Mount Susitna is a wonderful feature of the Anchorage cityscape. Also known as the Sleeping Lady for the way its silhouette, well, resembles a sleeping lady, it's visible from practically anywhere in the city. It's so close that newcomers (myself included) often mistake it for Denali because it looks as big as we seem to think the largest mountain in North America should look.
I'm especially fond of Mt Susitna near the equinoxes because the sun sets behind the mountain, casting gorgeous silhouettes. However, it's hard to get a real appreciation for the mountain unless you get outside of the city a bit. I managed to do just that on my hike to Wolverine Peak. The trail offers spectacular views of the city and the angle is just right to catch the Sleeping Lady watching over Anchorage. I love the view so much that this very nearly became the masthead for this summer over on Life in a Northern Town. Alas, it's a real challenge for something that is allegedly sleeping to portray the same joi de vivre exhibited by Sienna, so Susitna was barely edged out of place. Better luck next time to the Sleeping Lady.
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One of the things I love about this photo is that it could have only been taken in September. Since Alaska is at such a high latitude, the place in the sky that the sun rises (and sets) changes dramatically as the length of the days waxes and wanes. The equinoxes are prettymuch the only time the sun rises in the east (forget that normal sun behavior you learned as a kid, that knowledge doesn't apply in Alaska!), but of course this couldn't have been taken in March -- just look at the leaves and the lack of snow! Anyway, I took this on the grey morning of September 14th, 2006, just as the sun had peeked over the Chugach Mountains and had set alight the fog that had settled over the city. My vantage point was Earthquake Park and downtown Anchorage is visible in the left side of the photo.
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There are far more photogenic things in Portland than I could ever possibly hope to photograph. The first scene was found in the suburb of Vancouver, Washington (where I used to live), and I came across the other two on the campus of the University of Portland.
View the remainder of "Urban Portland"
I miss downtown Portland for so many reasons: great people, great music shops, and the world's definitive bookstore. Not least of these reasons is its photogenicity. There is always a lot going on, which keeps the scenery interesting, and it has a lot of characteristics that are unique to the city. In tribute, I'm sharing some images I captured on two separate trips to this thriving area.
View the remainder of "Playgrounds of Portland"
