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leepetersen.bsky.social
Lee Petersen
@leepetersen.bsky.social
1K followers 49 following 620 posts
Photographer writing Alaska hiking, travel, wildflower guides and other junk. Living in Fairbanks, Alaska. Lots of stuff here: http://lwpetersen.com/links
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leepetersen.bsky.social
Green aurora rising above snow-covered spruce trees near Fairbanks, Alaska. The lights stretched overhead in shifting ribbons just a few yards from my cabin on a calm winter night.

In my portfolio: photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Im...

#alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights
Bright green aurora arcs upward in the night sky above a dense stand of black spruce trees coated in heavy snow. The snow-covered forest glows faintly under the aurora’s light, while faint purple tones blend into the background sky filled with stars. The aurora curves and tapers near the top of the frame, resembling a tall, twisting flame reaching into the dark.
November 26, 2025 at 6:34 PM
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Jagged seracs where the ice pulls away from the cliffside on the Gabriel Icefall of the Gulkana Glacier.

My hiking guide to the area: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide...

#alaska #hiking #glacier
Close-up view of the Gabriel Icefall on the Gulkana Glacier, showing jagged blue-white ice fractured into steep seracs. A dark cave opens at the base where the glacier meets a vertical gray rock cliff. Streaks of dirt and old snow mark the lower ice, contrasting with the sharp texture and deep crevasses higher up the slope.
November 19, 2025 at 4:54 PM
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Golden morning light filters through mist and spruce trees along the UAF trail system in early autumn.
photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Im...

#fairbanks #alaska #forest
A narrow dirt trail runs through a dense forest of tall spruce trees, with soft golden sunlight streaming straight down the center of the path. The light cuts through light fog, creating a bright, glowing line that fades into the distance. Dew and early autumn foliage line the edges of the trail, and the trees on both sides appear dark against the illuminated mist.
November 14, 2025 at 6:25 PM
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The flower of Cypripedium guttatum, commonly known as the spotted lady's slipper, blooming in Fairbanks in mid-June.

Info in my Alaska Wildflower Guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-wildf...

#alaska #wildflower #bloomscrolling
Close-up of a single Cypripedium guttatum (spotted lady’s slipper) flower in bloom. The orchid has a rounded pouch-like petal that is deep pink to purple with irregular white spots, and a broad white upper sepal edged in pink. Two side petals extend outward, also white with purple markings. The background is softly blurred green, suggesting surrounding vegetation in a natural setting in Fairbanks, Alaska.
November 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM
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Gorgeous red auroras tonight over the Goldstream Valley in Fairbanks, Alaska. A rare show, strong enough for the red emission to be clearly visible to the eye.

More in my Recent Photos Gallery: photos.lwpetersen.com/Recent-Photos

#fairbanks #alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights
Vertical photograph of the aurora borealis seen through snow-covered spruce trees at night. Bright red and green aurora bands rise in straight vertical columns into the sky, forming a tall curtain of light. The trees in the foreground are coated in snow, silhouetted against the aurora. A clear night sky with faint stars is visible above the aurora. Vertical photograph of red and green aurora overhead, viewed between tall spruce trees laden with snow. The aurora forms a wide fan shape spreading outward from a point near the horizon, with streaks of red dominating the center and green along the edges. Stars are visible through the aurora. Vertical photo showing red aurora above snow-covered spruce and birch trees. The aurora forms diagonal, soft streaks that spread outward toward the top of the frame. The trees at the bottom are heavily coated in snow and appear as dark silhouettes beneath the light. Vertical image of red and green aurora appearing above a dense stand of snow-covered spruce and birch trees. Faint beams of aurora stretch upward toward the stars. The foreground trees are coated with fresh snow, and dark branches frame the top and sides of the image.
November 12, 2025 at 7:24 AM
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Inside a now collapsed ice cave at the terminus of Canwell Glacier, Alaska. Daylight filters through openings in the ice, revealing the blue glow of the glacier’s interior.

Area info in my hiking guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide...

#alaska #glacier #hiking
Photograph taken from inside an ice cave at the terminus of Canwell Glacier in Alaska. The cave ceiling and walls are made of smooth, layered ice in varying shades of blue and turquoise. Two bright openings in the distance allow daylight to enter, illuminating the sculpted patterns in the ice. The cave floor is dark with scattered gravel and rock debris, contrasting with the glowing ice surfaces above.
November 5, 2025 at 5:50 PM
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Granite towers beneath a deep blue sky on the shoulder of Mt. Prindle, along a ridge known as the Windchimes in the White Mountain National Recreation Area, Alaska.

Info on the area in my hiking guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide...

#alaska #hiking #tundra
Photograph of a jagged granite tower rising from tundra terrain under a clear, deep blue sky. The rock formation has sharp ridges and vertical fractures, with several smaller spires beside it. The foreground is covered in dry tundra grass and scattered boulders. Bright sunlight highlights the texture of the granite, emphasizing its steep, angular shape. The image was taken on the shoulder of Mt. Prindle in the White Mountain National Recreation Area, Alaska.
November 4, 2025 at 5:23 PM
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Sunset on the winter solstice in Fairbanks, Alaska, taken around 2:30 p.m., when the sun barely clears the horizon.

