Pat Clayton, an incredibly talented photographer who specializes in capturing underwater pictures of fish in their natural environments, spent his summer chasing trout, char and salmon, trying not to get eaten by a bear, and in general exploring the splendor of one of the world's last great wildernesses in Bristol Bay, Alaska. We spend a lot of time writing about and featuring photos from Bristol Bay. That's partially because it is a preposterously fishy and breathtakingly beautiful place that begs to be talked about, but also because it remains under threat by those that seek to put the short-term benefits of copper and gold mining above the wholly renewable, still abundant, economy and culture driving resource that is Bristol Bay's wild salmon.
According to Pat, his mission in heading to Bristol Bay this summer, was to "share [Bristol Bay] by photographing the watershed, landscape, and fish, and to capture compelling images of what we are fighting to save." And, if the early glimpses of what Pat has produced are any indication, he's accomplished just that. Later this year we'll be sharing a lengthy collection of Pat's work in Alaska. For now, here's a teaser of what's to come.
