We had the good fortune of connecting with Carl Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Carl, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
As a nature photographer, inspiration can be found just about anywhere. But what really inspires me is the process of exploration and discovery. I find that my best photographs, the ones that are the most compelling, are found through a process of opening myself up to a space, to approach it without any preconceived notions of any specific photograph I am going to capture. When I give myself time to explore, I find subjects and compositions that are the most satisfying.
Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I was a photographer long before I had a career as one. The approach to being a full-time photographer was decades-long. During that time I was able to fully develop my own personal sense of style. I was able to learn what it means to create images out of pure passion rather than gaining popularity or developing revenue. Quite frequently, I will have viewers of my photography comment on how I create images unlike others they have seen before, even from familiar locations. This comes from my desire to create images that are a sincere reflection of my style, of what I find interesting. My images flow from a desire to connect with nature.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of the great things about living in Alaska is you can take a visitor on just about any itinerary and they will be excited and pleased by it. While Anchorage is the largest city and economic center in Alaska, it is also filled with wild spaces. My itinerary would blend the best of both aspects of the city. Of course, the time of year is also a factor. In the non-summer months, the northern lights can be viewed in and around the city.
My first item would be a drive down the Turnagain Arm, a fjord-like ocean geographic feature immediately south of the city, and my introduction to Alaska. We’d stop for lunch at Chair 5 in Girdwood for a great burger and local brew. We’d continue on down to Portage Valley in Chugach National Forest for a hike out to Byron Glacier. Drive back before sunset for dinner at the house and a view from our deck of Cook Inlet. Breakfast the first morning would be at Snow City Cafe in downtown Anchorage, the best breakfast spot in town. After that, we’d take in a bike down the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, an 11-mile trail along the coast from downtown. Lunch on the trail. One day would be a cultural day, visiting the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center, followed by a drive out to the Athabascan village of Eklutna just north of the city to visit the cemetery and learn about their spirit houses. Somewhere in there we’d go downtown for some shopping of locally-made products, with a stop at Cabin Fever, the best downtown gift store. We would also walk around and I would point out some of our many murals and alley street art. One day would take us on a hike deep into the Chugach Mountains behind the city, with a lunch on the trail. Toward the end of the visit, we’d have dinner at my favorite restaurant in the city, Kincaid Grill. In the off-summer months, that would involve enjoying the “chef’s tasting menu,” a five-course prefixe meal with optional wine pairing. A great way to end any visit to Anchorage.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a shout out to specific writers and photographers who inspired me to connect with nature. The writings of Sigurd Olson and the works of Ansel Adams, Jim Brandenburg, and Galen Rowell have really connected with me.
Website: https://www.arcticlight-ak.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcticlightak/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlhjohnson/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlaskaPhotog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AKPhotog/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarlJohnsonAK
Image Credits
All images copyright Carl Johnson.