Resume

Photography Education

1988 Intelligence Photography School, U.S. Navy, Yokosuka, Japan
1990-94 Selected Photography Coursework, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Awards and Residencies

2023 First Runner Up, “Scenics” category & Top 24 Photographers, NANPA Expressions
2023 Seymour Award for Tour Operator of the Year, presented by Visit Anchorage
2022 Artist-in-Residence, Shenandoah National Park, VA
2022 Career Opportunity Grant, Alaska State Council on the Arts
2021 Associate Fellow, International League of Conservation Photographers
2021 Highly Honored, Polar Passion category, Nature's Best Photography International Awards
2020 Second Place, Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute photo contest
2017 Daniel Housberg Wilderness Image Award for Excellence in Still Photography, Film, or Video (Alaska Conservation Foundation)
2017 Silver Medal, “Green Living & Sustainability,” 2016 Nautilus Book Awards, for Where Water is Gold: Life and Livelihood in Alaska’s Bristol Bay
2017 Gold Medal, “West-Pacific – Best Regional Non-Fiction,” 2017 Independent Publisher Book Awards, for Where Water is Gold: Life and Livelihood in Alaska’s Bristol Bay
2016 Two Honorable Mentions, North Pacific Research Board Photo Contest
2014 Honorable Mention, Wilderness Forever Photography Competition, Nature’s Best Photography
2010 Winner, “Environmental Issues” category, Windland Smith Rice International Awards
2010 Artist Fellowship, Rasmuson Foundation
2010 Winner, National Natural Landmarks Photo Contest, National Park Service
2009 Artist-in-Residence, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
2009 Artist-in-Residence, Badlands National Park, SD
2009 Career Opportunity Grant, Alaska State Council on the Arts
2007 Artist-in-Residence, Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve, AK
2005 First Place, Scenics, Alaska Magazine Annual Photo Contest
2004 Second Place, Sports & Events Competition, Professional Photographers of America
2003 Best in Wildlife, Alaska WILD, Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers
2001 Best in Nature, Alaska WILD, Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers

Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

2024 From A to V: A Photographer’s Journey from Alaska to Virginia, Muse Vineyards, Woodstock, VA
2019 Nocturnal Pursuits: Chasing the Aurora, SteamDot Coffee, Anchorage, AK
2017 Arctic Wonders, Anchorage Community Theater, Anchorage, AK
2013 Where Water is Gold: A Photographic Journey of the Bristol Bay Region, Snow City Café, Anchorage, AK
2011 Alaska’s Waters, Side Street Espresso, Anchorage, AK
2010 Alaska: A Land Shaped by Water, Fireweed Gallery, Homer, AK 2010 Wildness in the West, Europa Café, Anchorage, AK
2009 Icons of Alaska, Anchorage Visitor Information Center, Anchorage, AK 2008 Nature’s Details, Kinley’s Restaurant, Anchorage, AK
2006 An Alaskan Autumn, Borders Books & Music, Anchorage, AK

Group Exhibitions

2022, National Parks of the United States, R Gallery, Boulder, CO
2014 Voices of the Wilderness; Juneau, Fairbanks, Anchorage, Sitka, Homer, Kenai, and Ketchikan, Alaska
2011 Windland Smith Rice International Awards, Smithsonian Institute National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
2001-2005, 2008 Alaska WILD, traveling exhibit, Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers. NOTE: AlaskaWILD has exhibited in many locations, including the International Photography Hall of Fame, University of Minnesota Bell Museum, Kenai Visitors & Cultural Center, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Valdez Museum

Publications

Personal Books

Where Water is Gold: Life and Livelihood in Alaska’s Bristol Bay (Braided River 2016)

Books

Our Arctic Nation (U.S. State Department, 2017) (contributing photos and essay); Briot, Alain, How Photographs are Sold: Stories and Examples of How Fine Art Photographers Sell Their Work (2014) (featured); Allen, Timo, Arctic Citadel: A History of Exploration in the Brooks Range Region of Northern Alaska (National Park Service 2013) (cover), Leippi, Sharon, Fire & Ice: Alaska - Baked, Blended & Sauteed (Frosty Books 2012), Nargi, Lela, Knitting Around the World (MBI Publishing 2011); Stadem, Catherine, The History of Theatre in Anchorage, Alaska 1915-2005: From a Wilderness Tent to a Multi-Million Dollar Stage (Edwin Mellen Press 2009) (cover); Alaska Park Science (National Park Service 2009); Bob Nicoll, Remember the Ice and Other Paradigm Shifts (Remember the Ice, LLC 2009) (cover)

