Hey there… I’m heading to Alaska on Sunday for a bear photography trip! I’m so excited. I’ve never taken a photo of a bear before (well, other than a cell phone snap while vacationing in Tennessee). So I want to make this a useful trip for both me and you.
How the Trip Came Up?
Years ago, I co-taught some landscape workshops with a good friend of mine, Tom Bol. Since I’ve stopped doing most travel workshops, I often get asked if I know of any good ones. And everyone that asks me knows I say the same thing…
“Take a workshop from Tom Bol… you will never find a more knowledgable teacher that’s so enthusiastic about teaching you everything he knows.”.
I’m serious!… and that includes me. Tom is what I strive to be whenever I teach a workshop and I typically will always come up short, because he’s that good. He works tirelessly around the clock, with a smile on his face 100% of the time, to make sure you get a great experience. Anyway, I’m taking his upcoming workshop next week in Alaska. This will be the first time I get to go to a workshop just for me and I can’t wait.
What Are Your Questions?
I’d love to do a trip recap when I get back, so I thought I’d ask your questions ahead of time. What would you like to see? I can record some video while I’m there, but what exactly would help? I don’t want to lead your questions, so just think of whatever it is you want to know and comment below. That way, I can be prepared ahead of time and hopefully come back with lots of great info.
Interested in this Type of Workshop?
If you’re interested in this type of workshop, check out Tom’s website. This one of course sold out very quickly, and he’s already filling up for next year. Tom has been trying to get me to come out to this area for 10 years, and he promises it is an extremely special place and a great experience. So I’d snag one of the last spots for next year if you’re considering it.
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
My husband and I visited Alaska last year. We decided to bite the financial bullet (we had already spent too much for this trip) and flew to Katmai from Homer Spit last June for the brown bears. It was a photo shoot at the top of my bucket list. It was AMAZING!!! So glad you get to do this. Can’t wait to see your results.
Been there, done that on the Inland Waterway. Great fun. When photographing bears, in the excitement it’s easy to forget that if they don’t catch enough fish, assuming you’re on the water near where they are hunting, they can always eat you. I was able to get great shots with a 70-280 and a 1.4 multiplier from a Zodiak (motorized), which enabled us to get pretty close. Many fish eyes in my shots.
You will enjoy this more than you ever thought.
Enjoyyyyyy your trip , forget about the rest. Just great “you time” out there!
Will love to see the bear pictures.
Hi Matt – Just a heads up on a few items that might be of interest to you. Went on a Bear Safari in Alaska and stayed at Silver Salmon Creek Lodge. We took a bush plane in from Anchorage. Landed a beach there and saw Grizzly’s within minutes of our landing. The tides there were in access of 20+ Feet. The cubs would come out at low tide and do their shelling for clams at that time. You just need to know when the tide is coming back in so you have time to get out. You’ll transportation will probably be some kind of ATV. One of the neat things was using my Canon R5’s ability to detect and track the eye of animals. And in the Cameras discreption it didn’t list Bears as one to the animals that the camera was able to track. To my surprise it did very good job of it. The best was when I was at the right place at the right time when a bear caught a salmon on the beach and the AF tracking was spot on as he was eating and shaking his head. And if you get a chance don’t forget about the Northern Lights and Iditarod dog tours.
Matt:
You are a lucky guy, I have lived in Alaska now for 48 years, have thousands and thousands of brown bear photos from mostly around McNeil River area!
Bears are definately my favorite animal in Alaska, if they know your there usually not a problem, unless you surprise them, get near their food, or between mom and baby bear. Be aware of whats going on around you!!!
This early time of year like now you will mostly see mating activity in the grass flats, not to many salmon in the rivers yet but that can improve any time??
If you see cubs, that should be the mom bear with them, older male bears tend to kill cubs to get the females back into heat and the whole process repeats itself.
Id love to see your photos when you return!!!!!!
Have a great time, I’m sure you will.
Dave
I am heading to Silver Salmon Creek Lodge on July 20th for a week! It was great to read about your experience!!
Wow how amazing to be going on a workshop there. Been to Alaska before my photography days but now I’m headed to Svalbard inside the Arctic Circle north of Norway in 2 1/2 weeks time. As I love wildlife of Africa photography I would appreciate tips on exposure particularly in the whites of snow and ice as hoping to see polar bears (as opposed to the brown and black bears of your trip). How much to over-expose to get the whites white for instance.
