Field Notes

Stories Behind the Images

Photography is more than the moment the shutter clicks — it’s the journey, the patience, the wild places, and the encounters that lead to that single frame. Field Notes is where we share the stories behind the photographs: the salmon-fed rivers, the quiet encounters in the rainforest, the storms at sea, and the unforgettable wildlife moments that shape our work in Southeast Alaska.

Heather Kiesel Heather Kiesel

Sentinels of the Sky

Above the salmon-choked rivers, bald eagles circle patiently. Their movements are deliberate — an aerial ballet of patience and precision.

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Heather Kiesel Heather Kiesel

Force of Nature

The sea was restless that morning — gray skies, heavy wind, and waves breaking against the bow. And then, without warning, a humpback whale exploded from the water.

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Heather Kiesel Heather Kiesel

A Guy, a Girl, and a Plane

Many of these images exist because of one thing: access. My husband, Ed, is both pilot and partner in this work — flying us to remote coastlines…

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Every photograph has a story — and every story is part of a larger conversation about wild places and the need to protect them. Follow along as we continue documenting the lives, landscapes, and fragile balance of Southeast Alaska.

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