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Laurie Racenet Photography, Anchorage, AK (2026)

09/18/2022

Fall colors on the road.

05/03/2019

Resurrection Bay
One of my favorite spring activities is getting out on a boat tour of Resurrection Bay. This time of year, the birds are starting to return, the weather is improving and there is always the possibility of seeing the Gray Whales as they migrate north to their summer feeding grounds.
We made the trip to Seward the day before the tour and parked the RV in Seward Waterfront Park and Campground. This strip of land was once an industrial site, with rail lines and docks for shipping and transportation. That all changed on Good Friday, March 27, 1964. A magnitude 9.2 earthquake struck the state of Alaska and the rail road yard, docks and oil tanks in Seward were all destroyed. As part of the recovery, the area was transformed into a park and camping area. There are paved walking trails and you can still see pilings and remnant of the old docks as you walk along.
This year we managed to pick a gorgeous day for our excursion with Kenai Fjords Tours. It was sunny and warm enough to stand outside on the deck with a light jacket on. The seas were calm and there was very little wind. The boats are rarely full this time of year, as tourist season has yet to start in earnest. Today was no exception. There were plenty of open seats and deck space for viewing.
As we left the small boat harbor at Seward, we were rewarded with our first wildlife sighting of the day: an American Bald Eagle, sitting on top of one of the harbor markers. Just outside the harbor were Glaucous-winged Gulls, and a sea otter enjoying a mid-day snack. We glided past dozens of campers at the Seward Waterfront Park and headed out into the Bay.
Lunch was served on board and we made a quick detour into Thumb Cove to view some of the glaciers. Several pods of Dall’s Porpoises managed to catch up with the boat and played in the bow wake off and on through out the day. We passed through El Dorado narrows, where there is another reminder of the 1964 earthquake in the ghost forest on the spit. The land here sank and the tree roots were submerged in salt water, killing the trees. Today, they stand as a sad reminder of the power of the earth.
We passed several Sea Lions hauled out and sunning themselves on the rocks, accompanied by Pelagic Cormorants and Black-legged Kittiwakes. Then it was on to Cape Resurrection and the Gulf of Alaska. Here, the water was a little rougher, but we still managed to spot mountain goats higher up above the shore line.
And then, finally, a whale sighting! While this turned out to be a Humpback and not a Gray Whale, it is always a treat to see watch these amazing animals as they swim along and then end the show with a tail up sounding dive. The Humpbacks, too, are returning for the summer and sightings will be more frequent as the days lengthen.
Sadly, out tour was now ending. But as we passed Bear Glacier on the way back to Seward, we were given one last pleasure. A delicious smell began to permeate the cabin and we were treated to homemade chocolate chip cookies. All in all, a wonderful day and lasting memories here in Alaska.

04/11/2019

Spring Weekend in Denali National Park and Preserve
Spring in Alaska can be a long, drawn out affair. Sometimes, it seems as if the snow will never melt. A couple of weekends ago, I decided to take a trip 250 miles north of Anchorage to Denali National Park and Preserve. We have had a warm spring in Anchorage – most of our snow is already melted. I was expecting to still be dealing with winter in Denali and packed snowshoes, long underwear and winter boots.

Many people think of Denali as a summer park only. While it is true that many services close in the fall, the park is open all year round. During the summer season, visitors can drive to Savage River in private vehicles. Past that, the road is restricted to park buses, and a few lucky campers staying at Teklanika campground. For 5 days in September after the buses stop running the road 92 mile road is open to 400 vehicles a day who have won the Denali Road Lottery. Once the road lottery is over, the road is closed past Teklanika, but private can drive to Teklanika. As winter closes in, the road will be closed closer and closer to the Park entrance, eventually only staying open to Park Headquarters at about mile 3.

During the winter, snowshoeing, skiing and biking are just a few of the activities available in the park. The winter Visitor Center rents snowshoes and ice grips to visitors who do not have their own.
In the spring, the process is reversed, with the road gradually being opened to private vehicles as far as Teklanika. Once the park opens on May 15, summertime rules take over and private vehicles are again restricted past Savage River.

When we arrived for the spring trip this year, we were delighted to see that the road had already been open to Mountain Vista, which is about mile 12. We drove out early to catch the morning light. We were rewarded with some stunning views of Denali, and a small group of moose grazing next to the road.

Once at Mountain Vista, we were expecting to get out the snowshoes, but found the lower trails virtually snow and ice free. We hiked around for a bit and then headed to the Visitor Center to see what other trails were open. After hiking around the entrance area a bit, we headed back to the hotel for a quick nap. Around midnight we headed back into the park to watch the Aurora Borealis. It was not a strong show, but what an amazing experience to be standing under that many stars in a completely dark sky.
The next day, we watched a small herd of caribou about a mile off the road, then hiked down to Horseshoe Lake. We stopped by the railroad station to watch the Alaska Railroad Aurora Train pick up passengers on its way back to Anchorage from Fairbanks. Then we went back into the park to hike up one of the dry stream beds.

