We managed to have a great time in Iceland even though the weather did not cooperate. There was fog and rain and wind, probably the tail end of a storm that hit the East Coast a couple weeks ago. But we made the most of it, heading into the interior in Iurie’s intrepid bus, where the damp brought out the volcanic earth tones. Happily, puffins were still in residence, rather later than usual so that was a plus.
I also shot a great deal of video on this trip, which I’ll reveal at the end of this month when I return to doing live streams with Art Wolfe Live. I’m currently working to compile the footage and make a roughly 10 minute feature. I had a blast capturing the footage, and I can’t wait to bring you more video from the field when possible!
Weather not withstanding, our group came away with some amazing photos thanks in large part to our team on the ground in Iceland. We had an amazing specialized bus to get us where we needed to be, and all the expertise we could ask for. Over all, it was great to get out for some international travel and the COVID protocols in place offered peace of mind. Next week, off to Africa!
Greetings from Iceland! I’m still out and about here and have yet to really dive into editing. I figured I could whet your appetite with a small preview of what’s to come when I return and have the time to go back through all the great shots on this trip.
The weather hasn’t always been ideal, but our group has stepped up to the challenge; a little adversity is how we learn and grow.
I would also like to take this moment to announce that at the end of September will mark the return of my live broadcasts, so if you’ve missed Tequila Time and just can’t wait for more candid shenanigans and honest-to-goodness insights from yours truly, rest assured I’ll be back live on YouTube & Facebook!
Art Wolfe Live, or “AWL” as I suppose we will call it, wont be as frequent as Tequila Time with my travel schedule and other obligations, but the goal is to do it monthly at the very least. I simply don’t want to create an unsustainable format. I do however miss the live streams and connecting with everyone.
Not only will AWL be a way to connect with everyone on a monthly basis and talk about what I’ve been up to, I also intend to discuss current events and other important topics that aren’t solely related to my work.
Today is the official publishing date, and I’m thrilled to have been part of this project. My garden is one of 20 lush private green spaces shared this beautiful book.
Private Gardens of the Pacific Northwest is a stunning exploration of 20 lush private gardens. These sprawling estates, small sanctuaries, and artful retreats capture the natural beauty of the verdant Pacific Northwest, each one splashed with hints of boldness, modernity, artistry, and exquisiteness. Capturing the personality of those who cultivate them, these gardens have their stories told through the words of renowned author Brian Coleman, who takes readers through the flourishing natural beauty that the northwestern coast has to offer.
Over the course of Tequila Time, several questions came up regarding the possibility of a photo book based on my garden. I’m not sure if I have enough in the garden to fill up a whole book so now is your chance to check it out, along with other lush and vibrant conservatories. Order your copy today!
As you may have heard there has been a record salmon run in Bristol Bay this year. In Katmai there are always a lot of bears and salmon, but this year the numbers were off the charts!
Though I haven’t been in many years because of the crowds, we made the effort to go to the famous Brooks Falls and were rewarded with great light, patiently fishing bears, and leaping salmon. Elsewhere in the park we discovered some deep snow patches that were favorite play and sleep areas for the bears. It was a great place for them to cool down in T-shirt weather for humans—I can only imagine how hot they get with all that fur.
The cubs had discovered channels and tunnels in the snow and would pop up to bite their siblings only to disappear again. There was an abundance of sows with two, even three cubs. It takes a lot of salmon to fuel mothers and cubs, and the fish did not disappoint.
Overall, it was great to be back in Katmai after taking a hiatus last season, and I can’t wait to be back here next year with another group of amazing participants!
It’s been a warm and dry summer here in the Pacific northwest. Until this past week, we hadn’t seen a drop of rain in the city most famous for it in nearly two months, and more often than not the temperatures have been in the upper 80’s and low 90s.
I’ve been fortunate to get away on tours recently in Katmai, and I’m preparing this week to go with a fantastic small group to Iceland – where there is still room to join if you are the spontaneous type.
With limited trips last year and so much uncertainty, I’m looking forward to capturing the fall color once again – and cooler temperatures! It’s unfortunate that we seem to be taking a step backwards in terms of combating COVID, but executing workshops has become much easier when you know the right questions to ask and have been through it all.
If you’ve been thinking about joining a workshop, we’ve got several coming up that highlight the fall color in the Western U.S., as well as a shindig at my place in October to kick off a weekend I’ve titled The Art of Seeing. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Is print dead? Definitely not! Call me old school but nothing beats a photo in print. There is simply no substitute for bringing an image captured out of the digital realm and back into a tangible, tactile element on your wall or bookshelf.
