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Alaska John Schwieder lives in Durango, Colorado, his base to pursue wildlife, landscape and adventure photography. In addition to being a photographer and writer, John works part time as a flight paramedic and has had previous careers as a Denali climbing guide and Alaskan commercial fisherman. John is an avid climber, kayaker, canoeist and backcountry skier. His favorite places for adventure and photography include the wild landscapes of the North including Canada and Alaska. In addition to fine art prints John's photography, and writings, have been published in Alaska Geographic, Milepost, Inside / Outside, and Paddler magazines. Artist's Statement: Nestled in the Northeast corner of Alaska, bordering the Arctic Ocean and Canada sits the last protected wild piece of Arctic America, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The refuge encompasses rocky summits of the Brooks Range, and the coastal plain stretching from the mountains to the Beaufort Sea. 1.5 million acres, about 8%, on the coastal plain is under consideration for oil development. Over 200 species of animals concentrate on the plain, --considered the biological heart of the Refuge-- polar bears den and give birth, musk ox roam windswept river edges foraging for willows and the Porcupine caribou herd, after traveling over 400 miles in the spring, calves and nurses it ’s young here. Having spent three months in the Arctic Refuge, I’ve been given a privileged glimpse into an area many consider Americas ultimate wilderness. Through that glimpse so came the desire, the responsibility, to share what I have seen. I hope through my photographs to bring attention to the ongoing debate in Congress over the fate of the Refuge, to keep the area from oil exploration, and ultimately, to see this important area receive the permanently protective wilderness status it deserves.
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