Alaska Fall Photo Workshop

Sept 4-10, 2024 - Sold Out

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Experience the brilliant fall colors in Alaska's rugged mountains.  Get off the beaten path in search of enchanting landscapes exploding in brilliant shades of red, yellow, and orange. The wildlife is busy getting ready for winter and we may photograph species such as moose, bears, wolves, dall sheep, caribou, and more. As an added bonus, we'll spend our last night together soaking in warm thermal hot springs!  Supercharge your Alaska experience by adding our Arctic Wildlife & Landscapes Workshop

Tuition

Max Group Size

  • 4 Students per Instructor
  • Max 8 Students

Instructor(s)

  • Nickolas Warner
  • Kevin McNeal

Physical Intensity

Alaska Fall - Kevin McNeal

Highlights

  • Photograph the America's Last Frontier erupting in pristine fall colors!
  • Capture the wildlife as they are busy preparing for the cold winter months.  Species include grizzly bear, moose, caribou, dall sheep, wolves, and more!
  • Explore the greater Denali area and venture into the backcountry.
  • Watch for the dancing aurora borealis on clear nights!
  • Relax in the warm thermal waters of Chena Hot Springs.
  • Small group of 8 participants with Alaska experts Nickolas Warner and Kevin McNeal as instructors.
  • Supercharge your trip with the Arctic Wildlife & Landscapes Extension

Itinerary

The exact itinerary will be kept flexible to account for the weather and current conditions. We will optimize our time for the best possible photography. The itinerary below is just an example of what you can expect.

  • Day 1 (Sept 4):  Meet at 7PM at Best Western Chena River Lodge in Fairbanks for a mandatory orientation session.  We'll cover the photo techniques we'll be using during our time together and go over all the details of the trip.
  • Day 2 (Sept 5):  After breakfast, we begin our journey deep into the Alaskan backcountry.  We drive through some exquiste high country cloaked in autumn colors and stop often for photo ops! A few side hikes lead us to some beautiful lakes. After shooting sunset we check into our hotel in a gorgeous alpine setting for the next two nights.
  • Day 3 (Sept 6):  We continue our explorations along the Denali Hwy with gorgeous views all around us! We even get lucky with some wildlife photo ops.  In the afternoon we do some short hikes and capture a gorgeous sunset! After dinner we watch for the aurora borealis.
  • Day 4 (Sept 7):  Today we make our way further west towards the snow-capped Alaskan Range.  We stop often to eat the plentiful tundra blueberries.  After lunch we check into our hotel and then spend the rest of the day hiking some scenic trails and capturing the insane fall colors all around us!  We even photograph some moose in the brightly colored dwarf birch!
  • Day 5 (Sept 8):  We start with an early breakfast and begin our full day bus tour deep into Denali. We'll be on the lookout for wildlife species such as grizzly bear, caribou, moose, dall sheep, and more. The landscapes are sure to impress with brilliant fall colors!  If the weather cooperates, we'll enjoy fantastic views of the imposing and snowy Denali Peak. That evening we are on the lookout again for the Northern Lights.
Images from around Tangle Lakes near the Delta Junction of the state of Alaska during fall season
Images from around the state of Alaska during fall season
Alaska Fall Banner
alaska bear snow fall autumn grizzly

Itinerary (cont.)

  • Day 6 (Sept 9):  We wake up early to capture sunrise with brilliant fall colors in front of the imposing Alaskan Range. We return for breakfast and start our drive back towards Fairbanks.  We stop in town for meals and then make our way further east, photographing various lakes and reflecting ponds with fall foliage.  In the evening we check into our cabins in a quintessential Alaska setting and spend the night relaxing in soothing thermal hot springs.
  • Day 7 (Sept 10): This is our last day together.  After a sunrise shoot, we enjoy breakfast together before making our way back to Fairbanks.  The workshop will conclude no later than 2PM, allowing you to either stay one more night in Fairbanks or catch a late flight back home.
  • For those wanting an Epic Adventure, we invite you to join our Arctic Wildlife & Landscapes Extension Aug 29 - Sept 4

Logistics

  • Plan to arrive in Fairbanks no later than 7PM on Sept 4th.  Please have dinner before meeting the group for the orientation session.
  • Lodging in the Arctic is in short supply and has bee pre-paid for our group. At checkout you will select between double or single occupancy and the cost of lodging will be added to your booking.  See the Pricing Section for details.
  • Mild to moderate hiking is required to reach some locations.  We aren't expecting to do any more than 1-2 miles total in one day. Knee-high muck boots are recommended due to the boggy nature of the tundra.
  • Fall weather is unpredictable in Alaska.  It can be sunny and comfortable or cold and snowy.  We will hold a pre-workshop zoom meeting with all participants to ensure you are well prepared.
  • 5 breakfasts and 2 dinners are included in the workshop fee. All other meals/snacks are on your own.  We will be stopping for meals at either stores or restaurants during our journey.
  • There is no need for you to rent a car.  The hotel will provide free shuttle service to/from the Fairbanks International Airport.  Once you are with us, we will provide all transportation for the workshop.
  • We highly recommend Travel Insurance to cover any non-refundable fees or medical coverage during the workshop.
Alaska Fall - Nickolas Warner
Alaska Fall Colors Photo Workshop
Right In The Middle Looking Down Valley_Alaska Fall Colors

