There is a specific kind of silence that only exists in the Alaskan interior during mid-winter. It’s a quiet so thick you can hear the ice settle and the distant hum of the city fading into the Chugach range.

I took this shot at Lake Hood in Anchorage, the world’s busiest seaplane base, though in February, the “runway” is a solid sheet of glass. This red-and-white bush plane was resting on its skis, perfectly still as the sun began its long, slow dip below the horizon.

In Alaska, aviation isn’t just a hobby; it’s a lifeline. Seeing this plane reflected so perfectly in the ice felt like a metaphor for the state itself, rugged, functional, and unexpectedly beautiful. It represents that exact moment between the rush of flight and the peace of the ground.