Does that sound insane ? ha ha Yes I bet it does, but that is what I was faced with.. .. .. "the ultimate challenge"

60 rolls of Vericolor professional type S film, frozen!

It is only becuase I have been developing color film for quite a long time, that I was comfortable doing or attempting this.

My name is David, I am new here. I am originally from Boston. My photographs are of Alaska, in particular, Eskimos from Point Hope alaska. The oldest continuall inhabittedl settlment of village in ALL OF NORTH AMERICA.

Life can accuratelly be traced back to many thousands of years, to this one tiny spot of land.



I live in a very small Eskimo whaling community or village of only 700 people. The bowhead whale is our lifestyle, and we hunt and live off the land, sea, and air.

Out on the ocean ice pack for two months, this is where we live. "Home sweet frozen home"!

Hello and welcome, David! What brings you from Boston to Alaska? That is more than a life style shift.

James

Well Boston is a great place .. .. to leave!

Too many people, too much traffic, noise etc.
I went to work on the trans alaska pipeline in 1977, I cried when I had to leave Prudhoe Bay and go back to Boston, 1981, I flew back to Alaska and stayed. I was working at the airport in anchorage as a foreman and they sent me up to this tiny eskimo village, for just THREE WEEKS. when the job finished, I quit the company and stayed.! I have been honored to have been invited on 5 whale hunts with the Eskimo's of Point Hope Alaska.

I have a collection of images that is UNSURPASSED by anything that exists in the ENTIRE STATE.

and yes! I had to melt snow to obtain the necessary precious water, to mix chemicals (Kodak C41) and print the images (Kodak EP2). That required six months work just to get all that snow melted, it was filthy, yellowish, with soot, hairs from animals, etc. 25 years later these 6 x 7 negatives are in pristine condition

http://majikimaje.com/dellafay.jpg

"I went to work on the trans alaska pipeline in 1977, I cried when I had to leave Prudhoe Bay and go back to Boston, 1981, I flew back to Alaska and stayed."

There was a PBS special on the Alaskan Pipeline recently. It looks like quite a feat of engineering. As someone who lives there now (as a result of the piplein), how have you find that the pipeline has affected yours and other's lives 30 years later?

James

The Pipeline has provided thousands of jobs for Alaska residents and for people all over the country. I have worked from one end (Prudhoe Bay) to the other end 800 miles away (Valdez) and all of the pump stations in between. It is / was good work, the best food you will ever eat at those construction camps, They don't hire cooks, they hire "chefs" and the food is 5 stars!

The scenery is just indescribeable and something that must be seen to be appreciated. Alsaks is such a vast land with many cultures.

Even though I am happily retired, I miss the days of working in Prudhoe Bay, harsh climate, never ending wind.

It is a challenge to work at sub zero temps in such a harsh climate. Something I fell in love with in the far north regions of Alaska.

http://majikimaje.com/eatsnow.jpg

Childrern chasing a bowhead whale on Easter sunday
http://majikimaje.com/bath.jpg

That second shot is just beautiful. You caught the children perfectly.

Thanks for being patient with my questions about the work that you did on the pipeline. I know that it is not at all photography related, but I developed a bit of an interest after I saw the special that was done on PBS.

James

Well the Trans-Alaska-Pipeline TAPS is one incredible feat of engineering.There were some mighty tough challenges to overcome. 800 miles of 4 foot diameter pipe, stainless steel. I can answer anything you have / want to know about that pipeline, I have spent many years working on that system as a foreman and worker and General foreman.

The pay sucks compared to what it used to be, but the 7 sisters (oil companies) got screwed during the initial construction, too much THEFT. WAY TOO MUCH DRUGS, and the parties were non-stop. People went to work to "rest"!

http://majikimaje.com/Tuz1.jpg