Alaska Aurora Borealis Photo Workshop

Itinerary

The itinerary is subject to change due to the unpredictability of Arctic weather. We will make every effort to optimize our shooting conditions no matter what the weather throws at us.  On clear nights we will be out looking for the aurora.

• Day 1: We begin with 11AM pickups at the Fairbanks International Airport. After loading the luggage, we start our drive to the far North, stopping along the way for landscape and wildlife photos. After checking into our hotel, we hold our orientation session and then prepare to shoot sunset and aurora at a place well known for frost-covered trees!
• Day 2: The Aurora put on quite a show the night before and so we catch up on some much needed sleep this morning. Then we hit the road and journey well north of the Arctic Circle. We photograph a number of spectacular mountains and rugged landscapes. After a warm dinner, we venture out for Aurora photography at some of our favorite locations.
• Day 3:  Today we explore many areas to the North and experience the mighty Brooks Range!  We even find some great wildlife shooting opportunities with the caribou, dall sheep, and more!  A fresh coat of snow makes the landscape sparkle and come to life in the beautiful low-angle light. The forecast looks promising, so after dinner we chase the Northern Lights.
• Day 4: We sleep in again today before heading back to the Brooks Range for wildlife viewing and sunset. With a promising aurora forecast, we bring our dinner with us and wait for it to get dark. Once the aurora is out, we start photographing it with the impressive mountains.
• Day 5: It's time to start heading south again.  After checking out, we stay one more night at the place known for frost-covered trees. We shoot sunset in the trees and the sky lights up with flaming colors. With cloudy skies this evening, we eat dinner and hold a post-processing session.
• Day 6: We wake up early and catch sunrise on our way back.  Midday we enjoy a couple hours with the dog mushers.  We'll see some beautiful scenery and have a blast playing with the puppies! We continue our journey towards the Alaska Range and get settled into our new accommodations. We photograph sunset that evening with some amazing broken ice foregrounds.  If skies are clear, we'll chase the aurora!
• Day 7: We are up early this morning for our ice cave adventure! Equipped with snow shoes, we hike to the foot of the glacier and gaze in awe at the incredible ice formations inside.  We spend several hours photographing inside. On the way back, we make several stops to photograph ice formations and the impressive Alaska Range.  After dinner and a short rest break, we take advantage of clear skies and head out for our final night of the aurora borealis.
• Day 8: This is our last day together.  After an optional sunrise shoot, we enjoy breakfast before making our way back to Fairbanks.  The workshop will conclude by 1:00PM, allowing you the option of either staying one more night in Fairbanks or catching a late evening flight back home.