Found shoes at the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. One of the book's five sections, into which this photo fits, is "relics."

Found shoes at the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. One of the book's five sections, into which this photo fits, is "relics."

‘Southeast Alaska: A Photographic Passage’

In “Southeast Alaska: A Photographic Passage,” float houses and boat harbors appear through mist; oyster catchers stare through foliage. Some images are black and white, others glow with the blues and greens of moss, herring eggs and icebergs.

The images, scenes from the villages, towns, waters and fjords around Southeast Alaska, are the collaboration of Ernest and Larisa Manewal, a father-daughter duo.

“I’m nearly 80, so she wanted to do something with me before I became any more feeble than I already am,” Ernest said, laughing.

One of her main goals for the book was that it be timeless, Larisa said.

Larisa, an artist of many mediums who received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography at the Brooks Institute in California, spent several months in Portland researching design and organizing the book.

Its sections are “Founding Cultures,” “The Tongass,” “Sea and The Sky,” “Relics,” and “Glacial Geology.”

“I just felt like those sections embodied most of what I want to say about Southeast,” she said.

Each photo is accompanied by a short description of the subject and where the photo was taken. One of her favorites is a young girl, dancing. The caption reads only “Tsimshian dance group / Metlakatla Native Reserve.”

Though the description of each photo is spare, each one means something different to her — and, at times, to its subject.

The photo meant something to the girl “at a very dark time,” Larisa said.

Larisa spent four of the last few years as a cultural and scientific expedition leader for Allen Marine’s cruises, and visited many smaller villages through her work with them, which helped her collect images. She didn’t manage to get as far north as Yakutat, but the book covers Metlakatla to Skagway.

The duo wanted to make the book as attractive to locals as to tourists, something that in this reader/viewer’s opinion, they’ve accomplished.

“I consciously put in a lot of rainy days,” Larisa said. “You don’t want to just have a sunny book when we live here. Same with winter versus summer.”

All the book’s images are things the reader could conceivably see if they visit the towns.

Ernest Manewal has lived in Sitka for 40 years. Larisa was born there.

Some of Ernest’s favorite Southeast Alaskan images are of wildlife and landscapes, he said.

“I like patterns, and things that are maybe a little off the beaten track,” he said.

One of his photos that made it into the book is of an old boat named “Arch Angel” in Pelican. It resonated with him because of Sitka’s one-time name of New Archangel, he said.

He’s attracted to eyes, as well — fish eyes, bird eyes. An oystercatcher in the book stares at the reader; Ernest liked the photo because the bird was both looking at him and trying to hide from him.

“It’s just a matter of being aware, and looking around, and taking it slowly, and observing what’s around you,” he said.

Ernest is also the author of another book Southeast Alaskans likely recognize: “Sitka: Between the Mountains and the Sea,” which covers “a little bit of everything” in Sitka and is almost sold out of its second printing, he said.

Ernest and Larisa printed 3,000 copies of “Southeast Alaska: A Photographic Passage,” and they don’t plan another print run, Larisa said.

She will be signing copies of the book at Hearthside Books downtown during First Friday. The books are also for sale for $29.95 at the Soboleff Building, Kindred Post in Juneau, and bookstores around Southeast Alaska.

• Contact CCW staff writer Mary Catharine Martin at maryc.martin@capweek.com.

Dancers in Metlakatla Indian Community.

Dancers in Metlakatla Indian Community.

A black oystercatcher in St. Lazaria National Wildlife Refuge.

A black oystercatcher in St. Lazaria National Wildlife Refuge.

Chief Son-I-Hat Whale House in Kasaan.

Chief Son-I-Hat Whale House in Kasaan.

Icebergs on Shakes Lake, which flows into the Stikine River.

Icebergs on Shakes Lake, which flows into the Stikine River.

More in Neighbors

The author getting ready to host a holiday dinner for her family in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Patty Schied)
Cooking For Pleasure: Stuffed with turkey sandwiches? Try stuffing turkey enchiladas

Now that you have eaten all the turkey sandwiches you want, all… Continue reading

Page Bridges of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Page Bridges)
Living and Growing: Heartbreak Hill

Trying to write about beauty and our need for it is hard.… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
Community calendar of upcoming events

This is a calendar updated daily of upcoming local events during the… Continue reading

A public notice about one of several Thanksgiving proclamations President Abraham Lincoln issued during the Civil War. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum)
Living and Growing: Give thanks with a grateful heart

Happy Thanksgiving! Once again we celebrate what is a distinctively American holiday,… Continue reading

A female bear with her cubs: bears have direct-development life cycles, looking like bears from the time they are born. (Photo by Jos Bakker)
On the Trails: Animal life cycles

There are two basic life-cycle patterns among animals. Many animals have complex… Continue reading

(Jessica Spengler/CC BY 2.0 DEED)
Cooking For Pleasure: No trauma pie crust (that actually tastes good)

The secret is keeping all of the ingredients very cold.

Maj. Gina Halverson is co-leader of The Salvation Army Juneau Corps. (Robert DeBerry/The Salvation Army)
Living and Growing: Be thankful for the opportunity to care for ‘Others’

As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, we are reminded of the importance of being… Continue reading

A springtail perches on a wood railing, perhaps to eat microalgae. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
On the Trails: Early November sightings

An early November stroll on the dike trail was uneventful until I… Continue reading

Fred La Plante is the pastor of the Juneau Church of the Nazarene. (Courtesy / Fred La Plante)
Living and Growing: Having an attitude of gratitude

Our world is quickly enveloped in negativity, but that attitude doesn’t help… Continue reading

Devil’s Club Brewing Company brewer Trever Held accepts an award at the 2023 AK Beer Awards competition at Williwaw Social in Anchorage on Nov. 3. (Photo courtesy of Brewers Guild of Alaska)
Neighbors briefs

Juneau brewers win 10 medals at 2023 AK Beer Awards The Brewers… Continue reading

Juneau Veterans for Peace President Craig Wilson, left, watches a procession of fellow veterans and others ring the Liberty Bell replica in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Nov. 11, 2022, during an annual Armistice Day observation. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)
Three annual events honoring veterans scheduled Saturday

Armistice Day bell ringing at Capitol; Veterans Day events at Centennial Hall and EPH.

The flowers of enchanter’s nightshade are tiny and often self-pollinating. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
On the Trails: Enchanter’s nightshade

Enchanter’s nightshade is a tiny perennial plant we commonly see (and walk… Continue reading