Recently I had the pleasure of working with Tomasz Trzebiatowski who founded the gorgeous photography magazine–better to call it a quarterly photobook–FRAMES. He takes such great care in publishing a quality product that embraces a myriad of photographic styles.
Volume 3 features HUMAN CANVAS and the images looks so beautiful printed on such high quality paper. If you’re a fan of photography and high-quality products, get a subscription and support this new photographic community!
Happy Follow Friday! This week my good friend and fellow adventurer Kevin Raber was kind enough to share his thoughts on Pathways to Creativity with the community on his photography resource website PhotoPXL. Kevin also interviewed me about the series – it’s all there in the article!
There are so many places out there with information about photography that it’s hard to know which ones are authentic, and which ones are simple rabbit-holes of advertisements. Communities such as Kevin’s created out of simple passion for the medium are truly the best place to go to see what real people are doing, what they think, and where they are going.
It’s for that reason I highly recommend you hop over to PhotoPXL and add them to the favorites list on your preferred browser! Not only does Kevin give unbiased reviews of the gear he uses and shout-outs to his friends in the photography world like yours truly, there is also a growing community of photographers here sharing their photos and exchanging tips, advice and kudos in an interactive forum – check it out and get signed up today!
Short but sweet today, as our group arrives at the lodge up here in Katmai, Alaska. I missed out on visiting last summer, so I’m excited to see how things have changed in the past couple of years. My visits to this region have been so frequent that I’ve grown to recognize individual bears over the years – hopefully they haven’t grown up or changed too much in that time! Here are some of my favorite shots from this location over the years. Each time I go to this location, I have a new goal in mind. It’s interesting to look back and see how my shots and focus has changed from year to year. This time I definitely want to get some artistic shots of the beautiful vibrant salmon to illustrate many of the things I talk about when I speak of “changing the way you see”. I mean it! Stay tuned for new photos when I return!
This will be the first of two sold-out tours happening back to back – check out my events page to get your name on the list early for next year’s tours so you don’t miss out!
Happy Friday! Currently packing for a couple tours in Katmai, and I can’t wait to get out there with our group. I missed this last year, so it’ll be great to get back to it – and good to see our associates on the ground here as well that help our workshops run smoothly!
In the immediate future, there are limited spots left for both the Abstract Port Townsend and Iceland tours happening in August. Two very different experiences! Iceland has been filling up incredibly fast for being a new addition, so if it’s a trip you’ve been thinking about – now is the time!
it’s also a good time to be looking ahead to next year. I’ll be back here in Alaska – so if you missed it this year before they sold out, you’ve got another chance with lots of time to prepare, but don’t hesitate to grab your spot as these always sell out. I’ll also be heading to Japan, Africa, and Mongolia next year as well. Lets go shoot!
I’m in the midst of going through all my photos from several recent workshops – all back to back, so my editing time has been limited! I did pull a few of my favorite shots from Oregon’s Lost Lake, looking out to Mt. Hood – the tallest mountain in the state, and also a dormant stratovolcano.
I often talk about the many ways to shoot a subject, and even from essentially the same vantage point you can find ways to make even a giant mountain feel different, and tell a different story.
For starters, the environmental portrait! This is a great way to open when sharing your photos, giving context to the scene. Here the calm lake is prominent, framed by the iconic evergreens of the pacific northwest. We get a good sense of place for the looming mountain.
Here we have the same elements – the lake is still present as well as the trees, but the mountain has become front and center. The lower sun is casting warmer hues on the mountain, separating it from the background. We still get a sense of place, but the mountain has become the star!
Here, the mountain is definitely the star feature. The lakes and trees still inform a bit of the environment, but the great mountain is free of the framing branches that kept it from feeling quite as prominent.
And finally – a vertical that takes us back to the sense of place – standing under the shady limbs of the evergreens. From all these shots, you can see from the forms and patterns on it’s surface that my angle on the mountain hasn’t changed – just taken a few steps one direction or another, gotten down lower to the ground, or tried a different focal length. Small differences can completely change the results of your shot!
Here we have the same elements – the lake is still present as well as the trees, but the mountain has become front and center. The lower sun is casting warmer hues on the mountain, separating it from the background. We still get a sense of place, but the mountain has become the star!
Here, the mountain is definitely the star feature. The lakes and trees still inform a bit of the environment, but the great mountain is free of the framing branches that kept it from feeling quite as prominent.
