Sixtyone North » Kenai Peninsula

Congratulations Scott Slone, Winner of this Month’s “Tripfilms Video of the Month”!

David Taylor — Tue, 03 May 2011 04:26:37 +0000

I’d like to take a quick moment to congratulate my good friend, and frequent hiking partner (aka – the guy who laughs along with me as I fall and sprain my ankle or bash my shin… hey, I’m a cluts, and it’s funny!), Scott Slone of Alaska HDTV & Perfect Blend Media. You’ve likely read my praises of Scott’s work; he’s easily one of the hardest working, most creative, versatile people I’ve ever met. But he’s also a ‘rock’. He’s the kind of friend that remains solid and sure footed in the toughest of situations, and can be counted on to always give 130%. I’m privileged to call him one of my closest friends. People that see us together often say we could be twin brothers. I keep telling Scott, “Lucky break on your part, bro.”

For the entire month, his video “Alaska Railroad Adventures” (featuring the incredible Alaska Railroad journey from Anchorage to Seward – and back again!) will be featured on Tripfilms.com‘s home page. Tripfilm’s quote says it far better than I ever could:

We are riveted by all of AlaskaHDTV’s stunning shows that capture the natural beauty of Alaska and showcase the people in a new light.

Well said. Congrats my friend. Well deserved!

You can follow Scott (and Alaska HDTV) on Facebook & Twitter.

Without further ado, here is Scott’s award winning video – “Alaska Railroad Adventures”!

Want to be kept up to date about all of my Photo Workshops & AdvenTours, tips & tricks, and news? Only Newsletter subscribers receive special discounts on Print of the Month Collectors Prints! Click here to sign up for the free Newsletter. Looking for a way to experience wilderness on a whole new level? Want to step into the Alaskan environment and witness incredible Wild Lands & Wild Life? Be sure to click here to look at The Best Photo Tours offered in Alaska.

Where Rock, Water & Color Collide

David Taylor — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 05:57:35 +0000

We have been blessed with incredible weather recently. Unseasonable, some might say. Alternating days of brilliant sunshine and deep 24 hour+ fog. The blue skies somewhat limit my options for the dramatic light I search for in my photographs. The dense fog condenses dramatic landscapes into 1 dimensional graphical constructions. Thick spruce trees become gray & green silhouettes. Mountains become ghosts rising overhead.

Fall Gorge, Near the Richardson Highway, Alaska ©Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D Mk 2, 24-105 @ 24mm. 1.6" @ f/18, ISO 50. B+W Circular Polarizer)

We’ve also had several perfectly clear night skies, interrupted only by the sublime flickering of the aurora borealis. I haven’t attempted to get out to photograph them yet, but we are very early in the northern lights season. Jena and I have seen them 4 separate nights now, all within the past week and a half. A sure sign that we are definitely rising out of the Solar Minimum phase and heading towards Solar Maximum. This coming winter should be ripe with aurora photo ops. It’s only going to get better too, as we move towards peak activity over the next few years. I’m more than a little excited about this.

I’ve spent the past several weeks tracking the fall colors southward, through Alaska. I find I am constantly drawn to the areas where bare rock is pounded by rushing water, and fall colors drape the landscape. It’s a magical time of the year in Alaska (as are the other 3 seasons, each in their own special way). And since I feel less able to describe the views I have witnessed – once again, the words seem hollow and petty – I hope some of my recent images will find some appeal.

Thanks for taking the time to look, and please consider commenting below.

Stay tuned…

I Dreamt a Dream…

admin — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 05:33:18 +0000

Sorry I haven’t been doing regular updates. These past few weeks have been “just a taaaaaad bit hectic”. Good hectic. Heck. Great hectic. For three weeks, a very special person came to visit me in Alaska. We had great weather and forged great memories. We even took a few decent images together. Heck. More than a few.

She must have liked it a little bit, because she’s moving up here. It must be Alaska. I mean, I’m “ok” and all, but this state is pretty good at making connections. Connections with the land, the wildlife, and people. I’ve made so many great connections over the past several years living here. I made those connections on my own. That will be different now, and it’s a change I’m looking forward to. Now, Jena. You can’t comment here, I don’t want this getting all mushy. I’ve got an image to uphold.

I’ve got a lot of images from the past several weeks. Besides having Jena visit, I’ve since had photo tour & workshop clients. We’ve shot in the sun and the rain, in the steady wind and the absolute calm. This coming week, I return to one of my favorite spots on this planet – Cordova – with a few more clients. It’s back to the sea otters, bald eagles, calving glaciers, and rain forests. Then a weekend for myself (hey, I’ve earned this one). Then several more clients before the holiday weekend in July. Needless to say, I’m loving life. And life is loving back.

I’ll try to post a few shots over then next several days, then more upon return from Cordova. Got a few to put up… and the collection is growing.

Bird Point B&W 1, Turnagain Arm, Alaska. ©2010 Dave Taylor/Sixtyone North (Canon 5D mk 2, 24-105 @ 28mm, 1/25" @ f/18, ISO 200. Singh-Ray 3 stop soft edge grad nd filter. B&W treatment via Lightroom 2.7)

Stay tuned.

