A YEAR LONG PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY OF ALASKA

TO INSPIRE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION & CULTURAL PRESERVATION

 
 
 
 

Announcing the Great Alaska Project.  A documentary and fine art photography project undertaken to create a visual record of Alaska at a critical moment of its ecological and cultural history.

The first phase of photography is set to begin in June, 2026.

 

The project’s goal is the creation of a museum quality exhibition, a large format book, and a public digital archive for educational & research purposes.

 

A CALL TO ACTION

Spurred by the accelerating effects of climate change and angered by the recent decision to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, this project aims to create a sweeping body of photographs that functions both as a work of fine art and as a catalyst for wilderness conservation & Indigenous culture preservation.

  • An effect known as Arctic amplification is warming Alaska at approximately four times the global average resulting in permafrost to melt, coastal villages to erode into the sea, glaciers to retreat mile by mile, and the seasonal rhythms upon which both animal habitat and human community depend to shift in ways that are already irreversible.

  • The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest and most pristine landscapes in North America, spanning nearly 20 million acres of tundra, mountains, rivers, and coastal plain that sustain migratory caribou and the traditional life of Indigenous peoples while standing at the center of debates over climate change and oil development.

    Recent decisions by the current administration have opened vulnerable portions of ANWR to oil exploration despite decades of hard fought protection giving urgency to this project.

  • Beyond policy debates, the effects will have direct consequences to the lives of the Gwich’In Nation whose culture and existence is tied to the Porcupine caribou herd; to the commercial fishermen who ply Bristol Bay where the salmon runs are changing in range and abundance; to the Indigenous communities across Alaska who will face a very different environment than the one shared by their ancestors for millennia.

 

THE JOURNEY

This project will be a journey into the most remote regions of the country with many destinations accessible only by bush plane or boat. Subjects include the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Brooks Range, the Inuit communities along the Bering Strait, the fisheries of Bristol Bay, and the glaciers of the Inside Passage.

STUDIO IN THE FIELD

The project draws on three distinct photographic traditions that unify as a single body of work.  A waxed canvas background will be brought into the field as a unifying element creating a studio in the field in the spirit of Irving Penn & Richard Avedon.

  • landscape photography documenting the wilderness, wildlife & environment

  • portrait photography of Alaska’s Indigenous and working communities using a canvas backdrop

  • still life photography that places natural and culturally significant objects — tools, garments, artifacts — isolated against the backdrop

A medium format Phase One Achromatic Camera System will provide image files of unparalleled resolution and detail, the photography equivalent of filming in IMAX.  This highly specialized camera system will allow prints to be enlarged to mural size without loss of detail creating an engaging viewer experience.

 

FOUR SEASON STRUCTURE

The project employs four seasonal phases of field work in Alaska over the course of one year.  Each phase will last 4 to 6 weeks and span the four seasons.  The structure is designed to allow familiarity with the terrain and grant the time to build trust & understanding necessary for in-depth documentary work.

 

SUPPORT THE PROJECT

This year long project will be a resource intensive endeavor. From bush flights to wilderness guides & Inuit consultants, we are asking supporters big & small, from individuals to foundations to come together to bring this project to life. Individual donors can contribute through the link below. Thank you!

APOLIS MARKET BAG

Supporters receive an Apolis x Joshua Tree Studio market bag*. Ethically made in Bangladesh by a factory supporting working women. The navy hemp bag features leather strap handles & an embroidered Big Dipper pointing to the North Star, the state symbol of Alaska.

*Contributions of all size welcome. Donations of $200 and above will receive the market bag.

CONTRIBUTE
 

This project will be supported by a mix of individual donations, grants, and sponsors. A full proposal & budget is available. Please inquire at klein@joshuatreestudio.com