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t truly is amazing how technology has changed our approach to scouting locations, over the past few years. When the iPhone was first introduced in early 2007, it was still a very closed system. Then, in 2008, up jumped the App Store. Initially there were only a few apps designed with photographers in mind. As developers have learned to stretch their wings, that has all changed.

Scott and I are fairly die hard Apple fanboys & techno geekery aficionados, so we’ve tried a literal metric ton of photography apps on our iPhones. Some have been brilliant, some have failed brilliantly. Before we get into the meat and potatoes, you should know – none of these apps or their makers have supplied us with these apps. The apps that had a fee, were paid for by our own hard-earned cash money. The apps that were free, well… we gobbled them up and put them through their paces (then promptly spit most of them out before they gave us indigestion). Also, the links provided below do not reward us with ‘kickbacks’ or commission on sales.

We’re going to break down the iPhone/iPad apps that we use into categories: Scouting, Editing, & Miscellaneous. No, I’m not including weather apps. Everyone has their favorites, and you’ll be happy to hear that they all work equally well in Alaska. That is to say, not at all. Want to know the weather forecast in Alaska? Stick your head out the window. If it looks like it might rain or snow, there’s probably a 50% or greater chance that it will.

Prices are current as of this writing, and are subject to change at any time.

Scouting

Focalware – Focalware was one of the first apps I downloaded. It’s a simple interface, allowing for precise information about sun and moon data – including: sunrise/set, moonrise/set, sun & moon azimuth & elevation, and moon phase. It ties into your gps and digital compass, and is very quick to use. Like all the best scouting apps, you can save locations for future reference in a list format. Just click on a pre-set location and learn the pertinent data you need. ~ $4.99 (iPhone)

Sun Seeker – Sun Seeker (and the next app on the list, Moon Seeker) are similar to Focalware, in the fact that they both offer data about sunrise/set & moonrise/set. But the key is using ‘augmented reality’ to further display these typically visually boring statistics in a really cool way. Augmented reality apps utilize the iPhone’s camera, in conjunction with the digital compass and accelerometer to display the aforementioned ‘boring statistics’ as an overlay of the camera’s live video feed. That’s pretty cool shiznit. For instance, Sun Seeker (and Moon Seeker) display the current position of the sun/moon on an arc of time for any given day. You can swing your iPhone (typically in horizontal orientation) in any direction and see where the sun/moon is going to rise or set, and most importantly, how it will interact with natural or manmade elements in the scene you are photographing. Want to find out what time the sun is going to crest the Alaska Range to the north of your campsite? Bing-o, bang-o, prest-o, chang-o – Sun Seeker/Moon Seeker to the rescue-o. Keep in mind, you have to actually be there (at the location you need information on) in order to use the augmented reality option in the apps. There are other apps that allow you to scout locations from afar… ~ $4.99

Moon Seeker – See above. In the case of these apps, the moon is very much like the sun, except it’s the moon. It would be nice, ozPDA (Sun/Moon Seeker’s development company), if you could include both the Sun and Moon data in one, all inclusive app – rather than making us buy 2 separate apps. Charge me a bit more, I’d pay it for the convenience of only having to open one app. Just sayin’. ~ $1.99

The Photographer’s Ephemeris (TPE) – One of the most bestest (yep, I said it) crossover apps available. Full disclosure, I have worked as a beta-tester on TPE (for iOS) for Stephen Trainor (the app’s developer), but I received no monetary compensation. I bought the final app, simply because it’s the most bestest app, and Stephen deserves the money. So, what it is – for those of you living under a rock and not already using this app before every landscape shoot? This ephemeris tool collects similar data to the previously mentioned apps, but it displays it as an overlay on a Google Map. Now, admittedly, I don’t use the mobile app as much as I use the desktop app (Free! You will need Adobe Air running – also free!), but the functionality is nearly identical in application. TPE projects the most important data of all, sun/moon path throughout the day, for any day, for any location. Another powerful tool that comes from it’s big brother/desktop version, is the inclusion of ‘Geodetics’. No, don’t worry, it’s not a Hollywood-based religious movement… Geodetics is a way for you to drop a pin on any location on the map to determine the apparent altitude (or height) of the object. Why is this useful? Well, it will tell you if the sun or the moon is going to clear that object at any time during your shoot. Example? Why sure, I thought you’d never ask. A few years ago, I wanted to shoot the Super Moon in a unique way, rather than the same old ‘big moon against the landscape’ that I had always seen it. I used the Geodetics feature in TPE to find a location where the moon would almost perfectly parallel the slope of a mountain, as it rose just after sunset. I used this feature to take 15 photos of the moon, 5 minutes between each shot, as it climbed into the sky and paralleled the northern slope of Pioneer Peak. Without this technology, this shot never would have been possible for me. Geodetics data has become an integral part in our location scouting & planning sessions. ~ $8.99 (iPhone/iPad)