Pricing

$3995/person + Tax

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Trip Includes:

  • Photography guiding and instruction throughout the trip.
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions.
  • All ground transportation
  • 5 breakfasts and 2 dinners
  • Swim passes for the Hot Springs
  • Tickets for the full day Denali bus tour.
  • 6-night lodging package will be added to your booking based on single or double occupancy. Cost is $800 or $1600 for double or single respectively.
  • Pre-workshop zoom meeting.

 

Trip Does NOT Include:

  • Transportation to/from your home to Fairbanks, AK.
  • Meals, beverages, and snacks except for 5 Breakfasts and 2 Dinners.
  • Instructor Gratuities

When you complete the checkout process, you will be given the option to either pay the full amount or put down a 50% deposit.  If you pay the deposit, we'll send you a payment link approx 120 days from departure for the remaining balance.  See the full Terms and Conditions.

Recommended Camera Gear

  • Sturdy tripod and ballhead
  • Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body. Having 2 camera bodies will greatly reduce the number of lens changes.
  • Fast wide angle lens in the 14-35mm range. We recommend a lens that is f/2.8 or faster for night photography.
  • Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
  • Long elephoto lenses will come in handy for landscape compression and wildlife encounters. We recommend a zoom lens in the range of 100-400mm or 200-600mm.  For landscape shots, it's really important you cover the 100-200mm range.
  • Circular polarizer filters and 3-stop ND filters for your lenses.  If you like shooting with grads, bring them along.  Very dark ND's can be useful for creating long exposures.
  • Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
  • Remote cord for your camera.
  • Cover for your camera/lens to protect against high winds and precipitation.
  • Camera backpack you can use while hiking.
  • Drone camera for aerial photography (optional).
  • Laptop if you wish to backup your photos or follow along during the post-processing instruction.

Personal Gear List

  • Waterproof outer shell jacket.
  • Warm layers like fleece jackets, down jackets, etc.
  • Warm hat and gloves.
  • Knee-high muck boots for boggy terrain
  • Sunglasses, sunscreen, sun hat.
  • Water bottle and or thermos
Images from Denali National Park in Alaska during Autumn Season Alaska Fall
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Nickolas Warner Alaska

Nickolas Warner

Photography Instructor

Nickolas Warner is an award-winning photographer with recognition by the Epson Pano Awards, International Landscape Photographer of the Year, and Outdoor Photographer. He has a particular interest in extreme and unusual locations.  His travels have taken him to some fascinating locations, but the American Southwest is his favorite place to photograph.

Nickolas spent the past decade guiding in Alaska, where he provided instruction on photographing the aurora borealis, and shared his knowledge of the far north’s rugged terrain and resilient wildlife.

When not guiding, Nickolas enjoys long distance hiking and extended backpacking trips through remote wilderness areas.

Artist's Statement: "The more one travels, the more one sees how small our world is. Landscape photography is often an idyllic vision of nature that stretches the truth. While most of my photos are taken in the wilderness, the reality is that modernity and progress has shrunk the wild into small islands of untouched land, flanked on all sides by development and exploitation. Before becoming a full-time photographer, I pursued a career in sustainability. While I've since changed directions, I still have a strong sense of urgency to protect nature and keep the wild wild. I hope my photos can inspire others to explore and let our world be untamed."

See Nickolas' portfolio: Nickolas Warner Photography

 

Kevin Profile

Kevin McNeal

Photography Instructor

Kevin McNeal is a Washington-State photographer who is passionate about photographing grand landscapes that reflect the most unique places on earth. Capturing moments of magic light and transferring this to print is the ultimate goal. His images hold a combination of perseverance, patience, and dedication to capture landscapes in fresh ways. The stories of how these images are rendered come across in the feelings the images convey. He has traveled all over North America, shooting diverse landscapes and finding remote places with the hope that we can convey to the public that this earth is worth caring for. His award winning images can be seen in galleries and showings across the United States.  He was recently invited to the Art Wolfe Art Gallery for the Environmental Photography Invitational. Kevin was the grand winner of the Landscape category for the Natures Best Magazine and was selected for the Smithsonian National Museum of History in Washington D.C..  He is a regular contributor to publications like Outdoor Photographer.

Artist’s Statement

“I believe that the Earth shares secrets with us that only can be discovered by trying to understand our position on this planet. We are never fully intimate with the planet but are given brief moments that make our souls want more. These glimpses of nature’s power are fleeting and never the same twice. I also believe it is important to share with those who want it. The treasures that await us given the patience that is out there. What I try to do is bring some of that magic to my images to share with the rest of the world. Each of my images tells a story that everyone can relate to in some way whether it is success, fear, or challenging oneself to overcome obstacles

View Kevin's Portfolio.