#281 • Johnny Johnson "Courage", "The Wild Bunch" & "Sea Wolf" Photographs

Part of The Johnny Johnson Estate Auction (timed auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

Starting at $5.00

Status: Available

Bidding closes Nov 3, 2026 7:33 PM AKST

Category: Art

Three signed photographs by Alaska wildlife photographer Johnny Johnson (1947–2025). The first work is entitled "Courage," c.1997, numbered 159/950. Johnson describes the scene: “The strength and tenacity of the Eskimo sled-dog is legendary. These dogs played a crucial role in helping early man inhabit the arctic. They were high valued not only as pack animals but for their hunting ability and their courage. The polar bear in this photo encountered that legendary bravery the day it tried to steal food from a dog yard near a remote arctic village. The stand off between the polar bear and sled-dog happened quickly and ended without injury. The bear was unwilling to risk a wound and left the area.” The second is entitled "The Wild Bunch", c.2014, numbered 50/950. Johnson describes the scene: “In the world of momma grizzlies, bringing three youngsters into their second summer is a real success story. Now mom must teach her rowdy yearling triplets how to find food, how to cross a river, and where to dig a den. Of course, there is still time for fun. The triplets favorite game was 'king of the hill' using mom as the mountain-a real hoot to watch!” The third is "Sea Wolf", c.2002, numbered 11/950. Johnson describes the scene: “Orcas or killer whales have a social structure much like a pack of wolves. The large male in this photo, taken near the southern tip of Admiralty Island in Southeast Alaska, was the leader of a group of about ten whales. My wife and I were able to observe the pack hunting for salmon and actually saw them take a seal and later a sea otter. It was fascinating to watch them hunting within ten feet of land and cooperatively encircle their prey before making a kill. In this image the Orca whale is traveling very close to shore and the spruce tree covered mountains are reflected in the ocean which explains the marvelous patterns of green in the blue water. The spray is created when the whale exhales upon surfacing in preparation to take another deep breath of air before diving.” All three are signed, dated, and numbered in gold leaf ink and printed on Fuji Crystal Archive Supergloss paper. The photographs are shrink-wrapped on board; the larger measures approximately 16.5" x 24.5".