The post Weather photos sometimes require a heads-down approach appeared first on Michael Dinneen Photography.

The sweetness of now is so sweet and the anxiety about the future is a rock-hard hammer some days. We know it’s a privilege to work from home, take care of our own kids, have groceries delivered, mask up, talk to our neighbors in the street while we do our best to keep our community healthy. Isaac’s worked from home since early March within earshot of every squabble and fit and shriek of joy and bouncing ball.

And I work when everyone’s asleep but exhaustion comes quickly these days. It took a few weeks to create a new family rhythm without the predictability and company of school and work life. The children were disoriented – a short fuse of angry, angsty, bored, leery, and clingy. We thought the antidote was tightening the ship with color-coded schedules and school projects and clear expectations. But it’s really more tenderness in our togetherness and tuning in.

We try to look into our eyes more, sing and dance, listen fully, read together, check-in, hold each other, and recharge with “cozy quiet time.” If we all get through this liking each other, then we’ve won.

-Kelly DuFort
  

 
My #CovidDiariesAK begins with thoughts from Nate in Wasilla:
I have been working from home since the 18th of March. I am extremely fortunate that the company I work for has allowed and enabled me to work from home. My wife is a freelance graphic designer and a stay-at-home mother. For her, the change hasn’t been a major difference. However, the inability to take a three-year-old out and about can snowball the restlessness quite rapidly. It has been hard to explain this to our son and my wife has done an amazing job in engaging him in creative and rewarding activities. Cristina has been practicing a Montessori method with Otto and I think, in these times, it has really paid off. We are anxious to get the social aspects of our lives back, but we also recognize how lucky we are to have our opportunities and abilities to sustain during this challenging time.

-Nate

The post How Covid-19 Is Affecting Two Alaskan Families appeared first on Michael Dinneen Photography.

The ease of getting into remote places has increased as methods of travel have expanded. Photography lighting equipment has become much more mobile as well. Many couples that I have worked with want to get just the two of them into the backcountry for photos, and then have the formal ceremony at a more urban location.

The post How Has Alaska Destination Weddings Changed in the Last Ten Years? appeared first on Michael Dinneen Photography.

A place that has meaning for the couple always helps. If the wedding is at a less than ideal location, think of somewhere close by that offers an interesting background to help make a portrait of the couple more meaningful.

The post Where are the Best Places to Take Wedding Photos in Alaska? appeared first on Michael Dinneen Photography.

I always concentrate on two things in outdoor photography, the light and the graphic elements of a photo.
Light is usually better in the early mornings and later in the evening, especially on sunny days.
In composing an image, foreground interest is very important, so you can draw the viewer’s eyes into the image and lead them to the main element of your image.

The post What Photography Techniques Work Best in Alaska Outdoor Photography? appeared first on Michael Dinneen Photography.

His work has been featured in Associated Press, the New York Times and Alaska Magazine.

The post Alaska Wildlife Photographer appeared first on Michael Dinneen Photography.

The post Iditarod 2018 Photos for the Associated Press appeared first on Michael Dinneen Photography.

Michael Dinneen Photography is incredibly honored by the recent award as one of the Best Wedding Photographers in Anchorage in 2018, as selected by Expertise.com.  Expertise.com created lists of the best local professionals in each US city to provide their readers the confidence they need to make the right choice, particularly when choosing a wedding photographer. To do so, Expertise.com analyzed and scored 103 wedding photographers on more than 25 criteria across five categories, to create a hand-picked list of the best wedding photographers in Anchorage, AK.  The five categories being evaluated included:

Reputation: A history of delighted customers and outstanding service.

Credibility: Building customer confidence with licensing, accreditation, and awards.

Experience: Masters of their craft, based on years of practical experience and education.

Availability: Consistently approachable and responsive, so customers never feel ignored.

Professionalism: Providing service with honesty, reliability, and respect.

This award and recognition from Expertise.com comes as a huge surprise and compliment as Michael Dinneen Photography also received an award from Expertise.com for the Best Wedding Photographers in Anchorage in 2016.  I am truly humbled and grateful.

The post Top 20 Best Wedding Photographers in Anchorage 2018 by Expertise.com appeared first on Michael Dinneen Photography.

This morning I drove down to Potter Marsh for the swans and some mist amongst them. Instead I found this morning munching moose family on the flats on the west side … Families should eat together more often, don’t you think?

With the moose in shadow and the fully lit Fire Island and Alaska Range behind, I was hoping for the first rays of direct sun before they left, but it was not to be… the trick here was to balancing the shade with the background. Bracketing my exposures helped compensate the difference in light values.

The post Moose on Potter Marsh Flats appeared first on Michael Dinneen Photography.

Linda Lucky, Anchorage Museum of History and Art.

I ran into Linda Lucky while photographing the 2016 Anchorage Museum Gala. I asked her to tell me about her volunteering activities.

Why do you volunteer at the Museum.

I’ve been in love with the museum from the first time I walked into it. I’ll never forget entering the atrium with its carousel animals and a tree that touched the ceiling covered with handmade dolls from around the world. Because of the holiday decorations, lunches were served in an art gallery! I remember sitting in the middle of the room alone at a “two hat” table looking around at beautiful art on the walls. I had only been in Anchorage for 15 hours! I’m thinking: If this is what Anchorage has to offer, I’m going to like it here!

Tell me about your first volunteering experience.

In two weeks after signing on as a volunteer docent, I gave the landscape tour in the four galleries on the main floor. It was a school tour of 5th graders. It felt good to be back with kids again after four years of retirement. Like old times, only the classroom has changed.

What do you give, what do you get.

I bring optimism, enthusiasm, and a sense of humor to the job. My great satisfaction is being part of the museum visitors’ positive experiences and memories.

How you feel volunteering affects you, your community, the world.

It keeps me sharp. It keeps me connected to people and the community, people who share my love of the arts. Through the summer tours I meet folks from around the world. They are very impressed by the level of the sophistication of the museum.

Some of the places you have or do volunteer besides the museum.

I have volunteered at AWAIC, Beyond the Stacks, and the KNBA art auction every year.

The post Volunteer of the Month ~ October 2016 appeared first on Michael Dinneen Photography.