#293 • Johnny Johnson "Polar Dawn", "A Living Dall" Photographs & More

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 7:37 PM AKST

Category: Art

Six signed photographs by Alaska wildlife photographer Johnny Johnson (1947–2025). The first work is entitled "The Wild Bunch" c.2014, numbered 218/950, showing a mother bear with her three young cubs standing together at the edge of a verdant forest. 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 second photograph is an artist's proof entitled "Polar Dawn", dated 2004. Johnson describes the scene: “On the frozen plains of Cape Churchill near Canada's Hudson Bay, a family of polar bears watch the dawn. The small cubs of the year rest snugly against their protective mother - all eyes alert to the new day.” The third photograph is entitled "A Living Dall", c.1984, numbered 811/950. Johnson describes the scene: “A dall sheep ewe and lamb stand on a lichen-covered cliff in Denali National Park. I love the way the lamb perfectly mimics the stance of it's mother. You are left with the feeling that this baby will someday grow up to be just like mom.” The fourth is "Go Fetch", c.2012, numbered 68/950. Johnson describes the scene: “A smart pair of red foxes located their den fifty feet from the ranger's cabin at the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary. The foxes chose a strategic site where humans could help protect the den while they were off hunting. The six pups were hard to photograph when out of the den, they moved so quickly. My persistence paid off when I caught this single pup bringing a stick onto the den mound. The stick didn't last long.” The fifth is an artist's proof titled "Puffed Up," c.1992, numbered 17/95. Johnson describes the scene: “Perched above the Bering Sea on the side of a rock cliff, a horned puffin waits for its mate to return. Horned puffins spend most of their life at sea, coming to land in summer to breed and nest. This puffin was nesting inside a natural crevice on St. Paul Island in the Pribilof Islands.” The sixth is "Autumn Tundra", c.1981, numbered 472/950. The accompanying artist statement reads: “On a misty day in August I set out with my macro lens to capture the tundra in Denali National Park. I chanced upon an incredibly diverse patch of vegetation: bog berries, low bush cranberries, lichen moss and blueberries. The popularity of this image has led me to try and duplicate it, but I have never been able to find this particular combination of plants again.” All pieces are signed, dated, and numbered in the lower corner in gold leaf ink and printed on Fuji Crystal Archive Supergloss or Ilfochrome paper. A care guide and artist biography are included on the reverse. Each one is shrink-wrapped on board, and "Puffed Up" measures approximately 15" x 12".