GeoTagr – Honestly, this app was a bit of a surprise. Scott showed me this app running on his iPhone, otherwise I likely never would have given it a moments thought. It’s a deceptively easy app to set up. All you do is sync the time displayed on the app’s main screen with your camera’s date. When you are ready to start tracking your image locations, you simply hit ‘Record’. The app uses the iDevices built in gps to lay down ‘breadcrumbs’ as long as you are ‘recording’. Deceptively simple. Then, after you are done shooting, hit the stop button on the app, select the ‘Track’ from the Tracks menu, and export the track as a GPX file. When you import your photos into Adobe Lightroom or Apple Aperture, you can also import this GPX file into your image database’s map program and sync it with your photos. In a matter of seconds, your photos show up on the map. Exactly where you shot them. Scott and I are still young enough to have long periods of lucid thoughts and our memory is still thriving… well, ok… I do. Scott is old. But, in place as vast as Alaska – these location tidbits can become very valuable for return trips or captioning, or fledging out a full story. My only complaint is not directly related to the app… it’s the iPhone’s battery life over a long backcountry trip. This one shortfall is pushing me towards purchasing a dedicated GPS geotagging module to plug into my camera, rather than using the app. Regardless, the app works beautifully. ~ $4.99

LongTime – Are you kidding me? Free? ‘Nuff said! Use an ND filter to achieve longer shutter speeds? This is the app for you. I have been using a B+W 10-stop ND filter for select shots where I really want to stretch my exposure out. This app is also deceptively easy to use. Seeing a pattern here? Just take a base exposure with your camera – I prefer to do this in LiveView, with my RGB histogram active. Then, attach your ND filter. Open the app, and select the power of your ND filter, then your base exposure’s shutter speed. Prest-o,bang-o – the app gives you the correct new shutter speed with your filter in place. Pretty slick. ~ $FREE!

Editing

Snapseed – I don’t always take iPhone photos, but when I do, I edit them with with Snapseed. Stay Snapseedy my friends. Quite simply, this is the only app I use to edit my iPhone photos. It’s got great presets (all of which are editable), filters, and NIK’s patented ‘Control Points’. Control Points allow you to apply very precise local adjustments. Great app, lots of power and flexibility, and people are stunned when they learn the photos were taken with a mobile phone. ~ $4.99

Dermandar (DMD) – It’s not exactly an editing app, but I’m putting it here. Deal with it. Dermandar (DMD) is a pano stitching app and sharing app all in one. Again, it’s deceptively simple. Just open the app, hold the iPhone/iPad vertically and click ‘Start’. Then pan left or right slowly, watching the yin-yang symbol as an alignment tool. The app automatically takes a photo as soon as alignment is optimal. You can make a pano that is just a few stitched images or you can do a full 360˚ pano. You can export the photo or share it on DMD’s very own social site, and link to it from your social network of choice. Great app, just be sure to take your time and watch your alignment carefully. ~ $1.99

Miscellaneous

Easy Release – I’ve only used the iPad version, here so that’s what I’ll touch on. This app just works. You can use pre-made forms or design your own (model and property releases). Models (or their parental guardian) or property owners can read then sign the release (with their finger, or a with stylus). You can include a pic of your subject (using the iPhone’s camera/app), and even email pdf copies of the release right from the app. The app is more expensive, but I believe it is a steal for the power, flexibility, and easy of use. ~ $9.99

