“Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other.” – Euripides
Have you even been to a rainforest? The moisture in the air is so thick. It causes the lenses of your glasses to be fogged up every few minutes. Have you ever been to place where the canopy is so thick that you can barely see the sun? While the sun is blocked, you can still see clearly. Have you ever been to place where you can just feel all of the wildlife staring at you? You know something is there, but the trees are so thick you can’t even see it. Have you ever walked on a path where ever turn causes you to stare in amazement? It seemed like every tree, every rock, every plant was incredible. Just being in this amazing place caused me to pause, and stare at it in wonder. I walked through this special place with my camera in hand. I tried my best to capture every beautiful moment. I stumbled onto these moments while walking through this rainforest. With every shot I took, I knew my photography wasn’t doing this place justice, but I continued. I continued walking, I continued taking photos, and I continued enjoying this amazing place for as long as I could.
You might be thinking by what I just wrote that I was walking around the jungles of South America. I was actually in Alaska. I captured these photos and many more when we visited Icy Strait Point. When we planned the trip, I didn’t realize I would be visiting a rainforest. Alaska is home to the largest temperate rainforest in the world, the Tongass National Forest. This vast rainforest stretches along the coast of Southeast and Southcentral Alaska. It receives significant rainfall and boasts a unique, mild climate compared to other parts of the state. On average the area gets around 200 inches of rain per year. Compare that to where I live in Charlotte, North Carolina which gets 42 inches of rain a year. This area is home to the Sitka spruce trees that can grow over 200 feet tall. The rainforest supports a wide array of wildlife. These include brown bears, wolves, and bald eagles. Large salmon populations are also present and are vital to the ecosystem and the local communities.
Through Griffin's Lens 