A successful Brown bear with a bright red sockeye
SUMMER 2018.
Only 2 spots left
Katmai National Park, the world's most famous destination for Alaska's brown bear photography
INTRODUCTION: I'm offering my 4th Katmai bear photography tour the end of July and the first week in August in 2018. My goal is to get you into areas where we can get excellent images and or video of bears feeding on bright red Sockeye Salmon. The kind of pictures you can blow up and put on your wall or submit to contests.
Please see my photos from each year in the Gallery or those from participants in the blog. We have several destinations we may visit depending on where the bears are, but 2 have produced the best images over the last 4 years. This is the best bear trip I offer for seeing and photographing "fishing" bears and this trip is offered to both wildlife viewers and photographers.
INTRODUCING REFERRAL DISCOUNTS : For each person you bring with you I will reduce the cost of your trip by $150 each up to $600, so BRING YOUR FRIENDS!!!
WHEN: JULY 28 - AUGUST 2, 2018. Arrive in Anchorage for your flight to King Salmon, AK on July 28, which will be scheduled for late afternoon. This flight to King Salmon cost is included in the overall costs and will be scheduled for later afternoon (after 4 PM). We will shoot on July 29, 30, 31, August 1. You will fly back to Anchorage the morning of August 2 and should be there by 10:30 or so. IF WE GET WEATHERED OUT, which has never happened, we will be able to extend one day for an additional fee. This fee will only be for lodging.
WHERE: We stay at a fishing lodge outside of King Salmon AK on the Naknak river but fly to our photography destination each day in Katmai National Park. The lodge we stay at is primarily a fishing lodge, but they offer accommodations to bear photography groups each year. After hiking and wading with bears each day it's nice to return each evening to comforts and good food. Unlike at a tent camp, you will be warm and comfortable through the night!
Costs: Cost is $5,450. This price includes your flight from Anchorage to King Salmon (a $500 value), your lodging, all meals and daily flights (A single supplement is an additional $300 per night). To preserve your space I will need a $2000 deposit no more than one month later after booking. This trip fills up fast!!! Look around and you won’t find anything this inexpensive. You might want to stay an extra day and get some salmon to take home. PLEASE NOTE: Tipping is expected and normally includes 10 to 15% of the trip costs. It is easiest to give your gratuity to the lodge manager at the end of the trip for him to divide with our guides and house staff.
TARGET GROUP SIZE 4 to 5 people total. I can't take more than 5 people for 2 reasons, we can't fit that many in the float plane and I want to keep the size small enough that no one is getting in each other's way. If I have a large number interested I'll schedule 2 trips instead of 2 planes.
TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS: You need to arrive in Anchorage on July 28 by 1 PM AK time at the latest. That will give you plenty of time to get your luggage and check in at the Pen Air desk. Some people find it easier to arrive the day before, some stay over a few days after the trip and explore other Alaska areas. I'm happy to share my extensive knowledge of the area with you. I will provide all of the information and even Anchorage airport directions to participants prior to the trip.
EQUIPMENT: I have a fairly extensive blog (click on the word blog in green) that you may refer to for additional information. Briefly, I recommend 2 camera bodies, one that is "fast" and can shoot at high ISO's. I've had participants be happy with photos they took with 200mm to 800mm. One long lens (greater or equal to 400) is highly recommended.
WHAT TO PACK: Similar to above, I have much more detail in the blog. I can pretty safely predict the weather, days in the high 50's with a wind, 90% of the time cloudy, with a slight rain frequent. PLEASE read the blog post before coming.
CELL PHONE AND INTERNET: There used to be no cell phone service, but I was able to get text's back and forth in 2016. Others were able to get calls out but I would not bet on it. There is no public internet service available at the lodge but fair service in King Salmon now. Several participants would make their Facebook posts from their cell phones when we went down to the float plane dock.
WHAT I PROVIDE: I did research on black bears for 10 years, so when I started writing about and photographing brown bears for magazines over 10 years ago it was a dream come true. I've photographed bears around all the well known sites (Lake Clark, Brooks Falls, Geographic Harbor, Halo Bay, etc) and think this location with daily flights offers the best chance to get the best bear images.
