Lake Clark National Park, Alaska

What do you dream of when your days are filled with the activities usually reserved for those fantastical visions that come with a quiet, deep sleep? This was the thought that went through my mind as my small Cessna left a dirt and snow runway of the remote backcountry town  of Port Alsworth, Alaska in the last hours of daylight. As the engine sputtered bringing me and my pilot higher and higher, the valley below disappeared into a royal blue shadow punctuated by spearheads of wild salmon pink mountaintops. My door was completely open though I was harnessed to my seat by a four point belt that would make any mother feel a bit more at ease. Still, with temps dipping below zero and traveling at 85 knots, the windchill itself was a dangerous -60 fahrenheit. At these temps, a hot cup of coffee would freeze before it would hit the ground. Wrapped in down jackets but still tearing up as I hung out the side of this small aircraft, we bounced around above the tops of the mountains while I captured image after image of the dreamscape. Elated but not satisfied, I went back up again at sunrise. I struggled to keep the lens steady in the wind while I fought my own breath from fogging up the view finder. These are a few of those images:

Jagged peaks of the Chigmit mountains frame Mt. Iliamna, an active volcano.

Last light on the Aleutian Mountain Range

Last light on the Aleutian Mountain Range

Join Ian Shive @ Farmer & Cook, Ojai

Join me for a casual, fun night at the always delicious Farmer & Cook Restaurant this Wednesday, January 6th @ 7:00pm. I’ll be presenting some of my latest images of America’s National Parks as well as going behind the lens of some of my most ambitious conservation journey’s including being embedded in a search & rescue crew on Mt. McKinley in Alaska to traveling the entire length of the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands. All are invited, the event is free but you are encouraged to get some food and organic veggies at the restaurant and market.

Recent Work

So I realize that this blog has basically become a brag and less blog. Too many news clippings, published work, etc. and while it’s all great and I’ve had an excellent year and feel incredibly fortunate – amidst all of the book campaigning I have had time to shoot (!) and wanted to share some of the recent work from the last few months.

Sunset on classic view of El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, California

Tents aglow in Curry Village, Yosemite National Park, California

Valles Caldera, bordering Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico

Brian Murphy, world record athlete, paddle boarding in Southern California

Brian Murphy rests on his board above a school of fish

Ian Shive featured on the CW Channel 6 San Diego

Ian Shive sits down with CW’s Channel 6 Morning News in San Diego about the making of the new book, The National Parks: Our American Landscape as well as some of the misadventures and recent work on the U.S./Mexico Borderlands.

Click here to watch the interview

Can’t find The National Parks? Look no further!

In a stroke of good fortune (in the most bitter sweet of ways) my book has become a hot commodity with most retailers running out, includig Amazon who ran out after a huge burst of sales during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. No fear for those Amazon customers – my publisher assures your books will be delivered before Christmas. However I’ve received emails from Canada to Kansas asking where they can get the book because it’s sold out everywhere. Well look no further! Barnes & Noble has the book if you purchase it online for 41% off for members! So click below to place your order today.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE BOOK

Wild Collective Launches!

Ian Shive is proud to launch a new multimedia, television and film production company, WILD COLLECTIVE. Together with co-founder and award-winning filmmaker Russell Chadwick, the company unites veteran Hollywood filmmakers focused on creating top-tier productions for the global community at an affordable price. The company brings together not just Shive and Chadwick, but a team of award winning editors, producers, cinematographers, writers, photographers, animators and composers to create dynamic and original content for film, print, television, and the web.

Visit the official site to view projects

Ian Shive featured in Outdoor Photographer

The December 2009 issue of Outdoor Photographer profiles and catches up with Ian Shive on his new book, The National Parks: Our American Landscape. Editor and writer Kim Castleberry digs into the details of the process of making the book as well as Ian’s involvement with photography groups such as the International League of Conservation Photographers.

Click here to read the feature

Ian Shive to speak at the United States Capitol

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Max Baucus are hosting an evening of stunning images of our national parks by photographer Ian Shive on Thursday, November 19th in the U.S. Capitol. Shive will share his stories of traversing the National Park System from the grizzlies of Yellowstone to the coral reefs of Biscayne, accompanied by his photographs and a new short multimedia film focusing on the challenges America’s most beloved landscapes face.

Ian is honored to share his passion for the parks with our countries leaders. For more information, contact ian@waterandsky.com

Ian Shive featured in Capitol Weekly & Sacramento Press

Ian Shive  digs his heels in to discuss everything from the new book to the potential closure of California’s State Parks in the story by Tony Sheppard. Click here to read the full story.

Ian Shive on the Dennis Miller Show

Ian Shive spoke to the always awesome Dennis Miller on radio stations across the country this morning about his new book, The National Parks: Our American Landscape. They discussed everything from the cover shot of the Grand Tetons to people popping viagra into Old Faithful.

Click here to listen to the interview