#322 • Johnny Johnson "Mallards in the Mist", "The Ice Otter", "The Wild Bunch" 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 7:46 PM AKST

Category: Art

Six signed photographs by Alaska wildlife photographer Johnny Johnson (1947–2025). The first work is entitled "Snow Bunny" c.1991, numbered 335/950. Johnson describes the scene: “A snowshoe hare begins the color phase change from summer brown to winter white. I found this snowshoe hare in mid-October near Denali National Park. It was hiding behind a snow-covered log, feeding on willow branches. In this picture the bunny is munching away on a freshly snapped twig.” The second is an artist's proof titled "Mallards in the Mist" c.2004, an atmospheric composition of a flock of ducks taking flight through heavy, pink mist. The third photograph is titled "Sacred Ground" c.2014, numbered 385/950. Johnson describes the scene: “After months of cold and darkness, the icy grip of winter is but a distant memory. Fueled by the energy of eighteen hours of sunlight, new life explodes across the land. The cottongrass (arctic cotton) form a floral wreath around small kettle lakes-ancient relics of the last ice age-and twenty miles distant, the still ice-covered mountains of Denali preside over the unfolding spectacle.” The fourth is titled "Go Fetch" c.2012, numbered 79/950. 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 entitled "The Wild Bunch" c.2014, numbered 228/950, 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 sixth is an artist's proof entitled "The Ice Otter" c.2004. Johnson describes the scene: “Photographing wild sea otters in Prince William Sound can be a very challenging experience. Sometimes they feed on mussels amidst thick ice floes from nearby calving glaciers. A large boat cannot navigate these shallow ice-choked areas so I used a rubber inflatable to get in close. Maneuvering around razor-sharp pieces of ice in a small inflatable craft while trying to balance a thirteen pound 600mm lens is very tricky and more than a little risky. Fortunately for me my risk was rewarded with this wonderful photograph of sea otter eating a mussel while floating amongst the 'bergy bits' of ice.” All pieces are signed and dated in gold leaf ink in the lower left or right corner. The photographs are 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 each measures approximately 11.5" x 14.5".