Having photographed out of this lodge for 6 years I feel confident in my ability to find bears. The planes make all the difference. I've shot in other lodges and had some great days nearby, but when the bears move and you can't, you're stuck. It's all about the fish and where they go. The pilots get us to the general area. There will be 2 of us ensuring your safety. I will take you in and keep you safe while we are there. Click on safe if you want to read more about that issue, don't blame you at all for your concern.
There are certain camera settings you must take into effect when photographing any animal in the water, especially one that is dark with eyes that are sunk in. I work with each photographer to make sure their histograms look correct at the start of each photography session. Our time is spent photographing so I don't have time to really work with people on processing. But I'm more than willing and have spent extensive time with people after the workshop is finished. Dropbox folders offer a lot in the ability to share opinions and comments. I've even made processing videos on youtube to help you with certain features I find really help bring out the best in bears, especially the eyes.
That's what I suspect you want most.
But what I want most is for you to learn as much as you can about the subjects you are photographing. I will spend a lot of time discussing the behavior, etc while we are photographing. Each participant will get a copy of my book on brown bears in Katmai. I find it easiest if I present that to you on site and we can discuss the contents during the day and over meals. For a preview of the book please click here
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: There is some hiking involved at any of the locations. Wading is encouraged or even necessary depending on conditions.
In 2016, we had to do more wading than we wanted to get where the bears were. I can't control them and I won't leave you behind so please read below and decide what you think you can handle.
Creek "X": (described below) often doesn't take more than a 100 yard walk out of the plane on to the beach. We have gone up the creek on occasion depending on what people want, but this is the easiest of our locations.
The popular Brooks Falls (very possibly worth a visit-there's a reason so many people go there) is a mile and and a half walk from where the float planes land. There is no way around that, this generally is the longest hike made and much of it is paved and "guarded" by rangers.
Creek "Y": My 2012 and 2013 visitors rated this a moderate to slightly difficult hike based on the distance and some hills we have to negotiate. In 2016 the bears had moved upstream forcing us to wade the creek (thigh high) and hike an additional mile to get to them. This was an anomaly but it could happen again. If you refuse to wade with camera gear this probably is not the trip for you (Simms waders will be provided).
DESCRIPTION OF SHOOTING AREAS: I keep the names of my favorite spots anonymous, enough people know about them already. Creek X is close to Brooks Falls: We fly or boat to Naknek Lake at the mouth of the creek and spend the day there with little hiking at all. The fish stage at the mouth of the creek before entering to spawn so the bears fish right at the mouth and will walk right by us on their way to look for fish, prompting us to move us and our gear 4 times in one day in 2012. In 2013, the fish were stacked like cordwood in the creek so we had fish charging through water in the creek and snorkeling in the lake. This area has very scenic backgrounds due to the surrounding mountains. In 2016, we had 2 sows with cubs all around us, they couldn't have cared less but we had to move a couple times (wade with our tripods into the lake) because they were too close.
Long Distance Flights: We depart on this longer flight (> 50 min) from King Salmon and fly over Naknek and 2 more large lakes before landing at one of my favorite destinations in a small unnamed lake approximately 1/2 mile from Creek Y. We fly over a number of vegetation types from Pacific Rain Forest, Taiga forest, grasslands, and finally tundra where we find 2 creeks intersecting with large snow covered mountains in the distance. Bears may be spread throughout the creek but the site where 2 creeks intersect has great action in a shallow area about 1/2 mile from the landing site. This has been the area with the most bears, I counted 24 individuals at one time, and believe I've seen close to 50 different individuals throughout a full day. At this area, we will wade in thigh high while the bears across the creek charge at the fish directly in between us. It is here that I've been able to take the best fishing action shots I've taken since 2006. But be aware it does involve some hiking and you will have bears all around you.
At each site except Brooks there will be 2 of us keeping our eyes open and detouring bears that get too close.
I will have a much better idea of where we will go each day when you arrive as I will have had the chance to meet with the pilots. Each day will involve hiking (some wading may be required and the lodge has gear for you) and we will find and photograph groups of bears fishing at the above or even different locations. If you like to fly, explore, and see country that most AK visitors will never see then this is the trip for you. Photography opportunities should be excellent!
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH THESE LOCATIONS ARE OUR PLANNED LOCATIONS, THEY MAY CHANGE IF THE FISH, AND HENCE THE BEARS ARE NOT THERE. That is why I like this trip so much as if conditions are different than preceding years the planes can take us to where the pilots have been seeing the bears.