#alaska #wintersolstice #fairbanks #sunset
Snow-covered spruce trees under a winter sunset in Fairbanks, Alaska. The snow on the trees is thick and heavy, bending several of them into curved shapes. The sky glows in warm orange and pink light above a low horizon, contrasting with the blue and violet tones of the snow in shadow. The photo was taken at 2:30 p.m. on the winter solstice, when daylight is brief and the sun remains low in the sky.
November 2, 2025 at 6:02 PM
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Asgard Tor in the Chena River State Recreation Area near Fairbanks, Alaska, lit by the evening sun around 10 p.m. in mid-May.

Trail info in my hiking guide: www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide...

#alaska #hiking #backpacking #fairbanks #springlight
Photograph of Asgard Tor, a tall granite rock formation in the Chena River State Recreation Area near Fairbanks, Alaska. The tor stands prominently in warm golden light, surrounded by sparse spruce trees and tundra vegetation. The sky above is clear blue with the moon visible high above the rock. The distant hills in the background show faint patches of snow and are softly illuminated by the low evening sun. The photo was taken in mid-May around 10 p.m.
November 1, 2025 at 5:43 PM
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Autumn colors across the tundra in Denali National Park, Alaska. The brief season when the hills turn red and gold before winter sets in.

photos.lwpetersen.com

#alaska #denali #autumn #mountains
Landscape photograph of Denali National Park in early autumn. The foreground tundra is covered in red, orange, and yellow foliage with scattered spruce trees. In the distance, gray and brown mountains rise under a cloudy sky. Patches of yellow shrubs and dark green trees follow the valleys leading up to the ridges, creating a layered, colorful scene that fades toward the horizon.
October 30, 2025 at 4:49 PM
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Long exposure of Falls Creek near Turnagain Arm, Alaska. Moss-covered rocks and fallen autumn leaves along the creek’s edge.

#alaska #hiking #autumn #creek
Long-exposure photograph of Falls Creek in autumn near Turnagain Arm, Alaska. The image shows a series of moss-covered rocks layered with yellow aspen leaves, with water flowing smoothly around them in silky white streams created by the long exposure. The surrounding vegetation is brown and fading, indicating late fall. The composition centers on the soft, cascading water and the texture contrast between the vivid green moss and fallen leaves.
October 28, 2025 at 5:18 PM
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Been busy running comps, gym managing, and coaching nonstop. Heading to Anchorage with our youth team for another comp tomorrow. It’s been all climbing lately, not a bad thing, but I’m looking forward to getting back behind the camera soon. Quick clip of a route I set yesterday.
October 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM
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Aurora behind moonlit clouds in the White Mountains National Recreation Area, Alaska.

More aurora photos: photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Im...

#alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights
Green aurora borealis glows behind drifting moonlit clouds over the White Mountains National Recreation Area in Alaska. The foreground is dark, showing the faint outline of rolling hills, while patches of starlight and soft clouds frame the vibrant aurora ribbons in the night sky.
October 23, 2025 at 6:40 PM
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A Dall sheep at Polychrome Pass in Denali National Park, photographed in mid-spring.

More wildlife photos: photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Al...

#alaska #wildlife #denalinationalpark #bikepacking
A Dall sheep stands on a tundra hillside at Polychrome Pass in Denali National Park. Its white coat contrasts with the brown, early-spring vegetation. The sheep faces to the right with its head slightly turned, showing one curved horn and a hint of wind-ruffled fur along its back.
October 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
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A snowshoe hare in its white winter coat, photographed in late winter in Fairbanks, Alaska.

#alaska #wildlife
Close-up of a snowshoe hare in its white winter coat, photographed in Fairbanks, Alaska. The hare’s profile shows fine detail in its thick fur and whiskers, with dark eyes and erect ears standing out against a blurred background of snow-covered branches and muted gray tones.
October 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
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Aurora reflecting over Ballaine Lake in Fairbanks, Alaska, on a calm night in mid-September.

#Alaska #aurora #northernlights
A vivid green aurora stretches upward in wide, flowing bands over a dark spruce forest at night. The lights twist and taper into the sky, mirrored almost perfectly in the still water of Ballaine Lake below. The reflection creates a symmetrical effect, with faint stars visible in the clear, dark blue sky above.
October 16, 2025 at 6:11 PM
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Midwinter Sun — After months of low light, there’s a point in early February when I start to feel the sun return to Fairbanks, Alaska.

More photos: photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Im...

#Alaska #winter #sunlight
Snow-covered spruce trees stretch across a gently rolling landscape beneath a pale winter sun. The trees are tall and narrow, each heavily coated with thick layers of snow that bend their tops into curved shapes. Soft light filters through thin clouds, casting a faint golden glow across the snowdrifts and long, delicate shadows between the trees. The scene feels quiet and still, capturing the subtle warmth of returning sunlight in the middle of an Alaskan winter.
October 15, 2025 at 6:36 PM
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Longitudinal crevasses on the Castner Glacier in the Alaska Range. These cracks form where the glacier valley widens, running parallel to the ice flow.

