#355 • Johnny Johnson "In the Land of Giants", "First Light" & "Spirit of Denali" 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 7:57 PM AKST

Category: Art

Three signed photographs by Alaska wildlife photographer Johnny Johnson (1947–2025). The first work is entitled "In the Land of Giants," c.2007, numbered 66/950. Johnson describes the scene: “Few sights are more memorable than a face-to-face encounter with a monster grizzly. Standing over eight feet tall, my 600mm lens only magnified the bear's power and my own sense of vulnerability and awe. Weighing in excess of a thousand pounds, these huge males keep to themselves and are rarely seen. Since I was downwind, the bear couldn't catch my scent and stood, nostrils flaring. I spoke to him in a calm tone. "Hey, big bear. Hey, big bear...... Hey, big bear". I kept talking as he dropped to all fours and slowly ambled away.” The second photograph is entitled "First Light," c.1995, numbered 787/950. Johnson describes the scene: “The first rays of morning light illuminate a bull caribou and the North face of Mt. McKinley, Denali National Park-Alaska. Up before dawn, I awaited sunrise at my favorite location above Wonder Lake near Ansel Adams Point. For over twenty years I have photographed Mt. McKinley. This mountain hardly ever disappoints me.” The third photograph is "Spirit of Denali," c.1985, numbered 908/950. Johnson describes the scene: “After being out of print for over a decade, I have decided to release the remaining two hundred numbers of "Spirit of Denali". Taken with my 300mm lens near Thorofare Pass, I have always loved the power, color and sheer scale of this once-in-a-lifetime shot. The bull caribou is at about 4,000 feet in elevation approximately twenty miles from Mt. McKinley and almost 16,000 feet lower than the north peak (19,470). The south peak (true summit 20,320') is obscured by storm clouds. Climbers follow the Muldrow glacier (lower right) up Karstens Ridge (left of Great Harper glacier & icefall) to the summit. The temperature difference between the mountain's peak and this caribou could top 100 Fahrenheit.” All 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 largest measures approximately 24.5" x 20.5".