Turnagain Arm Black & White Images

admin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 07:56:05 +0000

It has been a little while since my last post. The last two weekends I’ve spent a day each shooting with Scott Slone. Scott is the owner, videographer, host and producer of Alaska HDTV. He’s done fantastic work filming and producing in every corner, nook and cranny of Alaska. It’s always revealing to photograph along side another cameraman (or woman), you always learn something. If your eyes and mind are open, of course. It is even more revealing to shoot next to a videographer. I wasn’t fully aware of this, because of my fixation with still photography, but the world is actually “moving”. And that video thing? Well, it’s bound to catch on here sometime. One of these days, people will have picture frames in their homes that actually play moving pictures.

Huh, whats that? Oh.

My assistant just told me that is already the case. My mind is sufficiently blown. I really must investigate this thing he calls a “tee vee”.

Anyway. The way a videographer/producer works is very enlightening. The amount of work put in is very similar to what we as photographers struggle with. Scott was telling me that he typically shoots something like 2 hours worth of video, that will be edited down into a 10 minute piece. I learned a lot about holding a viewers attention. With video, it is literally measured in seconds. In photography, it is not uncommon for me (on a wildlife shoot) to shoot over 1000 frames in a day. Out of those frames, perhaps 100 will be good enough to keep. Of those 100, I might be proud of 20… if it was a good shoot. If 3 make a “Portfolio Grade”, I’ve had a good day. Other wildlife photogs I’ve spoken to echo similar stats.

Now that I own two cameras that shoot full HD video, I’ve been having a blast experimenting with the medium. It’s a great bonus to have a good friend that is a video pro. Scott shoots high end HD cameras for tv/film production. His workflow and style is very different from mine, it’s absolutely fascinating. And his product shows it. It’s personal, inspiring and passionate work. So, if you ever need professional video work done here in Alaska – make sure you get ahold of Scott.

This first shot is of a small cove left exposed by the low tide at Bird Point, along the Turnagain Arm. I liked the soft curved line of the drainage set against the rocky beach and imposing mountains beyond.

The other shot I’m posting today is a bit of a “misdirection”. This was taken maybe 40 yards from the wide angle frame above. It looks like an aerial shot of a great sand dune, like you might find in Namibia or the Sahara. But in reality, this “dune” is roughly 1 inch tall. From the bottom of the frame to the top, perhaps 6-8 inches of total coverage. I used a macro lens with a very shallow depth of field (f/4) to simulate a reverse tilt-shift effect. I’ve been wanting to shoot these sand ripples in the tidal zones along the Turnagain Arm for quite a while, but Saturday the light was simply too bright, with too much contrast. I tried a reflector panel to bounce the light onto the back (unlit) side of the “dune”, but the light simply didn’t look natural. It wasn’t the soft lighting I was going for. So I decided to embrace the contrast and push it a bit. I hope you like it as much as I enjoyed laying in the mud. I like my office.

Stay tuned.

100th Post… "What Lies Beyond"

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:50:45 +0000

Finally made it to 100 posts. I’d like to thank the academy and my parents of course. Now where is my Kanye West moment?

I’ve covered a lot of things on this blog/journal and it has been fun to watch it grow and build momentum. I started slowly. The first post was back in February of 2008. It involved the Aurora Borealis and how to photograph it. Didn’t post anything for 4 months… not exactly how I’d recommend that you build a “steady” fan base. I’ve covered bear, moose, eagles, caribou, Dall sheep, whales, glaciers, rain forest, digital darkroom techniques. My move to Alaska and increased focus on my photography has been the greatest “risk” I have ever taken. And by far, the most rewarding.

Although I have greatly increased my post frequency, I don’t typically “schedule” a post for a particular day like some do. I wait until I have content ready. For me, it is more about quality over quantity.

To each their own. Horses for courses.

Yesterday, I made my way “down south” again to the Kenai Peninsula for sunrise photography. Another beautiful drive. Well, the way home it was anyways. Still very dark on the drive down. But the days are definitely getting longer now, the sun is actually rising before 10 AM! So much for my theory about sleeping in and still photographing sunrise… I left my place at 5:45 Am in anticipation for the nearly 3 hour drive. I met a very nice highway flag person, directing traffic through a construction zone just past Moose Pass. We talked for quite some time after I finished shooting. He’s been working the same area since Fall, so it was great hearing him describe how the quality of light and color has changed over the months. He’s seen lots of bald eagles, lynx, and moose in his 1/4 mile. Interesting guy.

Unfortunately, the web cannot adequately display an image in such scale. The shrinking and compressing of such an image (the original, unflattened image was over 2.5 GB!) lessens the impact and introduces “viewing problems”. The right side of the image shows a poor transition from foreground detail to the sky – there is a “halo” like appearance surrounding the trees on the web version. Simply put, it’s not there in the original… it’s all a figment of your imagination:)

The new camera I’ve been using for the past couple weeks (Canon’s 5D mk 2) really produces high quality files… that’s when user error doesn’t generate cr@p of course. As I was piecing this pano together in Photoshop (it’s 16 vertical images, merged into one gigantic pano – 8 for ), I took the time to “look around” in the composition. There’s a TON of detail here. For instance, the partial peak just to the left of the center mountain has a small glacier on it. In the full version of the image, it’s easy to see the pale blue exposed portions, a few crevasses and seracs. Pretty cool, if I do say so myself.