Learn more about glacier features and area hiking:
www.lwpetersen.com/definitions/...

www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide...

#Alaska #glacier #hiking
A close-up view of deep longitudinal crevasses cutting across the surface of the Castner Glacier in Alaska. The cracks run lengthwise through dirty white ice streaked with patches of rock and debris. Pale blue ice glows from within the crevasses, contrasting sharply with the darker surface grit. In the distance, the glacier rises toward rugged brown mountains and a snow-covered ridgeline under a bright blue sky with thin clouds.
October 14, 2025 at 4:24 PM
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Autumn colors ending along US Creek Road in the White Mountain National Recreation Area, late September.
More landscape photos: photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Im...

#Alaska #landscape #fallcolors
View from US Creek Road in Alaska’s White Mountain National Recreation Area in late September. Golden grasses fill the foreground, bending slightly in the breeze. Behind them stand blackened spruce and slender birch trees—remnants of an old burn area—some still holding a few yellow leaves. Beyond the trees, soft brown and gold tundra hills stretch into the distance under a blue sky with scattered white clouds. The light is clear and low, hinting at the approach of autumn’s end.
October 12, 2025 at 4:11 PM
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A peregrine falcon perched on a granite tower at Angel Rocks in the Chena River State Recreation Area, Alaska.
More wildlife photos: photos.lwpetersen.com/Galleries/Al...

#Alaska #wildlife #birding
A peregrine falcon perches on the jagged top of a granite rock formation at Angel Rocks in Alaska’s Chena River State Recreation Area. The falcon faces slightly to the right, its dark head and barred chest visible against the pale, weathered stone. The background is softly blurred, showing hints of green forest and the muted tones of distant cliffs.
October 10, 2025 at 4:17 PM
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A musher and dog team on the frozen Tanana River at sunset, at 3 pm in early February. The mist surrounding them is their breath rising in the -40°F air.

#Alaska #sunset #winter
A musher and dog team move across a frozen river at sunset, silhouetted against a glowing orange and yellow sky. Mist rises around them in the extreme cold, softening the outlines of the distant trees. Another person walks nearby on the snow-covered riverbank. The sunlight reflects faintly off the snowy surface.
October 9, 2025 at 4:28 PM
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A spiral-shaped aurora over snow-covered spruce trees in Fairbanks, Alaska, in January. This one seemed to stay motionless for several minutes.
More aurora photos in my portfolio:
photos.lwpetersen.com/Portfolio-Im...

#alaska #auroraborealis #northernlights #aurora
A night scene in Fairbanks, Alaska, showing a bright green aurora forming a wide spiral across the sky above tall, snow-covered spruce trees. The aurora’s glow dominates the upper part of the image, blending from deep to light green, while the stars, including the Big Dipper, are faintly visible in the clear winter sky.
October 8, 2025 at 5:26 PM
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Rugged terrain and a hanging glacier near Peak 8100 above College Glacier in the Eastern Alaska Range.
More from this area in my Alaska Hiking Guide:
www.lwpetersen.com/alaska-guide...

#alaska #hiking #glacier
A rugged mountain face in the Eastern Alaska Range with dark, rocky slopes streaked with snow. Near the center, a hanging glacier clings to the cliffs, its lower edge broken into deep crevasses and jagged blue ice. Above, sharp peaks rise into a partly cloudy sky.
October 7, 2025 at 5:32 PM
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Methane bubbles frozen in the ice on Smith Lake in Fairbanks, Alaska, taken in late October. Part of my Water and Ice series exploring the forms and transformations of water in Alaska’s landscapes: photos.lwpetersen.com/Blogs/Lwpete...

#alaska #ice #water #nature #abstract
Black-and-white photo of methane bubbles trapped under the surface of a frozen lake. Layers of circular and oval bubbles overlap and cluster together in intricate patterns, with one large central group surrounded by smaller rings and chains of bubbles. The dark ice provides a stark background that highlights the pale, translucent shapes.
October 6, 2025 at 5:54 PM
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Common fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) is one of Alaska’s most recognizable summer wildflowers.

#Alaska #wildflowers #bloomscrolling #botany #photography
Close-up of bright magenta-pink fireweed flowers in full bloom. The image focuses on several blossoms and buds on a single stem against a blurred green background, revealing details of the petals, stamens, and curled pistils. A field of fireweed in soft focus, showing tall, slender stalks topped with clusters of pinkish-purple flowers. The foreground plants are in sharper focus, while the dense field of blossoms fades into a pastel blur in the distance. Dense field of blooming fireweed with hundreds of vertical stems covered in pink flowers. The entire frame is filled with blossoms in various stages of bloom, creating a textured gradient of pinks and greens throughout the image. Three tall fireweed stalks in sharp focus rise from a sea of pink blossoms. Each stem shows alternating buds and open flowers, with narrow green leaves along the stems and a soft, green-and-pink bokeh background.
October 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM