February 22nd

The sun is beginning to show its face again.

The sunset from Beluga Point, along Turnagain Arm

I hear that during the month of February we gain up to a half an hour of sunlight a week.

The path of the star is much how I remember it a year ago today. At about the middle of its cycle during its journey to the ends of the earth.

It is a year today that I have been a resident of Alaska. I feel strange knowing that I've been here for a full year.

For most of my time here I've considered myself "new"; in many respects. How long should I consider this? I still think that I am new to news, but perhaps not to Alaska. I find myself being more educated about the politics and whom to speak with for which story at work. It's nice. I feel like I am able to do my job better, which of course makes me happy.

In my original thoughts upon choosing Alaska and KTUU as a place to move my life, I wanted to be here for two years, gain experience work-wise, enjoy the state and move on. However given the year that I have had here, I believe I will be here longer than just the two years. Even as I type that statement I think about how much I miss the people from my life in New England. I really miss my family, Suzy, Paul, Mike, Tim...

Knowing that Alyssa & Tim, and Marianne are coming to visit in July is comforting, as is planning my trip home in the fall. With those thoughts I am able to focus on several goals that I have for myself during this next year.

Before I look at my current/future goals I want to revisit a goal that I made for myself when I first moved here. That goal was to have a story on the station's "Station of the Year" tape. This is for the Best of Photojournalism contest through the NPPA and Poynter. I am glad to say that footage that I shot made it into two stories that are on that tape. That makes me feel like I am growing as a photographer and that I am able to help contribute to the success of our staff. We should know next Friday how we did in that contest...

Leyla and I working on a story out at the Russian River, on the Kenai Peninsula

Covering then-Senator Ted Stevens through the night of the primary in Alaska. Several weeks later I would find myself alongside Jill Burke covering his federal corruption trial. *ADN photo

Lori Tipton pretending for the camera that she is holding me and my camera in her hand. Picture taken while we were on Gravina Island, getting footage of the infamous "Road to Nowhere", affecting Ketchikan.

My goal for the next year here is to continue to grow as a photojournalist. To become far better, to contribute to the team effort on more levels, to take more chances and to be a better storyteller.

To give the people's stories justice.

To be fair.

To gain more experience and to learn from those experiences.

That has, by far, been my biggest frustration with my work: my lack of experience.

I am one of the least experienced news photographers on staff and it bothers me to no end. I wish that I could be as good a photographer as Zac, or as Eric, or as Shawn, or as Scott. I know that I need to give myself time, but that is just so hard for me to take. I know that I am a better photographer than what I have been producing, but don't know what it is that is different about me.

My dirty mug after shooting a "Day Trippin'" story about ATV tours. Reporter was Angela Blanchard and shot near the Eklutna River between Anchorage and the Valley. *photo by Angela Blanchard

Trying to keep my eyes open while en route in a helicopter over Denali National Park to shoot video of an area where two hikers had been missing for several days. The hikers were found in good condition, albeit hungry, after approximately five days missing in the wilderness.

That's my goal: to learn what I am doing differently that is not giving me the results that I yearn. To be a far better photographer than I am at this moment.

The airplane I just departed from on a trip to Cordova, to cover the reaction of residents there in response to the Supreme Court decision regarding the Exxon-Valdez oil spill lawsuit.

Shooting footage of the infamous "Road to Nowhere" on Gravina Island, near Ketchikan *photo by Lori Tipton

Gathering some footage of Juneau homes. *photo by Lori Tipton

Self-portrait with Mendenhaal Glacier in the background, in Juneau.

Rebecca Palsha and I on a fishing boat charter covering a story about a fishing tournament for veterans. Both of us became extremely sea-sick. Not one of my finer moments.

Covering the All-Alaska Sweepstakes sleddog race out of Nome. *photo by John Carpenter

A few of the turbines at the Kotzebue wind farm.

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As for my personal life, I have not made many friends. Not many at all. I really enjoy hanging out with Lori & Bob, Zac & Leyla, Jason, Ted, Jim and a few others from work. But outside of that group, I don't really have friends. I've met several great people from the softball teams I was a player on. I'm looking forward to getting together with those teams again this summer - if they want/need me.

Maybe I'll get the "friendship balls" to become more social. That's part of my problem. I haven't wanted to put myself out there. It's like it's too much work. I already have friends from back home that I know and trust and have a history with. The people here I'm starting from scratch with. Not that there aren't good people here, but the effort on my part just is not there.

But then I can contradict myself and say, 'well, if I plan to be here for several-plus years, then I had better put myself out there and begin long-term friendships with people'. Ah, carolyn... The mental positions you put yourself in...

Thanksgiving at Lori & Bob's. Picture of Lori, myself and Leyla. *picture by Zac Gooch (?)

Bob & Mark's Anniversary party at Blues Central. Pictured are (L to R): Ted, Jason, Lori, Bob, myself, Scott, Leyla and Zac. *picture taken by ?

During the night of Bob & Mark's Anniversary party at Blues Central. Leyla, Lori and myself. *picture by ?

So I should probably make that another goal of mine for this next year of mine in Alaska: to be more social.

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Continuing along with my personal life, my boyfriend is a topic that I have purposefully neglected to talk about much on my blog. Given the circumstances we desire to be private much of the time. With that in consideration:

Scott is the most amazing person that I have ever known personally. And our relationship is certainly the healthiest and happiest that I have ever been in. We have so much fun together, whether it be just hanging out at his condo relaxing over a beer, or falling asleep to a movie at my apartment, or sharing mini-vacations away from Anchorage creating life-long memories together in little, cozy cabins in the middle of the wilderness. We have so much in common and can practically finish each others sentences. We are in pretty constant and fluent communications with each other, so there is no game-playing. We share our thoughts and feelings, and are the better for it.

Scott and I during our brief paddle boat trip during our stay near Seward.

A nice overlook along the Seward Highway between Anchorage and Seward.

He helps to make me a better person. He tolerates me and my moods, and when I get riled up...he actually enjoys it when I am riled up. I think that's because he sees that I am passionate about certain things in life. Scott is a very passionate person as well, and that is one of the most redeeming qualities about him that I love.

It's an ironic story how things worked out that we ended up dating. And one that I'll wait for a future post to describe.

Scott and I visiting Exit Glacier
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The two of us in Seward
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Susitna River Lodge, Talkeetna
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Artic Valley, Anchorage

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Louie is still faring well. He has become more complacent and mellow since our arrival. Definitely not as rambunctious as he was in the bungalow. I kinda miss that actually. That was part of his personality, and I suppose with age that is beginning to fade...not that he's that old, because he's not. But I'm sure a lot of it is because he doesn't have a lot of stimulation around him here. He used to have Molly and Zoe to pounce around with, but nothing of the sort here.

Louie just recently had a visit to the veterinarian. He is fit and healthy. I must be doing something right!!

Louie

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As a mini-celebration for myself for my one-year anniversary I took a walk on the coastal trail and drove out along Turnagain Arm to Beluga Point to watch the sunset.

Alaska truly is magnificent.






Temperature update: 11 degrees in Anchorage; 31 degrees in Whitman
Sunrise/set update: 8:17a/6:10p in Anchorage; 6:28a/5:27p in Whitman