What’s absolutely fascinating to me is “what lies beyond”. While researching this region on Google Earth (what? you don’t have that on your ‘puter? As soon as you are done here, click this link and download the program. Your welcome.) is the vast wilderness just beyond. Google Earth reveals so many photo ops, literally just over ridgelines and rivers, valleys and summits. Pristine lakes. Totally virgin photographic territory… oops, sorry… a little drool problem here. Surprised my laptop isn’t smoking. I may need to invest in flood insurance, but I’m not sure if that comes with a drool clause. Anyways…

Hopefully, the quality has been at least adequate for you, my readers. It is my goal to make sure that it only improves.

So. What does “lie beyond”? Simple, a massive personal project that I will be announcing here shortly. Well, the idea is simple… the actual tackling of said project, not so much.

Stay tuned…

Alaska's Southern Coast Tour Filling Fast!

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:30:05 +0000

This is a good time to remind you of my upcoming photo workshop/adventour in June. Seats are limited, but we have a few spots open at this time. Please click HERE to read more about this one of a kind experience. Of course, if you have any questions, please contact me at any time. I look forward to seeing you, on this incredible tour!

Don’t wait, don’t hesitate… the remaining seats will not last much longer.

Frozen in Time

admin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:07:18 +0000

Here’s a few more images from Sunday – hope you enjoy them!

Stay tuned…

Ice Ice Baby

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:49:10 +0000

I apologize for revisiting “Sir” Vanilla and his seminal “musical” score…

Anyway, less talk and more images. Here are two more images from Sunday’s trip “down south” to the Kenai Peninsula.

Stay tuned…

"It's Cold in Them There Hills"

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:35:33 +0000

I spent most of today’s daylight hours waiting to join the polar bear club.

Same ol’ routine. Got up early, well… relatively early as compared to the sunrise time. Sunrise today was at 9:57 am at the location I planned to shoot. That’s the great thing about landscape photography in winter – sleep in and still catch sunrise!

I got up at 6:30, showered & (because of mom’s good teachings) put on clean underwear. Don’t be that person. I headed south to the Kenai Peninsula in the dark. Along the Turnagain Arm, several pair of eyes glanced up at me from the road side, 4 Dall sheep not 10 feet off the pavement. But I was on a mission, and it was dark. Very dark. In the summer months, the sun would have been up for over 4 hours by this time. But at this time of year, I had 2 more hours of darkness. Thank you Starbucks…

My original plan was to shoot ice formations on Kenai Lake, just beyond Moose Pass. As I neared the lake though, something peculiar struck me.

There was no ice.

This was going to make walking on the lake very difficult. And wet. And cold. You get the idea.

I was stunned, Kenai Lake is always frozen this time of year. But there she was, waves crossing the surface and lapping along the shore. Stumped, I turned around and headed back towards Moose Pass. Luckily, Trail Lake (which I am guessing is much more shallow than Kenai Lake) had plenty of ice covering it. So I parked and hiked down to the shoreline. Absolutely quiet. No wind. No movement other than a light fog hanging midway up a mountain slope and scattered clouds that were well above the peaks. The ice was thick, as far as I could tell – at least 2 feet thick, if not more.

I started looking for interesting patterns and pressure ridges in the ice. I was about 10 yards beyond the shore line when 3 things happened.

1. The ice lifted, then fell under my feet. The ice didn’t collapse or give way – it just surged. Wow, wasn’t expecting that.

2. The lake itself groaned, breaking the early morning silence. It was a series of odd sounds: deep and resounding “Bewwwwwwww”‘s and pops, then cracks and creaks. It’s funny how loud these sounds are when you are standing directly above them when they occur.

3. I realized that mom was definitely right about that whole “clean underwear” rule. She’s a bright woman.

I “casually” moved (read: “ran like hell”) off the ice and back to the safety of the shore. I had only brought the one pair of clean underwear and all. I didn’t want to push my luck.

I spent the rest of the morning photographing fractures in the ice, landscapes, air bubbles trapped in the ice, and pressure ridges at Trail Lake. Beautiful location right off the Seward Highway, couldn’t be easier to get to. But the surroundings are pristine and I had the place to myself the whole time. Next time, I’m going to plan a clockwise circumnavigation of the lake to search for more image options. The area is rich with them & I can’t wait to get back.

On my drive home, I took a short side trip down the Sterling Highway to Cooper Landing and the other end of the Kenai Lake. The vast majority was open water, but I did find a nice patch of ice near Quartz Creek with several options for more photographs.

I had beautiful, soft light the whole day. It would have been nice to have a bit more color in the sky – but it was still an excellent day in the field. And as we all know, even a bad day in the field is better than any good day in the office.

Stay tuned… I’ll post more pics from today’s shoot over the next several days.

Workshop Announcement: Alaska's Southern Coast. June 11-18, 2010!

admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:38:01 +0000

This is the workshop I’ve been subtly hinting about for a while now. I’m very excited to be hosting this workshop along with my good friend Gary Gullett. Gary is the owner and founder of Chicago Photo Safaris, and we met over 1 year ago while photographing the wild waters wildlife of Kenai Fjords National Park.