Select Periodicals

Alaska, Alaska Beyond, Anchorage Daily News, Backpacker, The Daily Record (Scotland), Endless Vacation, High Country News, International Journal of Wilderness, Issues (Australia), Naturfreundin (Germany), National Geographic, National Parks, Nature Photographer, Nature’s Best Photography, Outdoor Photographer, PDN Magazine, Seattle Times, South Dakota, The Telegraph (London)

Selected Presentations

2026 “Pathways to a Successful Career,” guest lecture for University of Alaska Anchorage Entrepreneurship Class (BA-A286)
2025 “Conservation Challenges in Alaska,” Wild Speak conference, International League of Conservation Photographers, Washington, D.C.
2025 “How to Chase and Shoot the Aurora Borealis,” presentation to the Heard Nature Photographers, Heard Natural Science Museum (McKinney, Texas)
2024 “Showcase your Tours through Great Photography,” Alaska Travel Industry Association annual convention (October)
2024 “Anchorage: Your Aurora Destination,” Visit Anchorage Membership Luncheon (October)
2024 “Visually Exploring for Better Photos,” Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
2023, "Exploring Shenandoah," Shenandoah Photographic Society
2020-23, "Nocturnal Obsession: Chasing and Photographing the Aurora Borealis," Alaska Prospectors (Anchorage), Color Country Camera Club (St. George, UT), Flatirons Photo Club (Boulder, CO)
2022, "How Photography Helps us Develop Deeper Connections to Nature," Byrd Visitor Center, Shenandoah National Park, VA
2022 "National Park Artist Residencies," Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers
2022 "Visions of Alaska," Princess Cruise Lines (Crown Princess)
2020 “Ethical Wildlife Photography,” a Wildlife Wednesdays presentation for the Alaska Wildlife Alliance
2017-19 “The Mystery of the Aurora Borealis” and “Alaska: Off the Beaten Path,” Enrichment Lecture, Princess Cruise Lines (Island Princess, Golden Princess and Royal Princess)
2018 “Chasing & Photographing the Aurora Borealis,” webinar, North American Nature Photography Association
2018 “The Mystery of the Aurora Borealis,” Eagle River Nature Center, Alaska
2017 “Where Water is Gold: Alaska’s Bristol Bay,” Suquamish Museum, Washington
2017 “Experience the World’s Greatest Sockeye Salmon Run,” Filson flagship store, Seattle
2016 “Where Water is Gold,” Enrichment Lecture, Princess Cruise Lines, (Grand Princess, Crown Princess)
2012 “Bristol Bay: Where Water is Gold,” Alaska Prospector’s Society, Anchorage, AK
2011 “Get Inspired!” and “Creative Composition,” Anthony Robbins Platinum Partners, Zambia and South Africa
2009 “Badlands and Rocky Mountain: Opportunities as a National Park Artist-in-Residence,” Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers, Anchorage, AK
2009 “Celebrating our Public Lands,” Denali Backcountry Lodge, Denali National Park, AK 2007 “Montana’s Flathead Valley,” Alaska Prospector’s Society, Anchorage, AK