Spaceweather.com Link – I love photographing the aurora borealis. It’s one of the most incredible phenomenon anyone can witness. Or photograph, if you are so lucky. No, this final ‘app’ really isn’t an app at all. It’s just a bookmark to a webpage. But it’s one of the most hit ‘buttons’ on my iphone from September through April. The people at Spaceweather.com do a fantastic job at keeping up-to-date reporting on upcoming and ongoing space-related phenomenon. Highly recommended. ~ $FREE!

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Film was produced by Sweetgrass Productions in association with Outdoor Research.

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I really miss my climbing climbing partners, and been hoping to return to climbing again soon. If you’re not a climber, a Denali flight-seeing trip into base camp will take you right by Mt. Hunter which towers over camp – It’s something to see!

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It’s the rich waters of Cordova that attract me each year, fishing this area is by far my most desired and high on my list next summer!

-Scott

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Photography: Alaska Sled Dog Races

mbark on the adventure of a lifetime by taking a journey across Alaska’s quiet and frozen landscape on dog sled, or take part watching local races that celebrate the great Alaskan tradition of dog mushing.

Mushing is represented throughout Alaska’s history, but most learn about mushing through the iconic Iditarod sled dog race. The Iditarod has been dubbed “The Last Great Race On Earth,” the famed Iditarod trail pits men, women, and dogs against Alaska’s bitter arctic cold, raging blizzards, and unforgiving mountain terrain as they wind their way north along frozen rivers and historic trails.

Dog sled races aside, visiting Alaska in the winter offers anyone the opportunity to ride or drive your own dog team.  It’s a chance to experience of pure untouched Alaska wilderness, with sounds of sled runners carving through snow, and the beating energy of dogs running in rhythmic sync before you..  These are the moments that bring it all together. It’s a lifetime opportunity to connect with the land, history and culture of mushing in Alaska – Something you’ll talk about forever!

There is no doubt you’ll want to capture your experiences and events you witness.  Winter photography in Alaska can be challenging to say the least, but with a few handy tips you should do just fine!

1. Keeping your camera warm: I’ve seen sub-zero temps freeze both consumer and pro level cameras solid. Taping or using a rubber band to attach hand warmers to a camera is a common practice for many photographers. However, I’m a big believer in camera storm jackets. Relatively affordable, keeps things simple, and they keep the warmth of hand warmers in the bag and also protects the camera from the elements.

 

2. Keep your camera cold: Tempting as it may be, don’t put your camera back in your pocket or jacket – condensation will build up and if it’s cold enough and freeze when exposed to cold again. This same rule applies when you return to your vehicle, keep the camera cold. Before you enter a vehicle, put your camera in the camera bag and keep it in there until you return back outside. If you’re done for the day, keep the camera in the bag for several hours allowing the internal temperature to match room temperature.

 

3. Keep your batteries warm: It’s nice keeping your gear together in a bag, but warmer batteries will last a lot longer. I keep my batteries in a pocket close to my body.  I also keep my batteries in a plastic zip lock sandwich bag, this prevents condensation from my body from collecting on the batteries.

 

4. Static Electricity: Cold dry weather in Alaska can mean static electricity, and you’ll want to protect those precious photos while swapping out your memory card. Always touch your tripod or something metal before engaging with the internal components of your camera.

 

5. Setting your tripod in snow: Keep your tripod legs together when placing them in the snow, forcing them down and apart will cause damage and often snap them off. If you’re shooting in deep snow, try placing 3 Frisbee on the snow as a platform. Manfrotto offers Tripod Snow Shoes as a hassle free solution I quite like.

 

6. Dress for the weather: Layering for the day is key, and you should consider synthetics over cotton. To begin I recommend long underwear, fleece pants topped off with snow pants. For your core, a moisture wicking t-shirt, layered with a long-sleeve t-shirt and parka. Smart Wool socks are musher recommended to stay on theme here. Don’t cheat yourself on a good boot! Keep your fingers warm without loosing touch with your camera – AquaTech’s Sensory Gloves are a great solution!

