The photographs grew out of encounters that have surprised, inspired, or simply made me smile. I hope a few of them become favorites of yours as well.
If you're near Palmer before September 12, stop by Vagabond Blues and see many of these photographs in person. I'd love to know which one becomes your favorite.
An art piece featuring black and white portraits of multiple individuals, painted on what appears to be a newspaper or billboard material. The portraits include both men and women, with some faces displaying serious expressions.
A black and white bird with a crest on its head perched on a branch with green leaves, against a bright yellow background.
A whale with a large, V-shaped blowhole spouting water, seen as it breaches the water's surface during sunrise or sunset, with golden light reflecting on the water.
A bear standing in a shallow stream at night, surrounded by dark green foliage.
Snow-covered mountains and a small village with red and yellow houses under a partly cloudy sky.
A bald eagle perched on a weathered wooden bench with moss growing on it, outdoors in a natural setting.
A view of a large, multi-story red wooden building with a complex structure, seen through a metal coiled object in the foreground. The building appears weathered, with some windows and parts under construction or in disrepair, under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
/encounters/howkan-eagle-and-gratitude-totem
A scenic landscape of rolling hills and mountains under a cloudy sky, with a dense green forest in the foreground and sunlight illuminating parts of the terrain.
A winding two-lane road through a green, wooded area, with several cars driving along it.
Snow-covered mountain peaks in the distance with a clear blue sky. Darker mountain ridges in the foreground with patches of snow.
A black and white photo of a river flowing over rocks, bordered by dense trees, with a mountain and cloudy sky in the background.
Two ducks dancing on a pond with trees reflected on the water surface, seen from above.
A duck standing on water with wings outstretched, pointing in one direction, displaying detailed feather patterns against a dark green background.
A duck, standing in water with its head bent downward sipping water with a reflection image, and reflecting on the water's surface.
A tall, colorful totem pole featuring multiple carved and painted figures, including a MMIW figure and various animal and face motifs, set outdoors against a cloudy sky and a background of trees and water.
A tall totem pole featuring carved figures representing emergency personnel, including firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and rescue workers, painted in bright colors.
Four ducks flying over a green, blurred background with trees.
Four ducks flying over a body of water with a forested shoreline in the background.
A seagull and an eagle flying together in a clear blue sky, with the seagull above and the eagle below.
A landscape view of a sunset or sunrise with a sky filled with clouds illuminated in warm shades of yellow and orange, with the sun near the horizon. In the foreground, silhouettes of tall pine trees and mountain ridges are visible.
Close-up of illuminated wooden totem pole with stylized faces, black hair, and carved details
Colorful traditional Native American carved wooden totem pole featuring a human face with eyes, nose, and mouth, painted with vibrant red, green, black, and yellow colors.
A brown bear walking through a forest with green and yellow foliage.
Close-up of a traditional carved totem pole with a prominent eagle face at the front, featuring colorful paint with red, yellow, green, and black accents, and intricate wooden carvings of human faces on the right side, against a background of a building with a green roof and pine trees.
Wooden carved totem pole depicting a human figure wearing a wide hat and holding a paddle, with the word 'KASAN' on a sign on the paddle. The pole is displayed outdoors against green foliage.
A tall wooden totem pole with multiple carved figures stacked vertically, set against a background of green trees.
Looking up through a window at a bright blue sky and a red cabin that is under construction, with scaffolding around it.
Black and white photo of a wooden house under construction with scaffolding and a ladder in front.
Black and white photo of a house roof with multiple windows and four tall, metal power line towers with multiple wires extending from them to the sky.
Close-up of a brown bear's face, showing wet fur and a black nose, with green foliage in the background.
Colorfully painted totem pole in a forest setting with green trees in the background.
Colorful totem poles with traditional Indigenous artwork and faces, surrounded by green trees, part of a cultural display or historical site.
A brown bear walking in a river with green moss and trees along the riverbank.
Night sky illuminated by the Northern Lights with silhouettes of trees at the bottom.
Group of sandhill cranes standing on snow-covered ground with a forest in the background.
A brown bear in a river catching a fish with some green leafy bushes in the background.
Colorful wooden logs with painted faces stacked along a wooden fence.
A wooden building with colorful traditional Indigenous art and mask decorations on its facade, set against a background of green trees.
A bird flying over snow-capped mountains with dark slopes and patches of white snow, under a light blue sky.
Where would you like to go next…