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Homer by Mike Criss

Captured during a quiet morning departure from Homer, Alaska, this photograph documents a serendipitous encounter with a float plane resting in the stillness of the landscape. Having spent the weekend documenting eagles, the photographer was struck by the ethereal atmosphere of the scene, prompting an immediate creative response to the light and setting. The image is award-worthy for its ability to transform a routine moment of travel into a magical, evocative narrative, showcasing the unique intersection of human machinery and the raw, untamed beauty of the Alaskan wilderness.

Homer by Mike Criss
Copyright Β© Mike Criss
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Mike Criss

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Mike Criss is an Alaskan Photographer based in Wasilla, Alaska. He travels extensively throughout the state to capture its wonder and beauty. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="145"] Mike Criss[/caption] Camera Gear: Canon EOS 40D Current Location: Wasilla, Alaska, USA Website: http://www.akphotograph.com Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alaska48 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/akphotograph Twitter: http://twitter.com/akphotograph Best Achievements & Exhibitions: Light & Composition Photo of the Day Award Some of Mike Criss’s Most Popular Award Achievements [srp srp_widget_title='' thumbnail_height="72" srp_filter_cat_option='7' srp_number_post_option='2' tags_include="mike-criss" srp_wdg_excerpt_length='160' srp_post_date_option='no' post_random="yes" srp_thumbnail_option='yes' string_break="..."

Current Location Wasilla, USA
Profile View Full Profile
15.3/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
512/500
SHARE
SUBMISSION
Award Reach | Reviews
22,330 views | 5 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date July 10, 2010
74.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 14.0
Clarity 14.0
Composition 18.0
Style 14.0
Skill 14.0
Photograph Location
Homer, Alaska, The United States

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Artistic Photography
Mike Criss Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (15.1/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
5.0/5 points
2,368/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
22,330/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.1/5 points
1/100 Review
Submissions
5.0/5 points
512/500 Submission
Jury Score: 74.0/80
Resonance Score: 15.1/20
Total Award Score: 89.1/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 4

Isabelle Fontenay Colour Harmony, Tone & Atmospheric Light Expert Review
The palette here evokes a Morandi stillness, where the grey of the Alaskan mist bleeds into the pale, oxidized silver of the float plane’s fuselage, creating a chromatic suspension that I find utterly intoxicating. It’s not merely a scene; it’s a symphony of desaturated teals and slate, where the cold, biting air seems to cling to the metal, whispering of a quiet, lonely departure that’s etched itself permanently into my own weary, wandering heart.
Clara Whitfield Award Criteria, Legacy & What Makes an Image Endure Expert Review
Most Alaskan landscapes I’ve reviewed this year rely on aggressive saturation to force awe. Mike’s work avoids that trap. The float plane’s stillness against the muted, silver-grey water creates a quiet tension that feels honest. It’s not just a travel shot; it’s a meditation on isolation. I’ll admit, the way the mist swallows the horizon makes me feel lonely in the best possible way. That’s why it’ll endure long after the digital noise fades.
Dmitri Kasakov Contrast, Shadow Drama & the Metaphysics of Light Expert Review
The float plane doesn't merely sit upon the water; it anchors the void. Criss captures the Alaskan morning not as a landscape, but as a threshold where the machine’s cold metal meets the encroaching, silent dark. I’ve stared at these shadows until my eyes ached, feeling the weight of that stillness. It’s a haunting, heavy silence. When light retreats, the truth remains. Here, the darkness isn't emptyβ€”it’s where the plane finally learns to exist.
Thomas Hargreaves Earned Photographs, Craft Discipline & the Long Wait Expert Review
It’s a pleasant enough morning in Homer, though one wonders if the photographer simply stumbled upon the plane while packing the car. The composition is tidy, yet it lacks the grit of a long vigil. I’ve spent enough freezing dawns in Alaska to know that stillness isn't always serendipity; it’s usually a reward for shivering in the mud. It’s a pretty shot, certainly, but I’m left wanting the evidence of a harder day’s work.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Sven Lindqvist

The Weight of Departure

There is a specific silence that belongs to the edge of the water. It is not the absence of sound, but the presence of a waiting. We leave things behindβ€”a house, a name, the certainty of solid groundβ€”and we step into the grey.

Read the reflection →
By Priya Kapoor

The Salt on the Skin

The air in the north has a specific bite, a sharp, metallic tang that clings to the back of the throat like cold iron. I remember the sensation of wool against my neck, damp with the mist that rolls off the water, heavy and grey.

Read the reflection →

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