Itinerary

Due to the unpredictability of weather in Alaska, the itinerary below is subject to change.  We will optimize our time to give you the best possible bear photography experience.

• Pre-Workshop:  A few months before, we'll hold a zoom meeting with all participants to cover gear and travel logistics.  We'll also go over the shooting techniques you'll be using during the workshop.
• Day 0 (July 17): Optional arrival day. Lodging is not included this evening, giving you the flexibility to choose accommodations that best fit your preferences or arrive on an overnight red-eye flight.
• Day 1 (July 18): We will meet at 7AM at Merrill Field near downtown Anchorage to check in for our 8AM flight to the wilderness lodge. The journey is breathtaking, with views of sweeping mud flats, sedge meadows, glaciers, and dramatic mountain peaks. After arriving at the lodge, we’ll get fitted for chest waders and head out for our first full day photographing bears at Brooks Falls. We'll shoot the bears as they catch fish at the falls and also walk the river to get eye-level shots. We’ll return that evening for a late dinner, energized by an unforgettable first day.
• Day 2 (July 19): We convene for an early morning image critique and classroom session. After breakfast, we load up in the float plane.  We fly over snow-capped volcanos, huge glaciers, and lakes. We spend the day photographing brown bears against a stunning mountain backdrop as they are foraging, clamming, and caring for their small spring cubs.
• Day 3 (July 20): After another morning classroom session, we fly out to remote location far away from other people.  The bears are busy doing their thing as we walk the creek and chase after the spawning salmon.  We get some incredible action shots.  Time flies and before we know it it's time to fly back to the lodge for dinner.
• Day 4 (July 21): With the potential for bad weather in the afternoon, we fly out very early today. We land on a small river where we are greeted by a guide in a small boat.  He transports us to some remote mud flats where we observe several bear families clamming. We get lots of shots of the curious cubs as they cautiously check us out! by mid-afternoon we return to the river and boat back to the plane.
• Day 5 (July 22): We meet for a final image critique session before flying out to another river with spawning salmon.  We photograph numerous bears and family groups in the river corridor. The small spring cubs are a highlight as they wrestle and fight with each other. We return late to the lodge for our final dinner.
• Day 6 (July 23):  We enjoy our final breakfast at the lodge before going to the airport to catch our flight back to Anchorage.  We arrive by 11AM at Merrill Field.  Allow 1 hr to transit between Merrill Field and Ted Stevens International Airport.  Return travel can be scheduled anytime this afternoon.