Photos: A look at Clark James Mishler's 'Portrait Alaska'

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Inspirational performing artist and storyteller, Gene Tagaban, with his Raven Spirit costume, Point Woronzof, Anchorage, Alaska. Background: Cook Inlet and the Alaska Range at sunset.

Alaska photographer Clark James Mishler is holding a signing April 20 at the Anchorage Museum to promote his new book, "Portrait Alaska," which includes 200 portraits he's made over the past 20 years.

Mishler has lived in Alaska since 1979, where he landed after a time working for National Geographic. His photos of Alaska have appeared in publications small and large for the better part of a quarter-century, and that's reflected in "Portrait Alaska," though the book focuses much on his work from the past four years.

Mishler takes a special interest in portraits: "I believe we can learn a great deal about Alaska through the faces of its people. There have been hundreds of books produced that feature Alaska's beautiful natural environment, but very few books have featured the people of Alaska. This small collection of portraits represents a cross section of Alaskans and, hopefully, an amount of insight into the diversity of those who inhabit our state."

He adds: "My approach to photographing strangers has really improved over the years. I believe a photographer needs to be professional and friendly when approaching subjects. Most importantly, though, a photographer needs to be confident in his or her work. I think people will sense if you are lacking confidence and they will feel uneasy about working with you. Conversely, rejection should not be taken personally, and you simply need to keep at it until you reach a level of success."

Photos from "Portrait Alaska" will be on view at the Anchorage Museum from April 20 to Sept. 28. Meet Mishler and have a book signed at 2 p.m. Saturday at the museum; free with general admission.