 

The Dog Team Experience:
Whether you’re looking for a 2-3 hour or 3-day sled dog adventure, I highly recommend Iditarod Veteran Vern Halter’s Dream a Dream Premier Iditarod Kennel.  Last winter I had the opportunity to tour, ride, and drive my own dog team through some amazing wilderness, and they do it right!  Vern Halter offers the complete Alaska musher experience, from Bed and Breakfast, getting your hands dirty by learning the ropes as a handler, or out driving a team if you like.. They’re passionate about their dogs as much as the history behind mushing.

Alaska Mushing, Local Sled Dog Races, and Events:

• The Yukon Quest
• Iditarod
• Jr.Iditarod
• Fur Rondy
• Alaska Sled Dog & Racing Association
• Alaska Dog Musher Association
• GoMush.com

Experienced mushing, have a favorite race, or tour operator you like? We’d love to hear about it! Drop a comment below, we’d love to hear from you.

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‘ve been to a lot of places in Alaska, but Cordova remained one of  those destinations that I pushed out for one reason or another.  When my good friend and (Insert brag here..) internationally published photographer David Taylor asked if I was up for a trip to Cordova, I didn’t hesitate – YES, I’M IN!  Having previously worked on a few projects together, I was excited to dive into a new one.

Alaska Marine Highway “Chenega”
©2012 Scott Slone

Cordova is accessible by plane, but better traveled to via Prince William Sound on the Alaska Marine Highway (AMH) Ferry System. It’s an incredible opportunity to witness Alaska’s rich coastline from temperate forests, whales, to small islands inhabited with migratory birds and sea lions!

Taking the AMH Ferry “Chenega” also accommodates cars, trucks, small boats and RV’s, which is really your ticket to seeing the areas surrounding this harbor town. In other words, bring your own vehicle, you’re not going to see much at all if you’re on foot. (seriously)

Our three-hour ride to Cordova was smooth, and along the way we saw Bowhead whales, sea lions hauled out on rocks and a lone iceberg (called a growler). The M/V Chenega is a classy twin hulled, 235-foot catamaran powered by four huge diesel engines driving four water jet pumps that give it a cruising speed of about 40 mph. Inside, she offers plush seating and a small serve yourself cafe that offers reasonably priced food and drinks. Hands down the State Ferry system is an excellent way to see Alaska’s coastline and coastal communities.

Photo credit: ©2011 David Taylor

Cordova is Alaska in its own little microcosm. It’s the coastal community, harbor, beach’s teaming with life, mountains, temperate forests, famed wide-open spaces of the Copper River Delta, and its Glaciers to just cover the basics of what makes this place a paradise.

This trip was seven days of amazing beauty, action and quiet moments and I still feel we only scratched the surface.  Our days of filming and photography were non-stop, with some days that ran from 4:AM to 1:AM with a brief break during the noon hours to recover.  Not that everyone is as crazy as we are, but I’d be doing you the reader a disservice if I didn’t warn you!

I’m currently in post-production for the video I’m producing on Cordova, I aim to please visually, but careful that I leave some things for you to discover on your own. Make sure you’re signed up to the newsletter, I’ll keep you all posted when it’s released.

If you’re visiting Alaska and don’t have much time, consider Cordova as a one stop see and do it all. You don’t have to drive far to see it all – Fishing, Hunting, Sightseeing, Flight-seeing, Hiking, Kayaking, Glacier viewing, Wetlands, Copper River Delta teaming with Salmon, Food, and the quintessential small town no-nonsense community you’d expect to experience. One last thing – If you’re not into camping, I highly recommend Orca Adventure Lodge – The hospitality and lodging is great, and serve unbelievable delicious meals and the price is right.

TRAVEL RESOURCES:
For your convenience we’ve included the following links to our lodging of choice as well to the Alaska Marine Highway. If you’re planning to take this trip or already have, we’d like to hear about your adventure in the comment section below!

ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY and ORCA ADVENTURE LODGE

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Season Greetings from Alaska!

Thank you all so much for your support and for making 2012 a great year for our productions team. In this wondrous season, I’m reminded of Alaska’s beauty and the people make our state home and favorite destination for many! You are one of the reasons why we love working to create and share the best of Alaska with the world.

We all wish you a happy and safe holiday season!
Scott Slone

The post Sanity Saver: Season Greetings from Alaska appeared first on Alaska Adventure Travel Video Guide & Best Destinations.

Welcome listeners from the Alaska Travelgram Show
Alaska’s KOAN 95.5 FM & 1020 AM

This is Scott Slone, thanks for tuning into the Alaska Travelgram Show! Scott McMurren and Erin Kirkland are good friends and always enjoy trading travel stories. I’ve put together a few show notes in hopes to help you plan your next great Alaska adventure!

The Denali Highway
The Denali Highway is one of my favorite destinations to wrap up my summer. If you’re a fan of wide open spaces, wildlife and getting away from the summer traffic, then this is for you!

It’s History
The Denali Highway opened in 1957 as the first road access to Denali National Park (then known as Mount McKinley National Park). Since 1971, primary park access has been via the Parks Highway, which incorporated a section of the Denali Highway from Cantwell to the present-day park entrance.

Learn more about the highway from our friends at the Alaska BLM:

http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/recreation/denali_highway.html

Travel Advice
The highway is best traveled last week of August and the first week of September. We’ve found the road to be freshly graded, wildlife like moose and caribou are very active and fall colors are in their prime. Anyone traveling the Denali Highway should plan to spend at least 3-4 days to allow time for all the grand views, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing and hiking opportunities.

Recommended Tour Operators and Lodging
While this is a favorite local destination, Rental car and RV companies don’t allow their vehicles to travel the highway. Fortunately there are two tour operators I recommend for experiencing this Highway.

• Planet Earth Adventures
  Small Group Alaska Wilderness & Adventure Tours
  www.discoverak.com
• Sixtyone North
  Alaska Photo Tours
  www.sixtyonenorth.com
• Alpine Creek Lodge
  www.alpinecreeklodge.com

St.George Island
This summer Professional Photographer David Taylor and myself traveled out to the Pribilof Islands to visit St.George and explore this island located in the middle of the Bering Sea. We were both amazed at the huge opportunities this small corner of Alaska had to offer! Here’s a blog entry from David about our adventure out to St.George.

Read more:
http://sixtyonenorth.com/2011/07/more-photos-from-st-george-island-alaska/

Transportation and Guides

• Official Website for St.George
  http://www.stgeorgetanaq.com/travel.html
• Sixtyone North
  Alaska Photo Tours
  www.sixtyonenorth.com
• PenAir
  www.penair.com

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The Denali Highway. This historic gravel road extends 135 miles through some of most scenic and suspenseful landscapes in Alaska. For the 4th time in just under a year, I will be returning to this incredible area with good friend David Taylor of Sixtyone North for a journey that will last 7 days.

I’ve traveled over 30,000 miles within Alaska, and this is paradise for any professional or novice landscape and wildlife photographer or filmmaker.  It’s really exciting visiting a place like this, stepping off the highway on either side and you’ll find yourself knee deep in Alaska!

We’ve traveled and hiked the Denali Highway during each season scouting all the best locations from landscapes to foliage, from wildlife to historic hidden treasures. And while anyone can travel this road locally, rental vehicles are not covered on the highway.

So why not reserve your spot this year? It’s an adventure of a lifetime! It’s a chance to see a grizzly bears feasting on blueberries, caribou migrating across ancient lands and landscapes that fill every sense of our existence. We’d love to have you with us!

COMPLETE TOUR INFORMATION:
SixtyOne North Wild Lands & Wild Life: Denali Highway Fall Color Photo Tour

Look forward to seeing you!
Scott

The post You’re Invited: Denali Highway Fall Tour 2011 appeared first on Alaska Adventure Travel Video Guide & Best Destinations.