Please visit the Blog to see the pictures from 2016 participants and myself, another great trip!
Please see my photos from each year in the Gallery or those from participants in the blog. We have several destinations we may visit depending on where the bears are, but 2 have produced the best images over the last 4 years. This is the best bear trip I offer for seeing and photographing "fishing" bears and this trip is offered to both wildlife viewers and photographers.
INTRODUCING REFERRAL DISCOUNTS : For each person you bring with you I will reduce the cost of your trip by $150 each up to $600, so BRING YOUR FRIENDS!!!
WHEN: JULY 28 - AUGUST 2, 2018. Arrive in Anchorage for your flight to King Salmon, AK on July 28, which will be scheduled for late afternoon. This flight to King Salmon cost is included in the overall costs and will be scheduled for later afternoon (after 4 PM). We will shoot on July 29, 30, 31, August 1. You will fly back to Anchorage the morning of August 2 and should be there by 10:30 or so. IF WE GET WEATHERED OUT, which has never happened, we will be able to extend one day for an additional fee. This fee will only be for lodging.
WHERE: We stay at a fishing lodge outside of King Salmon AK on the Naknak river but fly to our photography destination each day in Katmai National Park. The lodge we stay at is primarily a fishing lodge, but they offer accommodations to bear photography groups each year. After hiking and wading with bears each day it's nice to return each evening to comforts and good food. Unlike at a tent camp, you will be warm and comfortable through the night!
Costs: Cost is $5,450. This price includes your flight from Anchorage to King Salmon (a $500 value), your lodging, all meals and daily flights (A single supplement is an additional $300 per night). To preserve your space I will need a $2000 deposit no more than one month later after booking. This trip fills up fast!!! Look around and you won’t find anything this inexpensive. You might want to stay an extra day and get some salmon to take home. PLEASE NOTE: Tipping is expected and normally includes 10 to 15% of the trip costs. It is easiest to give your gratuity to the lodge manager at the end of the trip for him to divide with our guides and house staff.
TARGET GROUP SIZE 4 to 5 people total. I can't take more than 5 people for 2 reasons, we can't fit that many in the float plane and I want to keep the size small enough that no one is getting in each other's way. If I have a large number interested I'll schedule 2 trips instead of 2 planes.
TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS: You need to arrive in Anchorage on July 28 by 1 PM AK time at the latest. That will give you plenty of time to get your luggage and check in at the Pen Air desk. Some people find it easier to arrive the day before, some stay over a few days after the trip and explore other Alaska areas. I'm happy to share my extensive knowledge of the area with you. I will provide all of the information and even Anchorage airport directions to participants prior to the trip.
EQUIPMENT: I have a fairly extensive blog (click on the word blog in green) that you may refer to for additional information. Briefly, I recommend 2 camera bodies, one that is "fast" and can shoot at high ISO's. I've had participants be happy with photos they took with 200mm to 800mm. One long lens (greater or equal to 400) is highly recommended.
WHAT TO PACK: Similar to above, I have much more detail in the blog. I can pretty safely predict the weather, days in the high 50's with a wind, 90% of the time cloudy, with a slight rain frequent. PLEASE read the blog post before coming.
CELL PHONE AND INTERNET: There used to be no cell phone service, but I was able to get text's back and forth in 2016. Others were able to get calls out but I would not bet on it. There is no public internet service available at the lodge but fair service in King Salmon now. Several participants would make their Facebook posts from their cell phones when we went down to the float plane dock.
WHAT I PROVIDE: I did research on black bears for 10 years, so when I started writing about and photographing brown bears for magazines over 10 years ago it was a dream come true. I've photographed bears around all the well known sites (Lake Clark, Brooks Falls, Geographic Harbor, Halo Bay, etc) and think this location with daily flights offers the best chance to get the best bear images.
Having photographed out of this lodge for 6 years I feel confident in my ability to find bears. The planes make all the difference. I've shot in other lodges and had some great days nearby, but when the bears move and you can't, you're stuck. It's all about the fish and where they go. The pilots get us to the general area. There will be 2 of us ensuring your safety. I will take you in and keep you safe while we are there. Click on safe if you want to read more about that issue, don't blame you at all for your concern.
