As a photographer, the content I ultimately seek and show is the end result of some grand adventure. Some elaborate scheme with many different stages of planning. But if it wasn't for all the air time I log in bush planes and my incredible friends/pilots who make it all possible, I would never discover these places that transform wild ambition into something tangible. Before I even think about packing my bags to set foot on snow, ice and rock, it is those moments of precious flow in the air that let the mountains reveal themselves. It is where all the great plans are born. In an effort to find something unique and untrodden, I have made this video to showcase those moments in between photographs and celebrate the airmen of Alaska. Pilots: Drake Olson, Ken Macdonald, Zack Knaebel, Doug Brewer and Don Lee.
Here we go again. Alaska's rivers, fish resource and ecosystem is pitted against another development project. This time, it's the mighty Susitna River, stretching 314 miles from the Susitna Glacier to the Knik Arm of the Cook Inlet. The Susitna is an important sport fishing river, with very healthy runs of King and Coho Salmon.
Katie and I had the opportunity to fish 4 days with the Alagnak Lodge in Bristol Bay, AK this past summer. It was a full house with a corporate group returning for their 10th anniversary trip. Let's just say it was a wild time with great salmon fishing. We experienced mostly bluebird weather, and the Silver (Coho) Salmon run had just turned on in the tidewater near the lodge. Perfect time to capture the essence of the Alagnak Lodge. Check out the short video we produced during our 4 days last August.
Cory & Katie Luoma own and operate Fly Out Travel, AlaskaFlyOut.com, and Fly Out Media. Our mission at Fly Out is to advance conservation and sustainable tourism in Alaska by actively promoting and unifying reputable Alaska lodges, air services, and other operations providing world-class adventure and service. We take pride in being the best on-the-ground resource for free, honest, and un-biased information for Alaska fishing and adventure travel.
Flight Seeing, Bear Viewing, and Fishing with Regal Air
We had the privilege of filming and producing this short video for Regal Air, located in Anchorage. Get off the roads and fly out, there's no better way to see Alaska!
Jason Ching is at it again. He has put together a new short film showcasing the salmon research done in Bristol Bay. Fantastic Bristol Bay imagery and information about the salmon research programs.
From the filmmaker:
The Alaska Salmon Program is the oldest continuously running salmon research program in the world. Based out of the University of Washington, the program was established to investigate factors influencing salmon production during a declining salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, Alaska in the mid-1940s. The program strives to understand the ecology and behavior of salmon in relation to environmental changes through long-term research and implementation of new ideas and techniques.
This video highlights a small part of the core research conducted by the Alaska Salmon Program, and celebrates the hardworking researchers that have contributed to the program's success.
Ryan Peterson and Salmon Beyond Borders have cooperated in producing a new short film showcasing the downstream Alaska problems associated with new mines being approved and developed across the border in British Columbia. It's a similar story - big money, big industry, and the relentless quest of man to exploit our natural environment for short-term gains.
From the filmmaker:
An open-pit mining boom is underway in northern British Columbia, Canada. The massive size and location of the mines--at the headwaters of major salmon rivers that flow across the border into Alaska--has Alaskans concerned over pollution risks posed to their multi-billion dollar fishing and tourism industries. These concerns were heightened with the Aug 4, 2014 catastrophic tailings dam failure at nearby Mt. Polley Mine in B.C.'s Fraser River watershed.
The Lost Boys of Yantarni is the story of the quirky few, stubborn enough to live and work on one of the most rugged and formidable outreaches of the Alaska Peninsula - a Neverland practically unknown to the angling world. The allure? – giant, dime bright, Coho Salmon that charge into these mile-long rivers with a seek-and-destroy mentality.
Mother Nature still keeps secrets here, never really showing her hand. For the guys running the place, outwitting her is a daily battle. Severe weather, four-legged locals, and never-ending chores stack the odds against them.
Aerial footage compilation highlighting the beauty of S.E. Alaska.
The sheer untamed beauty of Alaska is still strong today. Amidst the chaos of everyday life, there are many places here that make you feel like you are the only person to have ever seen them. No trails, no signs of any other people at all. Just simply wilderness, wildlife, rivers, and fish. These special places are not easy to reach, and pay off for those who are willing to work hard to find them. This video is your shortcut to these types of places.
If you only spend 3 minutes of your day slacking off from work, spend it watching this compilation of beautiful aerial footage from Alaska. If it does not get you excited for you next fishing adventure to the 49th state, I don’t know what will.