Our visit over for the weekend, we headed back down the George Parks Highway early the next morning. Denali was on view at Broad Pass, and at other points on the drive back. A herd of accommodating caribou stopped next to the road for photos. All in all, a great spring weekend. Soon the snow will be gone and summer activities will take over. But, Denali will always call me back at any time of the year.

03/11/2019

Spring Fishing
Ah, March - Alaskans’ thoughts start to turn to spring and summer. Oh, sure – we know there are still a couple of good snow storms headed our way, but the end is in sight. The Iditarod has started and the teams are approaching Nome. The days are getting longer and the sun has real warmth in it. Driveways and decks are beginning to peak out from under the melting snow.

For those of us who just can’t wait to get the season started, the winter king fishing in Homer is irresistible. These king (or chinook) salmon are not spawning and are present all year long. There are not huge numbers present, so patience is required to land one of these prizes. Since they are not spawners, the meat is much more delicate in taste, making them highly sought after table fare.

We had a slow start, with nothing to show for it but a couple of really small halibut that we threw back and a small rock fish. Still, the day delivered near perfect weather, with calm seas and sunshine galore. Finally, with only a couple of hours of fishing left, one of the rods bent down and back up. FISH ON!!!. Not 2 minutes later, another rod performed the same dance – double hook up. After a tense 10 minute battle both fish were landed, and posing for pictures began. We kept fishing for another hour or so, but 2 was our final bag for the day. Both were “white” kings, where the meat is a pale white, rather than the more common pink.

All in all, a marvelous way to usher in spring. We ended the day with supper at the Chart Room Restaurant in Land’s End Resort enjoying the view from the end of Home Spit. Soon all the winter toys will be put away and the summer toys will be readied for another season. And in the meantime, there is fresh salmon to enjoy. fishing

02/11/2019

Chasing the Lights
When Alaskans start telling each other “the lights are out”, we are not talking about an electrical outage. It means that the phenomenon know are the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis can be seen in the sky. The lights are a feature of the night sky in Alaska and are an amazing spectacle to witness. They are not visible every night, and it is often difficult to predict if or when they will appear.
In the summer, the skies are too light to see the Aurora. In general, the Aurora can be seen from just after mid-August to early May in the Anchorage area. This window is a bit shorter as you go north toward Fairbanks, where their daylight hours are longer, going from late August to late April.
There is no specific time of night for the aurora to appear. Alaskans are frequently asked “What time do the lights come out?” A favorite tongue in cheek answer is “3:00 AM”. This is said as joke: there is no way to predict what time anyone will see a display. I have seen them was just as dusk was turning into night, all the way up to when dawn was starting to lighten the sky.
If seeing the Aurora is one of the goals of your Alaska adventure, plan to come after Labor Day and before mid-May. There are plenty of places to stay and things to do this time of year. Bring warm clothes that you can layer, including thermal underwear, good boots and good gloves. You will not see the Aurora as well in the city due to the light pollution, so plan on driving out away from city or town lights. Plan to stay up late – sometimes that means all night. Some hotels offer a wake-up call when the Aurora is out, but if you choose this option, you will likely be in an area that has a lot of light pollution.
Consider joining one of the many notification groups on social media. Aurora Borealis Notifications Group on Facebook is an excellent resource for notifications on when the lights are out. Aurora Lovers, also on Facebook has several files with information on viewing the Aurora as well as a link to the official Aurora Hunter’s Map that lists several favorite viewing spots. Some groups offer tweets to let people know the lights are out.
You do not need an expensive camera to photograph the aurora. There are ways to do this with a cell phone or with a point and shoot camera. That said, I prefer to use a camera that has manual settings I can change, depending on conditions. I usually start with an ISO of 800, F stop at the widest for whatever lens I am using (lowest number) and a shutter speed of 10 sec. I adjust either the shutter speed or ISO to get the exposure I want, and to keep the stars looking pinpoint. A tripod is a must with these slow shutter speeds to get crisp, in focus shots. Autofocus will not work well in the dark, as there is not enough contrast to allow it to function correctly. I focus my lens to infinity in the daylight and tape it in that position with gaffer tape.
Viewing the Aurora Borealis is an awesome experience. They do not show up every night, even in the darker months, so there is no guarantee that they will be visible at any given time. Cross your fingers, plan to stay more than a couple of nights and be prepared to be out in below zero temperatures for hours at a time. Good luck chasing!