No kidding, this is going to be a long post. I’ve written a trip description for our workshop/adventour – you will find it below. If you have any questions regarding this amazing photo workshop, please feel free to email any time. I will respond as quickly & completely as I can. If this trip sounds like something you want to do, consider this – it will fill quickly. Before the trip was formally announced, we’ve already taken reservations. We are limiting the workshop size to 12 participant photographers. Each participant can also bring a non-photographer spouse/friend at a heavily discounted rate. We are also offering 2 price points for this adventour; a single occupancy rate for travelers wishing for private accommodations, and a double occupancy rate for photographers looking to save a little money by doubling up with another photographer.

Don’t wait, don’t hesitate, don’t delay – reserve your spot now & make an investment in your photography & yourself.

All reservations will be handled by Chicago Photo Safaris. Gary Gullett is presently on a photography trip to Australia, so actual monetary reservations/transactions will likely wait till his return in a few weeks. However, if you have a serious interest in this workshop, please send me an email to get on the workshop list. The people on this list will be called upon Gary’s return to secure their spot, and a reservation deposit will be taken at that time.

For immediate public release.

Photo Workshop: Alaska’s Southern Coast. June 11-18, 2010

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Get ready for the trip of a lifetime.

Power Creek & Rainforest. Cordova, Alaska.

Sixtyone North & Chicago Photo Safaris are excited to announce this once in a lifetime journey to the pristine southern coast of Alaska. Diverse, beautiful landscapes and a wide variety of wildlife will surround you at every turn on this 8 day photographic adventure workshop.This is where glaciers go to die. Where oceans are born, fed and sustained. Where mountains do not rise from the horizon, they are thrust up with such force that they tear a ragged scar across the sky. Standing guard between the soaring mountains and the cold ocean depths is the ancient Chugach National Forest, the northernmost rainforest on the planet. Sheer cliff faces tower hundreds of feet above the protected ocean waters of the Kenai Fjords and Prince William Sound. You will see colors so vivid, varied and lush that you may initially doubt their authenticity. But just like you, they are here – real, alive, and basking in all of Alaska’s majesty. The wildlife here is truly and simply that. Wild.

Breaching Whale. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska.

From the moment you land in Anchorage, there is no telling what you will see. Moose wandering across the highway or right downtown in the state’s most populous city. Just outside of Anchorage we will find (at close proximity) nesting Arctic Terns. They have the longest yearly migration of any animal, at 24,000 miles. It’s breeding grounds are right here in Alaska, but soon they will start the long journey south to Antarctica. Nearby are Dall Sheep (the planets only wild, white sheep), perched precariously along steep cliffs above the Seward Highway. Sometimes they venture down right along the side of the road, eating the low grasses nearby. Bald Eagles soar overhead and Beluga Whales porpoise just offshore, in the Turnagain Arm. We will pass through stunning landscapes as we make our way south, to Seward.This small coastal town is the gateway to the Kenai Fjords National Park, and is our base for the next 3 days. From here we will venture out onto the waters of the North Pacific, winding our way between protected bays, stunning fjords and in front of enormous tidewater glaciers. The long days (around 20 hours of daylight) allow this perfect environment to create an immense amount of food for the denizens of the deep. Algae blooms feed the plankton and krill, feeding the small fish and birds, which feed much larger species. Including Dall’s Porpoise, Orca (Killer Whales) and Humpback Whales. We usually only catch glimpses of these marine giants, a geyser of expelled air, the arch of a back, and the silent sliding of a 15 foot wide tail (or fluke) into the ocean. But sometimes, these massive creatures rocket out of the water in a full breach and reveal their full size, before crashing back into the ocean with tremendous force. Sharing the ocean are a wide variety of other species, namely Steller Sea Lions and Harbor Seals. Flying above, and diving below are tens of thousands of sea birds. Gulls, Kittiwakes, Oyster Catchers, Cormorants, Alcids, Auklets, and of course Puffins (both Horned and Tufted) are everywhere.But fighting the wildlife for our attention at every turn are the wild lands. Dramatic islands and sea stacks, rugged coastlines, and thundering glaciers. You have never seen so many shades and intensities of blue, until you’ve visited Alaska. But the one that will be forever etched into your mind, is the deep black-sapphire blue within the newly exposed glaciers. You are staring literally into eternity. It creaks and groans, shutters and booms like an artillery shell exploding, as it moves slowly across the Alaskan landscape. It is a shaper of our world. A mountain crushing, valley carving, fjord chiseling combination of immense beauty and utter power. And we aren’t even half way through our adventure…

A pod of Orca surface in the Kenai Fjords National Park.

