Above the Arctic Circle
Sept 1-6, 2027
Above the Arctic Circle is a 6-day adventure will take you deep into the remote Arctic environment where we'll photograph stunning mountain landscapes, wildlife, fall colors, Northern Lights, and more! You'll get to spend time with musk oxen and hopefully see caribou as they make their way over mountain passes. We'll travel through the mighty Brooks Range with endless mountain peaks! The trip is limited to 8 participants and 2 instructors and is rated Moderate for physical intensity. The workshop fee includes all transportation, hotels, and photo guiding. Save 10% by joining our Loyalty Program!
Tuition
- Coming Soon
- Loyalty Members
Save 10%
Max Group Size
- 4 Students per Instructor
- Max 8 Students
Instructor(s)
- Kevin McNeal
- Wendy Casey

Highlights
- Venture high above the Arctic Circle on this 6-day adventure to experience the incredible wildlife and landscapes of the far north.
- Wildlife may include musk oxen, fox, caribou, dall sheep, moose, and more!
- Immerse yourself in the grandeur of the mighty Brooks Range surrounded by endless mountain peaks.
- We'll cover lots of ground and have many different photo ops planned.
- Extend your trip with our Sept 6-12, 2027 Alaska Fall Photo Workshop!
- With only 8 participants and 2 instructors, we'll ensure everyone gets individual attention and quick access to their gear for wildlife shooting!

Itinerary
Due to the unpredictability of weather in the high Arctic, the itinerary below is subject to change. We will optimize your time to provide the best possible photography experience based on weather, wildlife activity, and current conditions.
Day 1 (Sept 1): Guests will fly to Deadhorse (SCC), where complimentary transportation will be provided from the airport to our lodge. We recommend the Alaska Airlines flight departing Anchorage (ANC) at approximately 3:47PM and arriving in Deadhorse around 5:30PM. After checking in and having dinner, we'll hold our orientation session and cover workshop logistics and shooting techniques. If conditions are favorable, we'll take advantage of the evening light and head out for our first photography session.
Day 2 (Sept 2): We'll spend a full day exploring the North Slope, photographing the expansive tundra landscapes and searching for wildlife such as musk oxen, caribou, foxes, and migratory birds. We'll plan an extended morning photography session before returning to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, we'll embark on a special excursion to the Arctic Ocean before heading back into the field for an extended evening session. All meals are included at our Deadhorse lodge. If skies cooperate after dark, we'll also keep watch for the aurora borealis.
Day 3 (Sept 3): After breakfast, we'll begin our journey south across the North Slope toward the mighty Brooks Range. This is a spectacular stretch of road, and we'll take our time photographing wildlife, colorful tundra, rivers, mountains, and sweeping Arctic landscapes along the way. As we climb toward Atigun Pass, we'll watch for Dall sheep and caribou while taking advantage of the dramatic mountain scenery. We'll continue south to Coldfoot and check into our lodging for the night. If skies are clear, we'll venture back out after dark in search of the aurora.
Day 4 (Sept 4): We'll have a full day to explore the spectacular landscapes surrounding Coldfoot and the southern Brooks Range. Our exact schedule will depend on the weather, fall colors, wildlife activity, and light. We'll photograph colorful tundra, rivers, mountain landscapes, and wildlife whenever opportunities arise. We'll take advantage of the best morning and evening light and, with clear skies overnight, head back out to photograph the aurora borealis.
Day 5 (Sept 5): We'll begin our journey south toward Fairbanks, continuing to photograph the fall colors, rivers, wildlife, and expansive landscapes along the Dalton Highway. We'll make numerous photography stops along the way and cross the Arctic Circle before arriving in Fairbanks in the evening. Overnight lodging in Fairbanks is included.
Day 6 (Sept 6): The workshop concludes after breakfast. Guests can depart Fairbanks or continue with us on our Alaska Fall Workshop.



