May 18, 2009

• Susitna Bluffs

  We live about a mile from the Susitna River.  At this point in its course, it is a broad braided stream, a mile or more in width, with many channels interspersed with islands ranging from minute sand bars to high wooded isles.  When I was more able, I used to love walking the trail along the Sheep Creek bluff to where the land falls away steeply down to the Big Su.

  I haven’t made that walk for years.  Doug goes out to the bluffs several times a week when the trail is passable, not too muddy or deep in snow.  He comes back and tells me about what he has seen.  Last Saturday, he took the camera with him.  I was at the computer when he brought it in and put it on the desk, for me to save the pictures and do any cropping or modification on them.  The first thing that hit me, generally, about this batch of photos, was how apparent the difference in our height is.  Familiar scenes are shown from a higher angle than in my shots.

  When I saw this shot:

  

  …it took my breath away.  I don’t think I’d ever have thought of taking that POV on the railroad tracks.  It sings.

  The shot below hit me in the gut.

  

  It’s a beautiful scene, well-composed, but that’s not what got to me.  This is one of my favorite places on the planet.  I used to pack a lunch and sit on the bluff at that point to eat.  I did that in all sorts of weather, all times of day, from May through November, through a couple of decades.  I missed it, missed those long walks in the woods.  I expressed some of those feelings, and Doug said that was why he took the camera… so I could see.

  He caught other beautiful scenery…

  

  …wildlife

  

  and local color.

  

  Several of his shots show the progress of the thaw.  Nearly all the ice and snow are gone now.

  

  More can be seen here and here.
  

  • 5:56 pm
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