There are certain camera settings you must take into effect when photographing any animal in the water, especially one that is dark with eyes that are sunk in. I work with each photographer to make sure their histograms look correct at the start of each photography session. Our time is spent photographing so I don't have time to really work with people on processing. But I'm more than willing and have spent extensive time with people after the workshop is finished. Dropbox folders offer a lot in the ability to share opinions and comments. I've even made processing videos on youtube to help you with certain features I find really help bring out the best in bears, especially the eyes.
That's what I suspect you want most.
But what I want most is for you to learn as much as you can about the subjects you are photographing. I will spend a lot of time discussing the behavior, etc while we are photographing. Each participant will get a copy of my book on brown bears in Katmai. I find it easiest if I present that to you on site and we can discuss the contents during the day and over meals. For a preview of the book please click here
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: There is some hiking involved at any of the locations. Wading is encouraged or even necessary depending on conditions.
In 2016, we had to do more wading than we wanted to get where the bears were. I can't control them and I won't leave you behind so please read below and decide what you think you can handle.
Creek "X": (described below) often doesn't take more than a 100 yard walk out of the plane on to the beach. We have gone up the creek on occasion depending on what people want, but this is the easiest of our locations.
The popular Brooks Falls (very possibly worth a visit-there's a reason so many people go there) is a mile and and a half walk from where the float planes land. There is no way around that, this generally is the longest hike made and much of it is paved and "guarded" by rangers.
Creek "Y": My 2012 and 2013 visitors rated this a moderate to slightly difficult hike based on the distance and some hills we have to negotiate. In 2016 the bears had moved upstream forcing us to wade the creek (thigh high) and hike an additional mile to get to them. This was an anomaly but it could happen again. If you refuse to wade with camera gear this probably is not the trip for you (Simms waders will be provided).
DESCRIPTION OF SHOOTING AREAS: I keep the names of my favorite spots anonymous, enough people know about them already. Creek X is close to Brooks Falls: We fly or boat to Naknek Lake at the mouth of the creek and spend the day there with little hiking at all. The fish stage at the mouth of the creek before entering to spawn so the bears fish right at the mouth and will walk right by us on their way to look for fish, prompting us to move us and our gear 4 times in one day in 2012. In 2013, the fish were stacked like cordwood in the creek so we had fish charging through water in the creek and snorkeling in the lake. This area has very scenic backgrounds due to the surrounding mountains. In 2016, we had 2 sows with cubs all around us, they couldn't have cared less but we had to move a couple times (wade with our tripods into the lake) because they were too close.
Long Distance Flights: We depart on this longer flight (> 50 min) from King Salmon and fly over Naknek and 2 more large lakes before landing at one of my favorite destinations in a small unnamed lake approximately 1/2 mile from Creek Y. We fly over a number of vegetation types from Pacific Rain Forest, Taiga forest, grasslands, and finally tundra where we find 2 creeks intersecting with large snow covered mountains in the distance. Bears may be spread throughout the creek but the site where 2 creeks intersect has great action in a shallow area about 1/2 mile from the landing site. This has been the area with the most bears, I counted 24 individuals at one time, and believe I've seen close to 50 different individuals throughout a full day. At this area, we will wade in thigh high while the bears across the creek charge at the fish directly in between us. It is here that I've been able to take the best fishing action shots I've taken since 2006. But be aware it does involve some hiking and you will have bears all around you.
At each site except Brooks there will be 2 of us keeping our eyes open and detouring bears that get too close.
I will have a much better idea of where we will go each day when you arrive as I will have had the chance to meet with the pilots. Each day will involve hiking (some wading may be required and the lodge has gear for you) and we will find and photograph groups of bears fishing at the above or even different locations. If you like to fly, explore, and see country that most AK visitors will never see then this is the trip for you. Photography opportunities should be excellent!
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH THESE LOCATIONS ARE OUR PLANNED LOCATIONS, THEY MAY CHANGE IF THE FISH, AND HENCE THE BEARS ARE NOT THERE. That is why I like this trip so much as if conditions are different than preceding years the planes can take us to where the pilots have been seeing the bears.
Please visit the Blog to see the pictures from 2016 participants and myself, another great trip!