What to Expect
Due to the far northern latitude, the weather can be highly variable. We can have warmer temps and beautiful fall colors, or cold temps with early snow blanketing the landscape. No matter what happens, we'll ensure you get the best shots! We will hold a pre-workshop zoom meeting with all participants to ensure you are setup for success.
Trip is rated Moderate for physical difficulty since we will be doing some short hikes from the vehicles over rough terrain. We won't be doing any more than 1-2 miles per day. You should be comfortable carrying your own photo gear. Knee-high muck boots are recommended due to the boggy nature of the tundra.
We expect to encounter lots of wildlife during our journey. We've been able to photograph musk oxen, moose, caribou, and ptarmigan every year we've been there. Other species such as red foxes, lynx, grizzly bear, dall sheep, otters, swans, and snowy owls are occasionally seen. Having 2 camera bodies will really help as you won't have to keep changing lenses for landscape shots vs wildlife shots. Please note this is NOT a birding-focused workshop.
With a small group of 8 participants, we'll have plenty of room to spread out along with quick access to our gear. This is really important since we need to respond quickly when we spot wildlife.
Logistics
This workshop uses different arrival and departure airports. Guests should fly into Deadhorse (SCC) on Sept 1 and book their return flight out of Fairbanks (FAI) on Sept 6 or later. Flights to Deadhorse typically connect through Anchorage (ANC), so do not book a round-trip ticket to Fairbanks.
For arrival on Sept 1, we recommend the Alaska Airlines flight from Anchorage (ANC) to Deadhorse (SCC) departing at approximately 3:47PM and arriving at 5:30PM. Please plan your travel to Anchorage accordingly and allow plenty of time for your connection. Complimentary transportation will be provided from the Deadhorse airport to our hotel.
Lodging in the Arctic is in short supply and has been 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.
We highly recommend Travel Insurance to cover non-refundable expenses and medical needs during the workshop. Arctic weather can be unpredictable, and there is always a possibility that conditions could delay flights or make driving unsafe. If that occurs, our itinerary may need to be delayed or modified. Situations like these are beyond our control.
We will carry satellite communication devices for emergencies since cell service is limited or unavailable along much of our route.
Meals while staying in Deadhorse are included with our lodging. During the remainder of the workshop, we'll stop at restaurants and dining facilities whenever possible. Guests will also have opportunities to purchase snacks and other provisions along the way. Unless specifically noted, meals outside of Deadhorse are not included in the workshop fee.
If skies are clear in the evening, we'll be watching for the Northern Lights. At these northern latitudes, aurora can be visible even during relatively low geomagnetic activity. Keep in mind that early September still has significant daylight, so our best opportunities will occur during the darkest hours of the night.




Pricing
Coming Soon
Save 10% by Joining our Loyalty Program
Trip Includes:
- All ground transportation.
- In-Field photography instruction with 2 pro instructors.
- Post-processing and image critique
- A 6-night lodging package will be added to your booking.
- Pre-workshop zoom meeting
Trip Does NOT Include:
- Transportation from your home to/from Alaska.
- Meals, snacks, and beverages.
- Hotel charges if we must spend an additional night in the Arctic due to inclement weather. We highly recommend Trip Insurance!
- 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. Two camera bodies will help 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.
- Telephoto lenses will come in handy for landscape compression and wildlife encounters. We recommend a lens in the 100-200mm range for landscapes. A 100-400mm lens is ideal for both landscapes/wildlife. You may want something longer than 400mm for wildlife.
- Circular polarizer filters
- Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
- Remote cord for your camera.
- Rain cover for your camera/lens and backpack to protect against high winds and precipitation.
- Camera backpack you can use while hiking.
- Drone camera for aerial photography (optional but highly recommended).
- Laptop if you wish to backup your photos
Personal Gear List
- Waterproof outer shell jacket and rain pants.
- 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





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.

Wendy Casey
Photography Instructor
Wendy Casey is a Utah-based landscape and wildlife photographer with more than 40 years behind the camera. Her photography journey began in 1982 with her first photography class. She built her technical foundation in the film era through extensive darkroom work and developing and printing her own images. That experience continues to shape the way she teaches exposure, light, camera settings, and composition.
Wendy’s photography has taken her from Utah’s dramatic red rock country and the Alaskan tundra to the vast plains of Africa. She specializes in landscape and wildlife photography, with a particular passion for wild horses and animals in their natural environments. As an exhibiting fine art photographer, she photographs with the finished print in mind, creating images designed to tell a story, evoke emotion, and be enjoyed beyond the camera screen.
As an instructor, Wendy is known for her warm, patient, and encouraging teaching style. She helps students slow down, see with intention, and take creative control of their cameras, especially through Manual mode, thoughtful composition, and field-based problem solving. Through hands-on instruction and collaborative post-processing sessions, Wendy meets photographers where they are and helps them build the confidence, technical skill, and vision to create images they are proud to print, frame, and share.
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