alaska with MIKE “BUCK” BOWDEN

My friendship with Mike “Buck” Bowden has had a lasting influence on my connection to Alaska and the way I approach photographing wild places. Buck has spent decades living and working in the Alaskan wilderness as a guide, trapper, naturalist, photographer, and craftsman known for his hand-turned burl bowls. His life is closely tied to the land and the seasons, and hearing about his experiences—often over many cups of coffee—sparked my own curiosity about the North.

Those conversations eventually led me to make several trips to Alaska. Spending time there, and seeing the landscape through Buck’s knowledge and perspective, deepened my appreciation for the patience and awareness that wilderness demands. It also shaped the way I think about photography: taking time, paying attention, and letting a place reveal itself.

When Buck began preparing his book for publication, I had the opportunity to help restore a number of his older photographs for print. Working with those images gave me a new appreciation for his artistic side. Many of the photos document animals he hunted as part of his life on the land, but they also show something deeper—moments with eagles, owls, martens, and other wildlife that reflect a genuine respect and appreciation for the creatures that share that landscape.

Our friendship has also stretched well beyond Alaska. Some of our best conversations have happened far to the south, watching the sun set at the lake or in Baja after a long day outside, coffee still close at hand. Those simple moments have been just as much a part of the friendship as the trips north.

In 2025, Buck finally published his long-awaited book together with my brother Brennen, bringing decades of his experiences in the Alaskan wilderness to the page. Being able to contribute in a small way to that process made the project especially meaningful for me, and it remains one more thread connecting our shared appreciation for wild places.