Have a fantastic trip.
Matt I have been to Alaska about 6 times since my sons lived there for 10 years. Definitely bring wide angle and zoom. Crazy beautiful vistas. We fished down the Kenai River during salmon season, take a float trip cause the water there in unbelievable gorgeous. Bears ripping salmon open to eat them to the bones. Your guide should defiantly pack a weapon, besides a camera. The drive from Anchorage to this area is breathtaking. Stop at Alyeska and hike the rainforest adjacent to the lodge. A unbelievable primordial rainforest is here. At the end people ride the chutes, in kayaks. Crazy! Mama ‘s restaurant is nearby, an iconic place to experience . No dressing up here. Bring layers, us Floridians will feel cool.
Matt – I took your “course” comparing LR sharpening and Topaz couple of months ago. (I had just bought Topaz for my photo focused Apple mini). I found on most of my pics, my (DNG) LR images were better with the LR sharpening program. Recently I got back to image loading into LR (two years away from photography and a crashed Apple iMac) and I am finding Topaz is taking control when I go to PS and can’t find the LR sharpening option when I’m in lightroom. Any ideas what I’m doing wrong?
RE: BEARS take the tips coming out of Yellowstone and stay back but pack a long lens.
Hi Karl. For the Topaz question I’d ask Topaz if it’s not working right. LR sharpening is always in the Detail panel. Hope that helps.
Not a question, but recommendation. When in bear country, always travel with someone who runs slower than you.
Since the bears regularly follow defined trails to feed, etc., are you planning on setting up any remote cameras? If so, how will you trigger them and with what system (Cam Ranger, etc.)?
Nope. No remote cameras.
Have a great trip!
Be prepared, sometimes mosquitos (Alaska State Bird) can be a problem.
Don’t let the excitement keep you from sticking to what you know. For most shots, shutter speeds don’t have to be as aggressive as you may now think.
Finally, Alaska is an amazingly beautiful site and I encourage you to put a wider angle lens in your vest if possible (unless you looove your small backup camera). I have a photo of a giant bear paw sitting over my desk from when a bear came and laid down next to me (and McNeil River reacher was snoozing).
Not a question … just a warning …. close your windows and leave all snacks covered at all times … did you see the clip with the bear sitting sidecar in the truck eating the fellow’s snack??? too funny … don’t take any chances .. they are not teddy bears out there 🙂 … have a great time and carry bear spray
Could you show an overall shot so I can see the distance from you to the bears? (Tripod to carnivore) my fear has always kept me from photographing bears even when I did a week in Sewell and had the opportunity to do so via plane. Maybe my vision of the actual physical setup is different than what it really is like. The pics shown are always so close!
Have fun, be safe
Deidre
You will have a ball. Guided trips to bear country is the only safe way to photograph these amazing critters. You will have trouble creating original photos however since every one is taken to the same locations at the same times. Venturing off by yourself in Alaska should be reserved for the experienced.
Even when in guided tour please beware of your surroundings. Do not stress the bears and by all means do not find yourself standing between a cub and momma bear. You will die.
Have a great trip and be sure to look around since there is so much to photograph there besides bears.
What was in your camera bag for the trip? Any special or different gear needed for that environment compared to, say, Costa Rica?
I’m so jealous.. on my bucket list perhaps after Africa..
Have an amazing trip!
Wow! Have a blast. Was at SS Creek Lodge about 10 years ago. One my other favorite photographers is guiding this year. It would be so cool to be on this trip with both you and @brooklittlebear!
bucket list trip. can’t wait to hear your thoughts. had a trip with Tom several years ago and your description is perfect, Have a great trip buddy !
Matt,
Lake Clark is awesome and Silver Salmon Creek Lodge is a first-rate operation. Proximity to the Coastal Brown Bears is unrivaled. I was there several years ago just around July 4th. Some advice if I may, make sure you have something to protect your camera and lens from the dust. The ATVs you ride around in kick up a lot of dust and you will not want to have them in the open let alone changing a lens while the vehicles are moving. Also, bring something to cover your mouth from the dust. I was there pre-covid but if I were going there now, I would bring the type of mask that covid made popular. Also bring something like a pillow case or cloth bag to hold your camera gear while riding in the ATVs. I recommend two bodies, one having a longer lens (I used a 100-400) and other with a shorter combo (24-105 for landscape and environmental shots). I did not use a tripod although some people did use them with big 500 or 600mm lenses mounted. As for the bears, we saw and captured many different bears, many at really close range but was somewhat disappointed that there were not more moms and cubs. It was explained that with the relatively large number of big males, many of the moms with new cubs were reluctant to bring them out into the large meadow when the big males were present. The Silver Salmon Creek guides really know their stuff and put you in the best situation to get the shot without creating risk for the bears or the people. Their knowledge of the bears gives them an uncanny ability to predict what the bears will do. I am sure you will come back with an unbelievable assortment of bear pictures. The landscape shots and the Eagle shots were an extra bonus. Enjoy.
Rich
Where is the photography location
June is good month with the young bears also
I photographed the AlaskaBrown Bears at Books Falls
There are always issues with managing birds in flight against a blue background or when there is a physical separation between the bird and the background. Any good tips on separating an animal from the background when they are part of the background?
Hi. This post was about bears, but here goes 🙂
There’s no trick to separation. You put yourself in a place where there is separation or there isn’t. Sometimes you can’t control it and you get what you get. Hope that helps.
I’ve been going to Lake Clark every year for the past 11 years. It’s an amazing place and you will have a blast. I’m sure you’ll see Crimp Ear and her Spring cubs along with others. I’ll be there in a few weeks. Look forward to hearing about your trip.
Wow! That’s great. Yes, we just heard word there are cubs so it’ll be a lot of fun to photograph.
You will be amazed at how close you will be to get interactions between the cubs.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Dave Rasmus is your guide. He’s great! If you see him tell him I said hi.
Where are you going exactly?
I’ve been to Brooks Falls in 09 and WOW. been awhile but never far from my memories.
I understand you need to get a permit a year or so ahead of time now.
I’m sure there are many cool places it is a big ass state with a lot of big ass bears.
You will have a blast. Explore.org just launched its web cams for the Salmon season at Brooks Falls, not much activity yet but it will come.
Do not forget your deet.
PEACE
Click the link I mentioned, and you’ll see the exact trip. Thanks.
Have a great time!!! It is one of the things on my bucket list.
I’ve stopped going to all workshops since I did two in California in December 2019. I live in Maryland. I recall going to every scene and not knowing how to compose, just wandering back and forth. I picked a log as a foreground object at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton and that photo is now critiqued as being a boring object. I thought I had done the tight thing. So how do you do it? Also, is everyone still jamming into the same car without a mask? Does everyone still jam into the afternoon class without a mask? I know you’ll probably just compliment the class but those things are what ai want to know.
Hi Alton. I’m assuming we’ll all be in the same vehicle and same classroom, as we should be at this point. I don’t know about others but I definitely won’t be wearing a mask. I haven’t seen a workshop or place of business mandate a mask in a while now. So, as it should be, it will be up to you if you’d like to wear one.
I had a temporary job in Alaska and got to be around their bear population for 8 weeks. You probably know this but the brown bears and black bears are 2 distinctly different creatures. Browns are incredibly aggressive. Having said that I got some fun shots in the Alaskan wildlife refuge. Hot dog eating cubs are a hoot. Thought having a section to translate how to get better shots at the zoo. I have a picture from San Deago of a bear in his jacuzzi I just love. Regardless where they are their expressions are priceless. Being able to get better pictures in our own back yards might not be a bad thing. Truly is just a thought. If you do not have the time of your life I will be sorely surprised. Glacial Ice is truly to die for. It has the most gorgeous color streaks. Probably not what you needed but soak in every minute of this one
The bears at Lake Clark are Coastal Brown Bears and are very acclimated to humans. They eat mainly grass, berries, clams and fish. In the years I’ve been going there I’ve never seen any signs of aggression towards humans.
You will love it. My son recently moved to Homer, Alaska, so I’ve been to Alaska a couple of times to see the bears. Of course with camera in hand.
(Am I allowed to say this, if not delete it: Check out http://www.Gondwanaecotours, my sons tour company, note, it is an ecotour company, not a photography based company.)
