Don Pitcher's Blog

Stefanie and Jason’s Wedding

Don Pitcher — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:18:00 +0000

Stefanie and Jason were married at Hatcher Pass, Alaska on 31 July 2010. Find their wedding photos at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/stefanie-jason and on Facebook.

Danielle and Ian’s Wedding

Don Pitcher — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:11:22 +0000

Danielle and Ian were married in Homer, Alaska on 3 July 2010. Find their wedding photos at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/danielle-ian and on Facebook.

Kaity and Owen’s Wedding

Don Pitcher — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:57:24 +0000

Kaity and Owen were married at Homer, Alaska on 26 June 2010. Find wedding photos at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/kaity-owen and on Facebook.

MaryAnne and Dave’s Wedding

Don Pitcher — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:14:51 +0000

MaryAnne and Dave were married at Otter Cove Resort near Homer, Alaska on 19 June 2010. Find wedding photos at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/maryanne-dave.

Carly and Ty’s Wedding

Don Pitcher — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:07:32 +0000

Carly and Ty were married at Tutka Bay Lodge near Homer, Alaska on 22 May 2010. Find wedding photos at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/carly-ty.

Amy and Carson’s Wedding

Don Pitcher — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:34:57 +0000

Amy and Carson were married at Land’s End Resort in Homer, Alaska on 17 April 2010. Find photos from their wedding at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/amy-carson.

Submersible Robots

Don Pitcher — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:12:39 +0000

I joined the 6th grade class from McNeil Canyon Elementary School today as they tested their underwater robots at the Homer pool. These robots are surprisingly simple, consisting of a battery and controller connected to three sealed motors, with a support structure made from plastic pipes and insulation (for flotation). The class was divided into [...]

McNeil School Fieldtrip

Don Pitcher — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:34:04 +0000

Last week was a busy one at McNeil Canyon Elementary School. I went along as a chaperone on teacher Sheryl Sotelo's 6th grade class trip to the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai, followed by playtime at the Nikiski Pool. Find a sampling of photos from that trip at www.donpitcher.com/challenger. [...]

New Facebook Pages!

Don Pitcher — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:04:04 +0000

I have recently added two new Facebook pages, both of which are accessible even if you're not a member of this increasingly popular social networking site. Please visit Don Pitcher Photography on Facebook for a small sampling of my wedding and nature photography, links to recent weddings, gallery locations, and contact information. Also check out Don Pitcher's Travel Guidebooks on Facebook [...]

Finding a Wedding Photographer

Don Pitcher — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:03:47 +0000

I just returned from exhibiting at last weekend's big Anchorage Wedding Fair, an exceptionally popular event that attracts hundreds of brides-to-be, along with smaller numbers of husbands-to-be. This year's event, held at the beautiful Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center, was packed with wedding vendors—from DJs and florists to caterers and officiants [...]

A Few of My Favorite Photo Websites

Don Pitcher — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:46:09 +0000

Being a professional photographer these days is vastly different from the past. The transition from film and darkrooms to digital images and computers can be overwhelming, even for those of us who are reasonably tech-savvy. Years ago the pace of change was slow, with new films showing up every few years and a gradual evolution [...]

Boat Mail to Little Tutka

Don Pitcher — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:11:24 +0000

Several years ago I discovered one of the more unique aspects of Kachemak Bay: boat mail. A longtime friend of ours, Dave Seaman, spent many years living on the “wild side” of Kachemak Bay in the picturesque cove named Little Tutka Bay. While there, he received the post office contract to deliver mail and packages [...]

Fire and Ice

Don Pitcher — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:08:30 +0000

Winter has finally arrived in Homer, Alaska, and that means ice, snow, and fun outdoors. The freezing of Beluga Lake in the heart of town transforms this relatively shallow lake into a winter playground. When conditions are right, the lake is a favorite destination for ice skaters, and later for cars, providing an opportunity to [...]

Megan and Jan’s Wedding

Don Pitcher — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:50:13 +0000

You can view photos from their wedding at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/megan-jan.

