Thursday, December 31, 2009

Totem Notch

a view of Kasaan Bay between a totem and trees, Kasaan, Alaska


A view of Kasaan Bay, through a totem and a picnic place...

Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Dappled Pole

a totem catches some afternoon light through the trees of Kasaan Totem Park, Kasaan, Alaska


A totem pole at Kasaan Totem Park gets a bit of afternoon sunlight through the surrounding trees.

Monday, December 28, 2009

My Dawn

sunrise, Kasaan, Alaska


I can see No Where from my house. Yep, for all you chauvinists out there, I can see Gravina Island from my living room. Dawn, Sunday morning...

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Thorne Bay Angel

Christmas lights on streetlamp, Thorne Bay, Alaska


A streetlamp in Thorne Bay, Alaska...I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. 'Tis the season!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Icicle Beam

icicles on a roof beam of Naay I'waans, Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House, Kasaan, Alaska


Small icicles (and some snow) on a roof beam of Naay I'waans, Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House, Kasaan, Alaska. For more information on the Whale House Restoration Project, CLICK HERE! Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Auspicious Solstice

feathers on window, Kasaan, Alaska


The winter solstice began with a thump. A bird crashed into my window at work, leaving the above feathery evidence. It lived. And, later, I got the call that I could move into my new place--a two bedroom house, all to myself. Here's to the days getting longer!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Snow And More

snow on totem in front of Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House, Kasaan, Alaska


Snow on the totem pole in front of Naay I'waans (Great House), Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House, Kasaan, Alaska...well, as you can see, snow fell all over.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Snow Angel

snow on angel on tombstone, Kasaan Cemetery, Kasaan, Alaska


Fresh snow at Kasaan Cemetery, Kasaan, Alaska...

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Saturday, December 19, 2009

Morning Totem

morning light and snow on a totem pole, Kasaan, Alaska


Morning light and fresh snow on a totem pole, Kasaan Totem Park, Kasaan, Alaska...


Interesting Articles:

Attack On Native Draws Hate-Crime Charges

Alaska Villages To Get High-Speed Internet

Friday, December 18, 2009

Snow Squall

snow squall blocks the sun, Kasaan, Alaska


A morning snow squall momentarily blocks the already-briefly-seen sun in Kasaan, Alaska.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Missing Face

missing face of figure on center house post, Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House, Kasaan, Alaska


The center house post of Naay I'waans (Great House), or Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House, has been missing part of a face for decades. PLEASE, when you visit, be careful, respectful, and DON'T REMOVE ANYTHING. Of course, no fires or camping are allowed.

Interesting Articles:


Alaska Coal Exports Up In 2009


Denver-based Airline To Begin Fairbanks Flights

Wanted By Alaska Lawmakers: PR Firm To Fight Species Listings

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Sunset Snow Logs

snow-covered logs on the beach at sunset, Kasaan, Alaska


The sun sets on Kasaan Bay and snow-covered logs on the beach.


Interesting Articles:

AT&T Reports Widespread Cell Phone Outages

SEALASKA Ready To Take Heat On Biomass

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Boat Shard

boat seen between buildings, Craig, Alaska


A commercial fishing boat as seen between buildings in Craig, Alaska...

Sunday, December 13, 2009

New Moon

new moon over Kasaan Bay, Alaska


The sliver of a new moon over Kasaan Bay...If you look closely, you can see the head of a seal who has popped up to check out the view.

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Thursday, December 10, 2009

Snowy Totem

snow on a totem pole in Kasaan Totem Park, Kasaan, Alaska


It snowed overnight and, so, this morning I went out to Kasaan Totem Park to see the sights. Enjoy!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Morning Light

morning light inside Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House, Kasaan, Alaska


The center house post inside Naay I'waans, Chief Son-i-Hat's Whale House...and morning light.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Self With Totem

self portrait shadow with totem, Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House, Kasaan, Alaska


...at Naay I'waans (Great House), Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House, Kasaan, Alaska.

Interesting Articles:

Interior OKs Offshore Drilling In Arctic

Oil Pipeline Decline Spurs Tax Debate

Air Pollution Levels Rise In Fairbanks

Monday, December 7, 2009

Bear With Hat

bear totem with a frog hat, Kasaan Totem Park, Kasaan, Alaska


I let this bear in Kasaan's Totems Historic District wear my new hat (made by a special hat maker from Hydaburg). During cold weather, we can all use something stylish and warm on our head.


Interesting Articles:

Mushers To Be Tested For Drugs During 2010 Iditarod

Fairbanks Man Crafts Guitars With Local Materials

Former JDHS Coach Arrested On Sex Assault

Sunday, December 6, 2009

City Paws

dog with fashionable footwear, Anchorage, Alaska


...on a downtown Anchorage sidewalk.