After a few days exploring this busy port and the surrounding Kenai Fjords, we head East to locations a bit less traveled and more remote. Cordova, Alaska. We will truly be taking the “roads” less traveled over the next several days. First we must cross the Prince William Sound on a high speed catamaran ferry. The 110 miles will fly smoothly by beneath us in only 3 hours. Sit back and relax in comfort and watch the beautiful Sound glide by, or stand on the back deck of the ferry and take in the surroundings in the open air. Tidewater glaciers are tucked back in the fjords, and the Sound is pock marked with dozens of uninhabited islands. You may never realize that this same area was devastated twice in the last 45 years. In 1964, the Good Friday Earthquake summoned up a tsunami that wiped out several communities. Then, on March 24th in 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef in the Northeastern corner of the Sound. It spilled 10.8 million gallons of crude oil into the pristine waters outside of Valdez, Alaska. Over the next few months and years, the oil spill directly caused the deaths of over 250,000 seabirds, over 3,000 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles, and 22 orca. Devastating is an understatement.
But today, the wildlife is back, as we will see upon arrival in Cordova. Dozens of bald eagles perch in trees near our lodge and all along the coastline, soaring above the quiet waters of Orca Inlet. And just offshore, we’ll float among sea otters. Not just one or two, but dozens and perhaps hundreds! We are timing our journey to see the newborn pups cradled atop their mother’s chests. These adorable animals have the densest fur of any animal, up to 150,000 strands of hair per square centimeter. Cordova is the unofficial sea otter capital of the world, and the photographic opportunities here are endless.

Sea Otter, Prince William Sound, Alaska.

But sea otters are just a little of what our Cordova base camp has to offer. You will be hard pressed to find a more diverse landscape, anywhere. The Chugach Rain Forest dives inland right from the coastline, sweeping up the lower ramparts of the surrounding mountain ranges. It is lush in every sense of the word. Old growth. Trackless. Dark. Mysterious and draped in vibrant silvery green moss. This forest will suck us in, enveloping us in its history. Glacier and snow melt fed streams rush through the forest, a milky turquoise blue coursing through the deep forest. A cool mist hangs in the air. The forest is still, yet alive all around us. We will walk the shores of nearby lakes, fog shrouded and lit warm by the early morning sun cresting the ridges above. Ducks, geese and grebes are everywhere – raising their young families in this idyllic and tranquil setting.

Canada Geese & fog. Eyak Lake, Cordova, Alaska.

Child's Glacier. Near Cordova, Alaska.

We will pass over the Copper River (the 10th largest river in the United States), as it fans out into the Copper River Delta after its 300 mile journey from deep within the Wrangell Mountains. The Delta is the largest wetlands along the Pacific Coast of North America. This area is the annual stop over for 16 million shorebirds (including all of the worlds Western Sandpipers) and the largest population of nesting Trumpeter Swans on the planet. We will watch for bear and moose as well, as they frequent the trails to be explored. Further on, the Delta changes shape. It is a stark plain in comparison to the nearby rainforest. Grey waters rush by with amazing power, tearing trees from their roots and carrying them down stream. Ancient ghost forests struggle to remain standing against the torrent. But beyond looms the massive Child’s Glacier. We will be given a unique opportunity to witness the raw power of a glacier as it slowly tears through the Alaskan landscape. We will set up less than 1/4 mile from the glaciers terminus, and photograph it for several hours as it crashes over and over into the undercutting Copper River. This will give us ample time to study multiple facets of this natural wonder as it slowly dies the same death it has been undergoing for several thousand years, up close and personal. We will have a great meal prepared on site (over open fire) as we study the dynamics of glacial geology, through our lenses. Eating steaks, munching on s’mores, and sipping at wine as one of the most awe inspiring sights crashes directly in front of us. Over and over again.
Natural drama doesn’t get any bigger than in Alaska. And this is Alaska’s best kept secret. There are opportunities too great to pass up. This is one of those. Are you ready?
Beautiful & grand landscapes. Diverse & awe-inspiring creatures. Witness your dream adventure come true. Witness Alaska’s Wild Lands & Wild Life.

Sea Otter Mom & Pupp. Prince William Sound, Alaska.

Itinerary:

June 10-11 – Arrive in Anchorage prior to 12 PM local time in preparation for tour departure at 6 PM local time on June 11th. We will make our way south from Anchorage to Seward, on the Kenai Peninsula. Along the way, we will look for a variety of migratory and resident bird species, Dall Sheep, and Beluga Whales. That’s just in the first hour of the drive! We will circumnavigate much of the Turnagain Arm (a fjord that cuts east of the Cook Inlet), then drive over Turnagain Pass. There will be lush fields of lupine to consider for subjects as well. We will pass glacially fed streams and lakes, and be surrounded by vast mountain ranges throughout our journey to Alaska’s southern coast. Once checked in at our Seward lodging, we will check into our the harbor and coastline just outside our door, looking for Bald Eagles, Sea Otters, and Steller Sea Lions. We may also see Humpback Whales right from the Seward waterfront! For those not minding a late night, we will take part in an optional sunset shoot (weather dependent). Overnight in Seward.

Wild Columbine. Near Cordova, Alaska.