Find more wedding photos in their online wedding album at www.donpitcher.com/megan-jan.

Burning Basket 2009

Don Pitcher — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:08:43 +0000

It may not have the fame of Nevada's Burning Man Festival, but Homer, Alaska's annual Burning Basket has become a not-to-be-missed September event. Timed to coincide with the autumnal equinox, Burning Basket is the product of artist Mavis Muller, who has been creating these 10-foot-wide baskets since 2004. Each year brings a new creation and a new topic [...]

Lisa and Rich’s Wedding

Don Pitcher — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:10:09 +0000

Lisa and Rich were married at Driftwood Inn on 8 August 2009.

You can view photos from their wedding at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/lisa-rich.

Find more wedding photos in their online wedding album at www.donpitcher.com/lisa-rich

Keeping the Public in Public Radio

Don Pitcher — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 06:06:13 +0000

When I first came to Alaska in the 1980s I was struck by the importance of public radio in this still-wild state. Unlike the rest of the nation where corporate stations completely control the airwaves, Alaska has NPR stations from Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska, to Barrow on the North Slope, and west to Dillingham, Nome, [...]

Melody and Mike’s Wedding

Don Pitcher — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:03:49 +0000

Melody and Mike were married at Land's End Resort in Homer, Alaska on 2 August 2009

You can view photos from their wedding at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/melody-mike.

Susan and Steve’s Wedding

Don Pitcher — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:14:53 +0000

Susan and Steve were married at China Poot Bay near Homer, Alaska on 27 July 2009.

You can view photos from their wedding at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/susan-steve.

Emilia and Benjamin’s Wedding

Don Pitcher — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:40:33 +0000

You can view photos from their wedding at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/emilia-benjamin.

Find more wedding photos in their online wedding album at www.donpitcher.com/emilia-benjamin.

Melissa and Dan’s Wedding

Don Pitcher — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:56:11 +0000

Melissa and Dan were married at A Memorable Experience B&B in Homer, Alaska on 24 July 2009.

You can view photos from their wedding at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/melissa-dan.

Biking Red Mountain

Don Pitcher — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:43:21 +0000

The last weekend of July was gloriously sunny in Homer, perfect for a trip to the wild side of Kachemak Bay. Six of us headed across by boat to the dock in Jackalof Bay. A gravel road leads 10 miles west from here to the quaint village of Seldovia, but we were interested in a more [...]

Alissa and Nate’s Wedding

Don Pitcher — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:13:55 +0000

Alissa and Nate were married at St. John's Catholic Church in Homer, Alaska on 4 July 2009.

You can view photos from their wedding at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/alissa-nate.

Find more wedding photos in their online wedding album at www.donpitcher.com/alissa-nate.

Talkeetna Tangent

Don Pitcher — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:29:10 +0000

If Alaskans had to pick one town that best mirrors the state's quirky image, Talkeetna would win in a landslide. Located off the Parks Highway 115 miles north of Anchorage, this hamlet (population 750 or so) was the inspiration for two TV shows: "Northern Exposure" and the more recent "Men and Trees." It's easy to [...]

Chrissy and Mike’s Wedding

Don Pitcher — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:21:50 +0000

Chrissy and Mike were married at Bishops Beach in Homer, Alaska on 12 June 2009.

You can view photos from their wedding at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/chrissy-mike.

Megan and Travis’ Wedding

Don Pitcher — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:14:36 +0000

Megan and Travis were married in Homer, Alaska at Driftwood Inn on 6 June 2009.

You can view photos from their wedding at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/megan-travis.

Find more wedding photos in their online wedding album at www.donpitcher.com/megan-travis.

Cara and Adrian’s wedding

Don Pitcher — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:36:19 +0000

p style="text-align: center;">Cara and Adrian were married at their Homer, Alaska homestead on 19 June 2009.

You can view photos from their wedding at www.donpitcher.printroom.com/cara-adrian.

Find more wedding photos in their online wedding album at www.donpitcher.com/cara-adrian.