02/02/2019

One of the wonderful things about living in Alaska is the abundance of wildlife. Even in the heart of Anchorage, moose, bear, eagles, foxes, lynx, hares and other animals are seen regularly, and a short drive out of the city will put you in the wilderness.
An excellent opportunity to observe Dall Sheep is only 20 miles south of Anchorage on the Seward Highway. The sheep are a common sight on the cliffs beside the highway and there are several large pull-outs on both sides of the road. In summer, their coats appear shabby and scraggly as they shed the wool. In the winter, their coats are a fluffy, slightly off white. Both rams and ewes sport horns, but the rams grow a beautiful curl on the horn, while the ewes’ horns are shorter, narrower, and only have a slight bend. Very young rams can be mistaken for ewes until they are old enough to start getting a true curl to the horns.
On occasion, the sheep will come down the cliffs and graze next to the road. This creates an amazing opportunity to see these beautiful creatures close-up. Although close up viewing is exciting, I encourage everyone to follow The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s published list of wild life viewing ethics found here: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=viewing.ethics.
For those wishing to photograph Dall Sheep, this is a spectacular opportunity. I highly recommend a telephoto lens. This allows you to get close-ups, while still maintaining some distance. When the sheep are right down on the road, you may not need to much magnification, but if they are higher up on the cliffs, the telephoto will come in handy. I prefer higher shutter speeds for photographing the sheep as they move, and I adjust my ISO or F-stop to accommodate that. If you are not comfortable with manual settings on your camera, try shooting in sports mode.
One note of caution: The Seward Highway is the only route between Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula. In the summer, this is a VERY heavily used road, and traffic is travelling at 55 miles an hour here. If you decide that you must cross the road, please be extra cautious. While it is very exciting to see wildlife this close and accessible, it is not worth risking your or your families’ lives. Happy Viewing!

01/27/2019

A favorite from this fall in Denali National Park. Denali peaks over the foothills as the fall colors paint the landscape. Prints available at https://laurel-racenet.pixels.com

01/22/2019

Winter in Alaska: for many people, this conjures up images of long nights with little daylight and endless ice and snow. While it is true that far north in places like Utqiagvik (formerly, Barrow), the sun drops below the horizon in mid-November and will not rise above the horizon again until after mid-January, southcentral Alaska enjoys a bit more daylight.

In Anchorage, the shortest day occurs on the Winter Solstice (December 21), with about 5 ½ hours of daylight. While winter temperatures can dip into the below zero range for a week or so at a time, average temperature range from 5 – 30 above zero. The moderate weather creates many opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities, while the low angle of the sun rewards photographers with incredible light conditions.

Places to walk are plentiful and one of my favorites is Reflections Lake in Palmer. This short 1-mile circuit of the lake is easy walking and affords stunning views. Look carefully, and you may see tracks in the snow belonging to moose, fox, rabbits and other animals. An early morning trip rewards the hiker with vibrant colors on the surrounding mountains as the sun rises over the horizon.

Impromptu skating rinks may appear on the lake as the ice firms up. Small inclines become sledding hills. Fat tire bikes are a common sight along the trail. While the lake trail is usually packed and easy walking, with a pair of snowshoes or cross-country skis, you can set out off trail.

Alaskan winters may be long and somewhat dark, but opportunities like these help to keep “cabin fever” at bay.

01/01/2019

Happy New Year to everyone!

As 2018 comes to a close, like everyone else, I am reviewing the year. I decided to post my favorite picture. After a lot of searching and culling, I decided on this one. This grizzly sow was rambling along a hillside and devouring the last of the blueberries in Denali National Park. The majority of the Park Road closes after the road lottery in December. However, until snow closes the road, private vehicles can drive as far as Teklanika.

We got started the drive a little after sunrise. We found her a little more than in 15 miles in and were able to spend well over an hour observing and photographing her before continuing for a hike along the Teklanika River bed. She was still there when we can back, so we spent another 30 minutes or so watching and taking more pictures.
She would graze a bit, then wander on to the next patch. Occasionally, she would stand up and look around . She seemed interested in something over the hill that I could not see. The Park Rangers were there, keeping an eye out and shepherding everyone back into their cars if she approached closer than about 25 yards. This was when I discovered what an awesome thing a sun roof is. I could stay in the car, and get pictures from a higher angle, while remaining safe. She was amazingly indifferent to the 12 – 15 cars along the side of the road.

I plan on visiting the Park again at this time of year. There are few people around. Although I will not be able to drive past Teklanika, the opportunities for hiking and photography are too good to pass up. In addition to our grizzly, we saw a bull moose courting two cows, several spruce grouse, a snowshoe hare starting to turn white for the winter, a peregrine falcon and a wolf trotting on the road. We enjoyed 2 solitary hikes and Denali itself made an appearance.

Laurie Racenet Photography

09/18/2022

05/03/2019

04/11/2019

03/11/2019

02/11/2019

02/02/2019

01/27/2019

01/22/2019

01/01/2019

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