In the summer of 2005, I had a job offer from Mystique Magazine to take me to shoot in Anchorage, Alaska. Of course I would never pass up such an amazing opportunity. Our shooting time was spanned out over three days. The first day I shot in an old gold mining town. It was nestled in the forest with a stream running though it. The 2nd and 3rd days I was helicoptered onto two different glaciers to shoot. I must say that the second day of shooting was my coldest shoot ever. It was very hard not to look like I was in pain. The wind was blowing over the glacier across the water and hitting me while I was laying on the rock wearing nothing but medal. The third day was at a higher altitude but thank goodness no breeze that day. I actually was getting a sun tan while I shooting. I must say that I fell in love with Alaska. Never had I seen such beauty in nature untouched and so pristine. The vastness of the mountains and wildlife was overwhelming. I thought I could definitely live there in the summer months when it is nice and cool but not too cold. During this time too the sun only sets real late and rises early. In my opinion though it never really gets dark but stays at a constant dusk-like haze at night. This definitely messes with your sleep. I slept less but I was never tired. It was weird to get used to this lack of time recognition. I was lucky to get a chance to visit a nature preserve while I was there. I love zoos and preserves and I often choose these places to go on my travels. The last day while in Alaska I joined the crew for a day-cruise to see the glaciers. The boat gets real close to the glaciers and you are able to see large chunks of ice break from the main glacier called calving. I also spotted quite a few bald eagles nest as we were heading back to port. Alaska is a place that I would like to visit again someday. If you want to see nature that will leave you in awe then this is the place. 

Day 1 shooting: Blacksmith’s apprentice

Out location scouting

Day 2 shooting: the coldest shoot ever

What a view

Getting ready to be dropped off for day 3

Day 3 shooting: Standing in front of the glaciers

Baby Moose at the Preserve…so cute to pet

Glaciers

Me on the day cruise

What a view

Glaciers up close

It is unfortunate that this might all be gone one day…

You can find more photos from this trip at www.ariagiovanni.com

In September of 2006, my brother and I packed up all my stuff in a uhaul and drove everything I owned cross-country from Los Angeles to New York. Needless to say, after seven days of 10-13 hours of driving and 7 hours of sleep a night I arrived pretty exhausted. I had done long trips before across numerous states, but it was my brothers first time. Our route took us through California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and finally New York. We did not take the most direct route because there were places we wanted to see along the way. The Grand Canyon was our first major stop and it was breathtaking. I have seen photos before but the first time you stand on the edge and see it in person you realize that photos don’t capture how “grand” it really is. We continued on through Utah, which consisted of reddish brown rock formations and deserts and Colorado, which had snowcapped mountains and pine trees. We went up through the bottom tip of Wyoming to hit our next major stop to see Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. I am glad that we stopped there because it was a site to see with your own eyes. It is impressive that they could complete such a monument almost 70 years ago. We continued on through Minnesota and Wisconsin in which the trees were all starting to change to fall colors. I love this time of year on the east coast because the colors are so vibrant. We went through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania next and I saw corn, corn, and more fields of corn. This was the toughest part of the drive because I swear at times the redundancy was enough to drive you crazy. I know these states have more than just corn but not anywhere near the freeway I was driving on. The terrain changed for the last part of Pennsylvania back to the beautiful fall colors. New Jersey was nice and quick and before you know it I was coming upon my new home: New York. Every time I see the skyline of Manhattan it makes me smile. Never was I so happy to stop driving, give up my car, and go on foot around the city. 

The Grand Canyon

Hanging out in the Grand Canyon

My brother Gabriel

Hanging out with the horses

Open Road

Rock formation in Utah

Colorado…I think this place is beautiful

Mount Rushmore

Wisconsin

Pennsylvania

Home sweet Home

To see more photos from this trip, visit www.ariagiovanni.com