever for me. I have heard of hot springs but I have never actually seen one.

The upper pools were very hot...around 109 deg according to a local and they progressively cool off to a cool 104 deg alongside the river's edge. Perfect temp for a fat bodied person like me. That did not mean I did not get into the hotter pools and just have some fun with it.

Below is Dan and myself just goofing around trying to get an off the wall shot.

Dan ran into the actual river for a little cooling off. The temp of this water is damn cold.

For me, I choose the very very comfortable hot pool right along the river's edge. A perfect fit for me. Bare in mind, I do not usually take my cloths off in the public as you can see by my skin tone but for this occasion...it was worth the embarrassment.

After a few hours of sitting in these pools, I was totally and utterly relaxed. I had a very hard time climbing back up to the main path and back to the cabin.

At night, Baranof island's little cove is as gorgeous and mystical as it is in the day time. We had a full moon to light up the cove and show us all it glory.

If you look off to the left of this picture, you will see a little structure that houses three baths that are feed by the hot springs you saw earlier. Dan and another helped build these "public" baths for all to use. The hot water continually fills the tubs while the overflow drains feed into the cove. This offers constant hot water and ensures the tubs are filled with clean water even if one uses soap during their bathing experience.

I spent many hours in these tubs and loved every minute. It may have cut into my photography but when you are in these hot spring tubs....you just do not care :-D

As a sign off and my last picture of Sitka, is my view out the hot tub rooms that I spent so much time reminiscing of how lucky I was to be experiencing what having a good life is all about.

Thank you all for following me on this magical trip. Sitka is a heavenly place that most never see. Most people come on cruise ships...hit the trinket shops and leave without experience any of what Sitka is all about.

I would like to give a big thanks to Dan Evans for showing us the intimate side of Sitka that took him 30 years of knowledge building to show us in just a few days. I now consider Dan one of the finest people I have met in my life and hopefully will be able to maintain a friendship that will mutually benefit us.

I would also like to thank Marc Muench and Andy Williams for again topping what I thought could not be topped. Every trip I have gone on with these guys, I learn more and more. I always come home a better photographer and a more humble photographer.

Awais Yaqub · September 5, 2010

Really enjoyed these photos! Amazing place and photos

pathfinder · September 5, 2010

Sounds like you had a great trip, Dan, and the extra days were put to very good use. I loved your narrative and your images.

dadwtwins · September 6, 2010

Awais Yaqub wrote: »

Really enjoyed these photos! Amazing place and photos

Thanks Awais

pathfinder wrote: »

Sounds like you had a great trip, Dan, and the extra days were put to very good use. I loved your narrative and your images.

Thanks Pathfinder....I had such a great time

Do I have to pay now for your modeling time next to the totem pole??

Did the picture you were taking come out?

dadwtwins · September 6, 2010

Sam wrote: »

Dan,

Nice story and images. You have some great images here as well as super memories, and I am seriously jealous. I can't win that lottery soon enough.

Thanks for posting!!!

Sam

Thanks Sam....ya see I tried to copy your avatar

Sitka Alaska w/ Marc Muench Workshop

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