I don’t have my bear photography down yet. I’ve not been shooting that long. So I would love to know what focus you are using: spot, matrix, tracking… or do you change it up. Let us know how you manage to get down low at Lake Clark. Do they keep
You on viewing platforms and a distance from the bears. Or are you ground level, will you put on waders and go in the water. I’ve yet to go there.
If hand held- what shutter speed is good for capturing the bear. I keep cranking mine higher. Or are you using tripod with gimal? That gets heavy if you’re hiking.
Have a grand time, create some amazing photos and tell us all about it.
The basic camera settings for successful photos and lenses.
There are 2 things I’ve wondered about. 1) how physically demanding is it? and 2) how crowded with other photographers is it? Does the crowd spoil the experience?
Thanks.
Great questions. I’ll let you know about the physicality of it when I get back. As for crowds, the way I understand it is that the lodge we’ll be at, we are the only people there and the only ones that will be at the photo spots since it’s so remote. Thanks!
Two questions that concern me are: 1) How close does one get to bears while photographing them…and, reciprocally, how far should one stay away from them to ensure one’s own safety AND to not interfere inappropriately with the bear’s activities AND to fill the frame with your subject; and 2) what are some of the rules of nature photography…for example, is it ethical to feed hot dogs to a bear to entice it to be photographed?
You have a guide with you at all times and no one feeds hot dogs or anything else to the bears. 🙂
Try Silver Salmon Creek Lodge in Lake Clark National Park. Amazing for coastal brown bear photography. Puffins also.
SWEET!
Hello Mark,
I went to Katmai National Park in late August. We stayed on a boat and photographed the bears fishing. It was a great trip but it turned out the guide did not have a license so we were asked to leave after three days.
Thanks Joe!
– Mark 😉
Love all the comments of folks that have had the experience of photographing In Alaska. I have not yet had the experience but it is on the top of my list . Have a wonderful time, get photos, and really enjoy the experience. Will be excited to see your photos and hear about your trip!!!
Have you updated your will?
Matt,
This has been on my list for quite awhile. I’m looking forward to your notes and any advice that you have to make my dream a reality. Thanks and enjoy the experience.
Neal
you should also try to get to Alaska later in the summer when the bears are fishing for salmon to fatten up for the winter..the Park service maintains several blinds from which one can get great photos…
What a great opportunity. Bring a long lens. Make sure you put the camera down and take in the experience. Keep memo’s because you will forget many of the great experiences over time. Bears are beautiful creatures but they need their space. Hope you can get some cubs and fishing shots. They can get quite muddy when digging for clams and that can make for some unusual images. Above all, listen to Tom’s advice and enjoy.
Hope to see a “How To Shoot Bears (with a camera)”.
Hi Matt,
I do not have any questions. I just think you should enjoy the trip / workshop. Alaska is a great place to see, we were
there back in 2009 and its a trip we will never forget. You will get lots of questions when you get back, so don’t worry
about questions.
Semper Fi,
Joe W.
Hi Matt,
I was just reading the details of the trip, which will include photographing Puffin. I sent you some shots I took last week on Saltee Island off the southeast coast of Ireland. They are beautiful birds. Getting up close to them was not a problem we got to within 6 feet of them when they were walking to their burrows. Their wing beat is very fast.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how you capture them and what settings you used.
Regards,
Michael
Hi Matt,
Good luck with your trip. I’ve been there twice, getting my best pictures near a town called Haines ( A grizzly with a salmon in its mouth). The most challenging part I found was to get a catchlight in the eyes, which are very small compared to the size of the bear. Pictures that I wanted but did not get were a bear standing on its hind legs and two bears fighting.
I’m looking forward to your comments when you return. I wish I were going with you it will be a great trip.
Best regards,
Michael McEvoy
I am interested in attending a workshop next year that would include a day or 2 at Brooks Falls but also whales , puffins etc for 8 or so days. All the workshops I’ve seen mostly stay the whole time in Lake Clark or Katmai. I’m going this Aug and driving from Anchorage to Homer and taking a boat trip out of Homer to lake clark to photograph the bears so can’t wait to hear about your trip. Thank you Matt.
I spent a day on Katmai NP with a bear guide and it was the BEST photography day of my life. I hope yours is the same.
What an awesome opportunity! Have a great time!
