I took a direct flight from Juneau to Anchorage (just about 90 mins) on Alaska Airlines and rented a car. The drive from Anchorage to Valdez is about 5 1/2 hours one way so I decided to overnight in Anchorage and then head to Valdez the next morning.

Before getting on the road in the early hours, I grabbed a coffee and breakfast in Eagle Creek and started along the AK-1 highway. As predicted (from reading many other blogs), the views were spectacular. If you have someone who is willing to go with you and split the driving, I would highly recommend. Not because the drive is so long but because the views are so great that you will not want to be focused on the road.

Every so often, I find myself in a place where I’m not hitting on all cylinders or everything feels monotonous and tiresome. Some people call it a ‘creative slump’. For me, the range of emotions that come with this peculiar downturn starts with frustration, carries through to irritation and ends with helplessness. Nothing feels inspiring and when you look around at the world, it feels as if everyone else is thriving when you’re just trying to survive. How do I find my mojo again? Will I ever find my mojo?

As the cooler air arrives in Juneau, Alaska, I can sense the urgency of the sun setting. Each day the darkness lingers a bit longer, the sunshine feels less intense and the wildlife seems to know winter is coming.

Unlike the east coast, the tree leaf colors tend to be yellow instead of the brilliant reds and oranges. The boats in the harbor have slowed down, many of them will stay put for the rest of the season instead of cruising back and forth. The cruise ships and tourists have slowed and the seasonal restaurants are now closed.

How Snow Impacts Photographing Eagles - In my opinion, photographing eagles during the winter is harder than the summer and here’s why. The Bald Eagle has a white head, which makes it harder for my camera to focus on against a white, snowy backdrop. There’s also less light during these months. Not only are the days shorter in length (right now I believe the sunrise is around 8:30 am and the sunset is around 3:00 pm) but the amount of light that is available throughout the daytime is often hidden amidst swirling snowflakes and clouds.

It is always exciting to see Orcas while cruising through the waters of Southeast Alaska. Since they move so quickly and the lighting isn’t always the best, I thought I’d share my top 3 pieces of advice for photographing Orcas.