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Friday, December 4, 2009

Heritage Face

face in sculpture at entrance to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage, Alaska


Part of the sculpture at the entrance to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage, Alaska...

Interesting Articles:

Snowmen Photos

Alaska Polar Bear Environmental Appeal Rejected

Third Man Pleads Guilty In Alaska Caribou Wasting

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Peters Creek Flash

a camera shy cousin running on stairs, Peters Creek, Alaska


The elusive Peters Creek Flash, a camera-shy cousin, caught in action...(Peters Creek, Alaska)


Interesting Articles:

NOAA Proposes Critical Habitat For Belugas

Out-of-State Fishermen Expected To Receive $70 Million Refund

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Spring

model of power troller, Tongass Dock Store, Ketchikan, Alaska


Way back when I was boy, I fished on this boat with my dad. Okay, okay, this is a model of the power troller Spring we fished on back then. My dad made the model.

From nine years old into High School, I slaved, er, worked on the Spring, all around Southeast Alaska and even off the coast of Washington state. Anyway, my dad sold the model along with some other models to the Tongass Trading Company and they now hang from the ceiling of the Tongass Dock Store in Ketchikan, my home town. It's always fun for me to go to the store and see the ol' Spring.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Saxman Eagle

an eagle figure atop a totem pole in Saxman, Alaska


Saxman Totem Park, Saxman, Alaska

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Eagle Departs

a bald eagle leaves its perch atop a tree near Kasaan, Alaska


A bald eagle leaves its perch atop a tree near Kasaan, Alaska.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Totem & House

pole in front of Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House, Kasaan, Alaska


Thanksgiving morning at Chief Son-i-Hat's Whale House in Kasaan, Alaska...We can see the effects of weather and time on the building, also called Naay I'waans (Nye EE'wahnss, "The Great House").

In order to raise funds to restore Naay I'waans to its original condition, Organized Village of Kasaan offers "Save The Whale House" t-shirts and hoodies for sale ONLINE. Click Here Haw'aa!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Totem & Me

Otilius self portrait with totem pole, Kasaan Totem Park, Kasaan, Alaska


On this day, I am incredibly thankful to have found myself, after all these years, living 30 miles from where I grew up and about 30 feet or so from where my dad grew up. Kasaan, Alaska--the place I always loved to visit and always hated to leave, now I live there.

It's a long, long way both mentally and physically from New York City, my home for the last 15 years. Do you like apples? How about THEM apples??

Happy Thanksgiving!

[self portrait at Kasaan Totem Park, Kasaan, Alaska]

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Totems & Trees

a peek at totems of Kasaan Totem Park through trees, Kasaan, Alaska


A peek at totems of Kasaan Totem Park and the surrounding trees (Kasaan, Alaska)...

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Sun Break

sunlight hits Chief Son-i-Hat's Whale House, Kasaan Totem Park, Kasaan, Alaska


When a break in the rain occurs, what better place to be than Chief Son-i-Hat's Whale House?

Monday, November 23, 2009

Rothko Sunset

cloudy sunset in Kasaan Bay, Kasaan, Alaska


After work, as I walked to the Totem Park trail, I saw this scene. Reminded me of a Mark Rothko painting...


Interesting Articles:

One Man's Junk Is Another's "Light Painting"

Southeast Alaska Halibut Charter Boats Lose Court Case

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Sunlit Eye

late afternoon light on a totem, Kasaan Totem Park, Kasaan, Alaska


The late afternoon sun lights an eye of a figure on The Spencer Pole at Kasaan Totem Park, Kasaan, Alaska.

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Friday, November 20, 2009

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Tuesday Sky

the sun through an overcast sky, Ketchikan, Alaska


Looking toward Pennock Island from the edge of the "Disneyland" part of Ketchikan, Alaska...

Interesting Articles:

Swine Flu Claims 10th Alaskan

Ketchikan Woman Trains For Iditarod 2011

GOING ROGUE: To Read Or Not To Read

Monday, November 16, 2009

Snowy Tarmac

from jet window, Juneau Airport, Juneau, Alaska


Looking out the window on board my flight to Ketchikan, before leaving snowy Juneau...That's Mount McGinnis in the background.

Interesting Articles:

Polar Bears vs. Oil, With Alaska In The Balance

City Reopens Gastineau Avenue

Fairbanks Nordic Ski Club Coach Raises The Bar

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Snow-Capped AM

Mount McGinnis, Juneau, Alaska


Yesterday was a beautiful morning, as you can see. And, for you literalistas, who want "Before & After" photos, check this out:

Mount McGinnis, Juneau, Alaska

[published here September 16th]

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Thursday, November 5, 2009