Bibliography

Print & Electronic Media

"My Love for Alaska's Winter," Alaska magazine, Dec-Jan issue 2022-23
"From Dam Neck Annex to the Alaskan wilderness, photographer's passion began in the Navy," The Flagship, December 2022
"Experience the World: A conversation with photographer Carl Johnson," Alaska magazine, Feb. 2022
“Carl Johnson’s Photo Stories,” a series of travel pieces about remote Alaska written for Alaska.org
"Navy vet, lawyer and Alaskan photography purveyor Carl Johnson is living his Arctic Dream," Artistic Fuel, July 29, 2020
“’Where Water is Gold’ by Carl Johnson – Close-Reading Pebble Mine,” Anchorage Press, June 22, 2020
“Protecting the Great Land: Alaska companies are embracing suistainable tourism practices,” Alaska Beyond, Feb. 2020
“Where Water is Gold – Carl Johnson photographs life and livelihood in Alaska’s Bristol Bay,” Outdoor Photographer, July 2017
"See the Bay 'where water is gold'", High Country News, June 12, 2017
"Exposure Foundations," Medium, April 27, 2017
“Advice for shooting and supporting wildlife photography projects,” PDN Magazine, Apr. 2017
“Photographer observes Bristol Bay,” Peninsula Clarion, February 23, 2017
“From the Black Hills to the Brooks Range: A Visually Inspiring Journey from South Dakota to the Arctic,” Our Arctic Nation (U.S. State Department), Dec. 2016
“Photo Books of 2016: A Roundup,” PDN Magazine, Dec. 2016
“Recommended reading to take you into the next year,” High Country News, Nov. 14, 2016
“Visually stunning Bristol Bay book paints Pebble mine as clear villain in Alaska,” Alaska Dispatch News, Oct. 15, 2016
“Carl Johnson’s new book examines Alaska’s Bristol Bay,” PDN Magazine, Oct. 2016
“Book reflects Bristol Bay’s beauty,” Alaska Sporting Journal, Aug. 17, 2016
“Writers Contribute to Bristol Bay Photography”, The Bristol Bay Times, April 3, 2015
"Alaskans Who Are Not Sarah Palin," Leigh Newman, 2013
“Celebrating Salmon in Alaska’s Bristol Bay,” World Wildlife Foundation, August 8, 2013
"Alaska photographer to shoot Badlands," Anchorage Daily News, April 25, 2009
“Alaskan photographer to focus on national park’s badlands,” Alaska Journal of Commerce, April 21, 2009
“Photographer gets Badlands residency,” Rapid City Journal, April 8, 2009

Broadcast Media

“4 Tips to Improve your Chances of Seeing Alaska’s Northern Lights,” Alaska Survival Kit, Alaska Public Media, January 7, 2026
“Elevating Your Alaska Photos with Photographer Carl Johnson,” Alaska Uncovered podcast, June 17, 2025
"How to Photograph the Northern Lights," Alaska Channel, 2021
Interview, “Daybreak,” KTVA, Anchorage, AK, July 19, 2017
“Outdoor Explorer,” Alaska Public Media, March 23, 2017
“What’s Up Bainbridge,” Bainbridge Community Broadcasting, March 20, 2017
Interview, Around the Lens podcast, March 7, 2017
"New book 'Where Water is Gold' highlights the beauty of Bristol Bay," Interview, KDLG Radio, Dillingham, AK, June 24, 2016
Guest Appearance, “Wild West Alaska,” Animal Planet, Season 2, episode “Hell on Wheels,” 2014
Interview, “Morning Line,” KNBA Radio, Anchorage, AK, September 5, 2013
Interview, KDLG Radio, Dillingham, AK, July 23, 2013
Interview, “The Camille Conte Show,” Online Broadcast, Anchorage, AK, July 18, 2013
Interview, KDLG Radio, Dillingham, AK, May 29, 2013
Guide, “Wild Photo Adventures,” PBS, Season 4, Episode 10, 2013
Guest Appearance, “The Shannyn Moore Show,” KOAN Radio, Anchorage, AK, December 20, 2012
Interview, KEVN Black Hills FOX, May 2009

Collections

Private

Anchorage Grand Hotel, Anchorage, AK
Sedor Wndlandt Evans & Filippi, Anchorage, AK

Public

Moraine Park Visitor Center, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO Ben Reifel Visitor Center, Badlands National Park, Interior, SD
Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center, Fairbanks, AK

Associations

Endorsements

Jim Brandenberg
“Where Water is Gold is a masterpiece and a visual delight, but Carl’s caring commitment is what takes it to a higher level.”

Tim Bristol (Alaska Program Director, Trout Unlimited)
“The best way to experience the spectacular beauty, unique lifestyle, and rivers that run literally red if you can’t see them in person is through the lens of a talented photographer like Carl Johnson.”

Clients

Tony Robbins, Getty Images, Princess Cruise Lines, National Park Service, Visit Anchorage, Alaska.org, Alaska Travel Industry Association, Great Land Trust

Affiliations

International League of Conservation Photographers (Associate Fellow), Alaska Dark Skies (Board of Directors), Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers (Board of Directors), Dark Sky International (Dark Sky Advocate), National Parks Conservation Association (Alaska Regional Council), Nikon Professional Services, North American Nature Photography Association, Professional Photographers of America, Alaska Tourism Industry Association, Visit Anchorage (Board of Directors).