June 12 – Optional sunrise shoot in beautiful Resurrection Bay. We will board a small boat tour early in the morning for our full day boat adventure into the incredible Kenai Fjords National Park. A light breakfast and delicious lunch will be served onboard this small boat cruise. We will be on the constant look out for Humpback Whales and Orca (Killer Whales), as well as Dall’s Porpoise, Steller Sea Lions, Sea Otters, Harbor Seals and more. There are tens of thousands of birds that call the Kenai Fjords region home through the summer months; Bald Eagles, Cormorants, Gulls, Auklets & of course Puffins! We will also visit one of the dozens of tidewater glaciers in the area. So much variety, so much beauty. Bring your memory cards and extra batteries! Upon arriving back in Seward, we will have dinner (not included) and discuss the days events. After dinner, we will explore more of the surrounding area, perhaps an easy hike to Exit Glacier, along the coastline looking for Sea Otters, continuously surrounded by immense beauty. Optional sunset shoot. Overnight in Seward.

June 13 – Optional sunrise shoot. We will spend our last full day in Seward exploring the area and all the photographic options nearby. Exit Glacier, or perhaps a more strenuous hike (optional) to Tonsina Creek & Point. We will spend part of the afternoon at the Alaska SeaLife Center, where you’ll get the unique opportunity to photograph marine mammals up close & personal, as well as learn all about them from wildlife biologists. We will have our first classroom session and discuss the power and versatility of Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop – bring your laptops so you can follow along and try out your new digital darkroom skills! After the SeaLife Center closes to the public, we will step behind the scenes for a backstage view of the aviary. Walk among puffins and other beautiful sea birds, feed them fish from your hands, and get an amazing opportunity to see these beautiful feathered creatures up close. Following dinner, we will again head out to nearby locations and conduct an optional sunset shoot. Overnight in Seward.

God Beams Over Turnagain Arm. Alaska.

June 14 – Optional sunrise shoot. We will meet for a delicious breakfast at one of Seward’s many great eateries. Then we will check out of our hotel and head north to Whittier. Along the way, we will photograph more wild Alaskan landscapes and watch the beautiful scenery roll by. As we near Whittier, we will stop by Portage Lake to photograph icebergs recently calved from the Portage Glacier at the other end of the lake. Then it’s on to Whittier, and our high speed ferry service to Cordova. We will glide quickly over the pristine Prince William Sound in the comfort of the catamaran. This area is frequented by many varieties of marine wildlife; different whales (Humpback, Minke, and Gray), Orca, Dall’s Porpoise, Steller Sea Lions, Sea Otters, and a wide variety of bird species. We will be moving at nearly 40 mph, but if you close your eyes, you may forget that you are moving at all – the catamaran is so smooth and quiet, even at this speed. Depending on the 2010 schedule, we may stop over in Valdez – the end of the line for the oil delivery pipeline that starts over 800 miles to the north, in Alaska’s North Slope near the Arctic Ocean. Upon arrival in the waters around Cordova, the scenery changes. The water takes on a smooth, quiet appearance. Mountains rise up from the coastline, and all around is rain forest. Welcome to the Chugach. After docking we will check in at the Orca Adventure Lodge, our base for the next five days. We will eat a hearty meal cooked by their skilled chefs and discuss the coming adventure. Optional sunset shoot. Overnight at Orca Adventure Lodge, Cordova.

A Blossom Revealed. Near Cordova, Alaska.

June 15 – Optional sunrise shoot. After a delicious breakfast at the lodge, we will head out to get our first real look at the amazing diversity that surrounds Cordova. Amazing rain forest. Beautiful, glacially fed lakes and streams. Pristine coastline. Lakes & ponds filled with migrating and breeding birds. Endless trails to wander, sloughs to explore, and diverse ecosystems to melt into. This is Alaska at its finest. No crowds, no rushing around. Just our small group exploring these untamed lands. We will have access to 18 foot ocean going skiffs to take our group into Orca Inlet, in search of the not-so-rare Sea Otters that call this area home. We won’t have to look long or hard, they are everywhere! Young & fluffy pups cuddled on their mother’s chests or swimming nearby. Large adults, and even the rare cream colored Sea Otters. Hours of photographic options while floating on these tranquil and protected waters. Optional sunset shoot. Overnight at Orca Adventure Lodge, Cordova.

June 16 – Optional sunrise shoot. Today is another day of grand landscapes. After another great breakfast, we will slowly make our way to the Copper River Delta, and the Child’s Glacier. All along this route, we will be surrounded by wildlife – mostly avian, but we will also watch for the hundreds of local moose and even brown & black bear. There are many Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans, Canada Geese and a wide variety of ducks along the way too, so keep those telephoto lenses at the ready. We will pass by several glaciers, and may stop by Sheridan Glacier if people are up for a hike to the edge of its terminal lake. Moose and bear frequent this area, so we will keep our group close and our cameras at the ready!
There really is no way to properly describe the incredible sight that is Child’s Glacier, but we’ll have plenty of time to capture its majesty on “film”. We will spend the rest of the day at the viewing area less than 1/5th of a mile from it’s vertical face. The Copper River is swollen this time of year, and the melt water undercuts the glacier’s terminus, causing it to calve frequently. Massive chunks of ice, some hundreds or even several thousands of years old, fracture off and crash into the cold waters. It never gets old, and the sound and sights will stay with you forever. Plus, you’ll have “pics” to prove it! A great dinner prepared over open fire by a chef from our lodge with your new friends all around, and an awesome sight before you. A nice glass of wine or a local Alaskan microbrew, something to help wash down your hearty meal. Then roasting marshmallows and building s’mores over the campfire… holding a marshmallow stick in one hand, your camera’s remote release in the other. It really is hard to prioritize! It will be difficult, but we will have to head back to our lodge on the coastline, and our comfortable beds for another great nights sleep. A dream filled night, the scent of an open fire or the ocean on your clothes, and a thundering boom deep within a glacier you will never forget. Overnight at Orca Adventure Lodge, Cordova.

