Juneau, Alaska
July 2024
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With extended daylight hours in the summer, Juneau often feels like it never fully reaches night, and the weather can change suddenly from clear bright skies to cool rain and thick fog. Swift transitions; as massive fog banks roll over the mountains into Juneau's valley, the sky darkens, temperatures drop, and the landscape becomes cloaked in a moody, ambient light. Cool, subdued colors. Trees project blurred silhouettes through dense fog.
I've never encountered so many bald eagles in my life; during my week in Juneau, I observed hundreds of these majestic birds. Alaska's bald eagle population is greater than all of the lower 48 states combined, with an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 birds. In the southern panhandle, where Juneau is located, these eagles thrive, preying on the local salmon population—a bounty unusually bolstered by the local aquaculture industry, which releases millions of salmon into the Mendenhall River every year. I was surprised by the noticeable differences between mature and young bald eagles. The mature eagles sport a distinct white head and tail, with dark brown bodies and wings, a pattern that makes them unmistakable. In contrast, young eagles have mottled brown feathers across their heads and bodies, and it can take up to five years for them to develop their iconic adult plumage. fs.usda.gov
The geographical contrasts of the region add to its allure. You can stand beside the thundering 377-foot Nugget Falls, which cascades dramatically in the face of the retreating Mendenhall Glacier, and within a 20 minute drive, find yourself immersed in a temperate rainforest lush with bright greenery.
Through this collection of images, I hope to share the moments and scenes from Juneau that left a lasting impression on me, and to showcase the vast beauty of nature and the deep connection between the land and its creatures. Check out the full album below!
