** Kathleen Reeder Wildlife Photography is an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service. **

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:  Intermediate Amateurs, Advanced Amateurs, Professionals

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:  You need to be experienced with your camera to make suggested setting changes in the field without hands-on assistance and comprehend the rationale behind the recommended settings (including exposure mode, f-stop, shutter speed, ISO, focus mode, white balance, assessing histogram and highlight information, and making corresponding exposure compensation changes). This is not a workshop to learn how to use your camera.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Participants must be in good health. You must be able to carry your gear without assistance. There will be no exceptions to these requirements.

Participants will be required to sign the Kathleen Reeder Wildlife Photography Risk Waiver.

Join professional wildlife photographer Kathleen Reeder for an incredible 8 day photo safari centered in what’s coined as the “The Golden Triangle” for Alaska wildlife photography – the coastlines of Afognak Island, Katmai National Park and Lake Clark National Park. We’ll scout and photograph coastal brown bears, eagles, puffins, sea otters, sea lions, whales and more. And sport fish for halibut along the way!

In Lake Clark National Park and Katmai National Park, you will safely photograph and experience wild coastal brown bears in their natural habitat on land and at eye level. In May and June, brown bears gather in large numbers in the bays and along the coast feeding on sedge grasses and digging for clams.

Afognak Island is within the world-famous Kodiak islands and is unique in that the combinations of land and sea mammals you’ll see are rarely found together elsewhere. You’ll photograph the popular Kodiak brown bears combing the pristine shoreline feeding on sedge grasses and digging for clams. You’ll also photograph tufted and horned puffins, bald eagles, orca (killer whales) and humpback whales, sea lions and adorable sea otters. Afognak is an incredible almost-mosquito less island with a wildlife experience in a completely remote atmosphere where you can play hard, eat big and sleep deep!

See a compilation of aerial footage below of Afognak island and the lodge from Josh Randall (owner) and Jordan Kamae (boat captain) at Afognak Wilderness Lodge.

See a compilation of iPhone videos of Afognak wildlife and Katmai NP from Kathleen below.

As we travel around the Gulf of Alaska, the landscape photography at all locations is impressive as well. You’ll bring home a vast array of stunning photographs!

Highlights

The safari begins and ends in Homer, Alaska. We’ll travel by air and boat to find and photograph the best of Alaska’s wildlife – coastal brown bears, fox, Sitka blacktail deer on land; eagles, puffins, oyster catchers, kingfishers in the air; whales, sea otters, sea lions, seals and dolphins in the water. Rest and renew each evening in first-rate lodging accommodations.

• Travel in a small group (maximum of 6 participants/minimum of 3)
• Lodging accommodations in Homer and on Afognak Island
• Expert bear viewing guides and fishermen
• 8 days of land and marine wildlife photography
• Opportunity to sport fish for halibut, lingcod and rock fish
• Expert photographic instruction prior to and throughout the safari

Includes

• Pre-trip photography instruction and planning materials
• Charter bush flights between Homer, Afognak Island, Katmai NP and Lake Clark NP
• 8 nights lodging (3 nights hotel in Homer) and (5 nights on Afognak Island in luxurious cabins)
• Two RT bush charter flights to Hallo Bay in Katmai National Park for brown bear photography
• Two RT bush charter flights to Lake Clark National Park for brown bear photography
• Chest waders and boots for shoreline walking
• Fishing license, fishing gear, fish-cleaning/freezing and insulated shipping boxes
• All meals while on the Afognak Island
• Ground transportation in Homer
• Photographic Guidance throughout the workshop
• All park fees

Excludes

• Airfare to/from Alaska
• Meals while in Homer, Alaska
• Extra nights lodging in Homer or Anchorage before/after the safari
• $1/pound for commercial quality vacuum sealing that keeps fish fresh for at least one year
• All gratuities for air, boat and lodging services
• Trip Insurance (recommend Cancel for Any Reason coverage from Allianz or Travel Guard for best protection)