June 17 – Optional sunrise shoot. We will cover some of the opportunities we missed on Tuesday (the 15th). Perhaps more time on the water with the otters, bald eagles along the coastline, several options of rainforest hiking. More wild life & wild lands around this hidden gem that is Cordova. We may have another classroom session in the afternoon (weather depending), delving deeper into the power that Photoshop and Lightroom have to offer. There are more waterfalls to discover and explore, more bear to seek out. More photos to take and more stories to share. Optional sunset shoot. Overnight at Orca Adventure Lodge, Cordova.

Nature's Boardwalk. Haystack's Trail near Cordova, Alaska.

June 18 – Optional sunrise shoot. Our final day. After an early breakfast, we will board the ferry for the return trip to Whittier. Once there we will make our way to Girdwood, and the Alyeska ski area. For those that reserved their seats, a flight with Alpine Air is in order! Beautiful, grand aerial views of Alaska’s mountains, valleys, glaciers and oceans. For those wishing to keep their feet on the ground, we will do an easy hike to Virgin Creek Falls, and perhaps the Winner Creek Trail. For the more adventurous, ride the gondola to the ridge line that looks out over Alyeska Resort and Girdwood. Then jump off! For an additional fee, you can fly with an expert paraglider pilot (tandem) over the beautiful slopes and forests below. Then we will make our way along the Turnagain Arm back to Anchorage, watching for Dall Sheep, Bald Eagles and Arctic Terns before dropping you off at your hotels or an optional “Epilogue” dinner at one of Anchorage’s amazing restaurants. Then, your adventure continues wherever your camera takes you, wherever your lens points you, and wherever your heart pulls you.

Note: We will attempt to follow this itinerary whenever possible. But keep in mind that it is rough guideline/suggestion. While pursuing photography, it is best to learn to adapt and then embrace whatever mother nature throws at you. If the weather simply is too hostile to venture into, we will adapt by covering digital darkroom topics in classroom sessions. But if the weather is beautiful, we will forgo those indoor sessions and embrace the good weather outdoors. Naturally, we reserve the right to alter this itinerary at any time. We will make every effort to keep you up to date regarding any changes as early as possible, but any additional costs incurred due to schedule or itinerary changes are the sole responsibility of the participant(s).

This is a whole new class of workshop. Part adventure, part tour. An Adventour!
One thing is for sure, the photo adventure workshop is all about diversity. Prepare yourself for long days in the field, early rises and late evenings. The sun rises around 4 am and sets after 11 pm. Of course, these sunrise and sunset shoots are not mandatory, but they will be offered whenever the weather cooperates. Weather is always a consideration, and the only thing regarding it that can be guaranteed, is that there will be weather. You have set aside valuable time and money to participate in this adventure. Regardless of the weather, we will do everything in our power to maximize your photographic opportunities. Sometimes, this means shooting in less than ideal conditions. Always remember one of Dave’s Photographic Axioms: Weather can make the photograph – good or bad, blizzard or gale. Many people put their cameras away and head back inside when “the weather outside is frightful”. That’s when we head out. Some of the most valuable gear you can buy is good rain gear for yourself and your camera equipment.

Have we piqued your interest yet? Many a photographer has dreamt of an Alaskan adventure, yet the cost of bringing “the right gear” has stymied their plans. The idea of investing not only in the trip of a lifetime, but also high end cameras and lenses to make the trip worthwhile, is down right intimidating. This kind of investment can easily put a trip like this for many photographers. But what if you had gear waiting for you, gear of your choosing? Professional gear… gear that you paid just a fraction of the cost to use, at your leisure while on your tour? Gear that you don’t need to worry about transporting to and from Alaska? We have this solution already in place for you. Everything from fisheye lenses and macro/micros up to the latest (& huge) 600mm f/4 lenses from both Nikon and Canon. And everything in between. Need another camera body for a backup, or have you always wanted to try out a high end pro body made by Canon or Nikon? We’ll arrange it for you through our gear rental partner at Borrowlenses.com. You don’t need to do anything special, just let us know what your needs are (or let us help you figure those out!) and we’ll take care of the rest! We get a discount on our rentals because of the quantities we deal in, and we pass that rate directly on to our clients. Dave Taylor has a long history working with Canon equipment, and Gary will help you pull become very proficient using your Nikon gear.
Running out of excuses, aren’t you?

Sea Otter. Prince William Sound, Alaska.