Kidding Around in Seward, Alaska

Don Pitcher — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:33:25 +0000

I recently visited the town of Seward as part of my Moon Alaska book update, but this time with my family in tow. Because of its location 125 miles south of Anchorage, this Kenai Peninsula town is a favorite weekend retreat for Anchorageites. As the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad, and the end (or starting) point for many Alaskan cruises [...]

Building a “Motor” Bike

Don Pitcher — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:04:43 +0000

When I was young, my brothers and I lived on our clunker bikes all summer. One of our best discoveries was the old "motorcycle" trick where we would use clothespins to attach playing cards to the frame and forks. The cards made a fantastic roaring sound as they caught on the spokes.

Going Dutch

Don Pitcher — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:36:56 +0000

Made famous (sort of) in the Deadliest Catch TV show, the town of Unalaska/Dutch Harbor lies far out on the fringe of Alaska. But unlike other remote Alaskan destinations (Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue, Barrow, Yakutat, and etc.) you won't find a quiet little Native community surrounded by wilderness in all directions. Dutch Harbor is all about commercial fishing [...]

30,000 Wooden Pallets!

Don Pitcher — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:04:41 +0000

Okay, this topic is rather obscure. I've been in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor updating my Moon Alaska book the last few days and was struck by the industrial character of America's busiest fishing port. Despite its location on a remote Aleutian island, the town itself violates all your notions of Alaska [...]

Hubbard Glacier on the Move (Again)

Don Pitcher — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:34:46 +0000

North of Yakutat within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, spectacular Hubbard Glacier is North America's largest tidewater glacier. Fed by the high mountains of the St. Elias Range, the glacier is six miles wide and more than 70 miles long. Many cruise ships make a stop in front of this massive glacier with an always-calving 400-foot-high wall of ice [...]

Discovering Yakutat

Don Pitcher — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:18:04 +0000

Over the last 28 years, I've explored many corners of Alaska, but one town always seems to be on my didn't-quite-get-there list: Yakutat. I was finally able to spend a three gloriously sunny days in Yakutat this May. (Prior to this, I'd only seen the town as long as the Alaska Air jet was on the runway [...]

Flying the Combi

Don Pitcher — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:45:41 +0000

Anyone who flies Alaska Airlines around the state will sooner or later find themselves stuffed into a 737-400 Combi, a jet you aren't likely to encounter outside Alaska. To my knowledge, Alaska is the only carrier in the world flying people and freight this way. I flew from Anchorage to Ketchikan today while researching the new edition of Moon Alaska and found myself onboard this unique aircraft [...]

McNeil Canyon Spring Music Celebration 2009

Don Pitcher — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:04:01 +0000

Last night was the spring music concert at McNeil Canyon Elementary School with an all-star cast of kids, from the kindergarten Celtic dance number to the 6th graders' rap version of pie. It was a packed house of family and friends, ending with principal Swanson getting hit with a pie. For a sampling of photos from the production, visit www.donpitcher.com/mcneilspring [...]

Pushki (a.k.a. Cow Parsnip)

Don Pitcher — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:04:17 +0000

This tall flowering plant grows abundantly across the Kenai Peninsula (and elsewhere in Alaska and the Lower 48 states). Most folks outside Southcentral Alaska know the plant by the name cow parsnip.

Ziza’s Pushki Tower (Without a Doubt the World’s Tallest)

Don Pitcher — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:41:01 +0000

After collecting several hundred pushki stalks, Ziza modeled the tower after the technique used in radio towers, with three pieces of pushkie forming a triangle. She glued these together and then attached the triangles to the three legs by drilling holes and putting wire through them. We added guy wires (heavy string) at several points [...]

Rio’s Pushki Boat

Don Pitcher — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:46:32 +0000

Rio’s science fair project used the stems of pushki (cow parsnip) to build his favorite object, a boat. First he collected a couple hundred stalks from fields around our house. After breaking off the tops, we bundled them together with heavy string to form the pontoons. Then we built a very simple platform from wood. [...]