The Alaska Brown Bears presentation is a collection of photos taken by Len Johnson during a photography workshop led by Tom and Cree Bol in July 2022. This was a 7-day adventure that started in Anchorage Alaska. The 8-person group of photographers flew in Piper Cub planes to Salmon Creek Lodge in Lake Clark National Park. We landed on the beach in front of the lodge and stayed there for six days.
Each day was a new adventure as we traveled in open carts pulled by 4×4 vehicles in search of roaming bears. We also walked out on the beach behind the lodge and came within 30 yards of the mother bears strolling with their cubs. The bears were grazing on sedge grass and digging in the beach sand for clams. Even though we were extremely close to the animals, they never appeared to feel threatened by the photographers, and we also felt secure in our distance. Most often a mother bear had two or three cubs near her. Our workshop included early morning expeditions and afternoon sessions that lasted until dusk.
The trip ended with a helicopter flight to the Kink Glacier where we landed on the tundra. We debarked from the helicopter and strapped spikes to our boots to give us traction on the ice. The scene was both desolate and beautiful as we carefully walked across the ice. Actually, it felt like we were walking on the moon!
This was a “bucket list” adventure that I look forward to sharing with NVPS and hope it makes you want to experience it yourself.
BIO
After graduating with a BFA degree in graphic design from the University of Illinois, Len served three years in the U.S. Army as a photographer during the Vietnam War era. Upon completing his enlistment commitment, he joined a 3-person design firm in Washington, D.C., where he worked for seven years. He began his business career when he purchased the firm from the owner upon his retirement. Len operated his firm JDG Communications (JDG), for 30 years. JDG tripled in size and became an award-winning brand development and integrated marketing firm with national accounts. Government agencies selected his firm for high-profile federal programs, including the FTC Do-Not-Call launch campaign, the SBA Business.gov website launch, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Centennial celebration, and the rebranding of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
The growth of the business with its talented team and valuable government contracts made JDG an acquisition candidate for other integrated marketing firms in metropolitan Washington, D.C. In 2009 he sold his firm to Sage Communications (Sage).
He has been a member of NVPS since 2014 and appreciates the opportunities it provides for learning from experienced professional photographers’ presentations and competition critiques. He also values the friendships he has made through NVPS meetings and events.