We are here every step of the way; before, during and after your adventure. We’ll make sure you have everything you need before leaving for Alaska, you’ll get a detailed packing list & suggestions. Have a question about your trip, send Dave an email and he’ll use his on location knowledge to get you feeling confident that you are fully prepared. Once here, Gary and Dave will put every ounce of their effort into making sure that you have a successful photographic journey – through expert instruction and guiding, both in the field and our short but intense classroom sessions. In these sessions we will cover Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop. Topics like image management, layers and layer masks, sharpening, panoramic images and much more will be covered. Photography has several difficult facets to learn. Your guides have years of experience teaching everything from the fundamentals to the most advanced techniques, and have developed teaching methods to simplify this process – speeding your growth and broadening your horizons in the process. You will become more confident, more efficient, and more successful in your photography. You may shoot thousands of images over this week long journey. Photographers have learned, “Pics, or it never happened”. Can you get those pics? We’ll show you how

There is one more option to consider. We are proud to offer a cooperative endeavor with Alpine Air – the premier helicopter flight seeing service in Alaska. Alpine Air has worked closely with several large cinematography projects, professional photographers, and national/international TV shows. And now it’s your turn! We have arranged a reduced rate, and one more incredible opportunity – Alpine Air will take you up in their incredibly maintained 4 seat helicopters, the perfect aerial photography platform. With the doors off. Yep, you read that right – nothing but open air between you, the mountains, mountain ranges, passes, glaciers, icefalls, crevasses, ocean and wide open sky. Well, maybe one thing between you and those things – your camera and wide angle lens! This is an incredible offering, one you don’t want to miss, and one that you will grin broadly at every time your memory floats back to that incredible aerial session over south central Alaska. The sites are amazing, the experience jaw-dropping, the memories… everlasting. Of course, this trip is weather dependent – but if you don’t fly, you don’t pay. Just that simple. A la carte offering to any participant that is interested. Cost: $550 per participant. This may be a good time to add that wide angle image stabilized/vibration reduction lens to your rental order!

Tour Date: June 11-18, 2010

Workshop Leaders: Dave Taylor & Gary Gullett

Group Size: Limited to 12 photographer participants + spouses/friends (non-photographers)

Investment

$3990 (Double Occupancy) – per photographer

$4690 (Single Occupancy) – per photographer

$1990 (Double Occupancy) “Tag-along Rate” – non photographers. Limit 1 “Tag-along” per photographer participant

The non refundable reservation fee is $750 per participant.

Once the tour has filled, we will keep a waiting list in case of emergency cancellations

Because of our small group, this tour will fill quickly. If you think this trip might be just what you have been waiting for, don’t delay, contact us immediately!

Sea Otter Mom & Pupp. Prince William Sound, Alaska

What’s included in your investment: All travel within Alaska from the time we meet in Anchorage on June 11th, till we drop you off back in Anchorage on June 18th. This includes our van service throughout the trip, an extraordinary 10 hour boat trip in Kenai Fjords National Park, the high speed ferry from Whittier to Cordova (and back), and ocean going skiffs for our photography sessions on Prince William Sound (out of Cordova). Also included in your investment is all lodging during the tour, double occupancy rate applied. Should you prefer the privacy of your own room, we also have a single occupancy lodging rate of $3999. Lodging in Seward overlooks the harbor and Resurrection Bay beyond. Want a balcony on your room, just add $30. But do it quickly (these rooms will fill fast!). Lodging in Cordova is at the amazing Orca Adventure Lodge. Secluded and set along the Prince William Sound coastline, this rustic and historic lodge will be our comfortable base of operations for 4 nights. From here you can set yourself adrift in a sea kayak (not included), walk the rugged shoreline, or explore waterfalls and rain forests just outside your door. Included in our stay here is a chef prepared meal at Child’s Glacier – wonderful food in an amazing setting.

Of course, all instruction & guiding is included – both field and classroom sessions from your two dedicated and passionate guides.

Turnagain Arm Flats, Golden Carpet. Alaska.

What’s not included: Any travel expenses to and from Alaska, any lodging & transportation before and after your tour, and meals (except for the Child’s Glacier dinner and breakfast & lunch on Kenai Fjords small boat cruise). Why no meals? Simple – tastes and appetites are too varied to factor into our cost. Tips/gratuities are not included for guides/logistics partners/lodging or restaurant staff. Nor is travel insurance (which we highly recommend) or photographic gear. If you are interested in renting gear at a lower than market value rate, please ask – we’ll be happy to make recommendations for appropriate equipment and arrange everything for you, no worries, no hassles! Beverages & snacks are also not included. Also not included; visas, passports, immunizations (only applicable to foreign travelers), laundry, phone, “pay per view” TV (where available) at lodging, cost of hospitalization or emergency evacuation if necessary.

Requirements: We recommend that you arrive in Anchorage before June 11th at noon. We will be meeting June 11th at 6:00 PM for the start of your tour. Do not make any plans to depart Alaska before June 19th, as we may well go late on June 18th. We require full medication lists and contact numbers in case of emergency. You will also be required to sign a waiver & assumption of risk form, as required by law. You must understand that, by booking your travel with us you are accepting our policies and will agree to follow our guidelines at all times. Our guidelines and policies have been put in place to ensure a safer adventure travel experience, for you (our clients), our guides & logistics partners, and for our planet as well as its inhabitants. Our tours are eco-friendly, and we follow the mainstay ideal of “Take only pictures, leave only footprints”. As the sign says – The client is always correct. Please ask your guide if you are still considered a client.