I would love to see an image of a Parent (mom or dad) bear bonding with its cub in its natural habitat.
This is probably a weird question, but it states that rooms at the lodge are double occupancy only. How did that go for you? It makes me a bit edgy to think about sharing a room with a stranger.
When I photographed bears at Fish Creek (Hyder), one photographer had a flash unit that funneled the light for long distances. Made a big difference in the original capture and less awkward editing afterward. Looked extremely natural as fill light. Might be worth having.
Have fun. It is an experience one never forgets!
What camera settings are most used to acquire good images? How much post work is necessary to make the image pop?
What a great opportunity for you. Can’t wait to see the videos. I’m going to Alaska in mid September. Are there bears still around at that time? If so where? Can you see them in Denali park? Also hoping to see some moose. Any pointers you or anyone else may have would be most welcome. Thanks so much.
September is a great time to photograph the bears. They are fat and full of food. And less stressed. The cubs are more active, moving farther away from the momma bear. Also, the first cold nights often allow for more colorful ground foliage since fall color starts earlier there than in the lower 48. Take hand warmers both for your gloves and to tape to your camera to keep the batteries warmer for longer shooting.
I have been to Alaska multiple times in September visiting Denali and Katmai National Parks (I have not been to Lake Clark NP). Many bears are visible in both locations, but be aware that both parks close down in mid-September due to weather. So you basically have the first two weeks of September.
In Denali you would be photographing wildlife (bears, moose and possibly caribou, wolves) from a converted school bus traveling a dirt road about 30 miles into the park. The animals will usually be quite far away, meaning you’d need something like a 150-600 zoom. The road normally goes about 70 miles in, but the last half is closed due to a major construction project.
Katmai (Brooks camp/Brooks Lodge) is great for photographing mothers with cubs in September. Most of the big males are elsewhere, so the sows with cubs are out in the open more and easier to photograph. They are mostly scavenging dead salmon along the shore of Brooks Lake and river. A 150-600 or 100-400 zoom is great here also.
Weather can be iffy. Expect rain about half the days. Because of this, I try to stay at least 5-6 days in either location to get several nice days of shooting.
You can drive to Denali from Anchorage (about 350 miles) but two flights are required to get to Katmai.
Moose are visible around Anchorage year-round but it’s hit or miss where and when you can find them.
I did an Alaska bear workshop with David Cardinal many years ago, and it was one of the best photo opportunities I’ve ever enjoyed. Got fabulous pix. Would love to do it again with current equipment, which is so much better. If I recall correctly, I was using a pair of Nikon D2X and either a 300 f2.8 or a 200-400 f/4. What I’d be most interested in knowing is what equipment/settings you find most valuable in specific situations.
[Hint: on one of those days I found myself on a path next to a river, separated from our group and guide, when a female bear came strolling down the path directly towards me. The guide told me that it was my path and to hold my ground, which I thought was crazy but did as he instructed. The bear veered around me! Best part: I had my old Leica with a 35mm lens hanging off a shoulder. Held it in one hand, right in front of the bear, and just keep snapping the shutter. Fabulous shots where you can even see the mass of bugs hovering around her face! Who would have thought you’d use a wide angle lens when chasing bears?]
I hope you have an awesome time!
How are the accommodations (assuming Silver Salmon Cr Lodge or similar)? I’m going next year and want my wife to accompany me, but she’s had some bad experiences with remote, rustic (no hot water) lodgings. Can I reassure her, or should I advise she stay home? Thank you!
Silver Salmon Creek Lodge is very comfortable. The food is much better than average. If your wife would appreciate the wildlife experience itself I think she would be very happy. This is not a “rustic” lodge per your definition. 🙂
Have spent a week with the bears at Lake Clarke twice – you will have a wonderful time and can’t wait to get your general take in the experience. Especially interested in what lenses work best for you.
Thanks! I’m only bringing one lens (200-600mm) so that’s what will work… (I am bringing a small 24-105mm just in case for wider photos)
I typically use my 500 sometimes with an extender, but usually not and frequently my 80-400. Your 24-105 should be good for environmental shots. That’s worked well for me for a number of years.
I’d love to know what you are able to do about the harsh midday sun on wet, reflective fur. I did a similar shoot of the bears at a salmon run during spawning season and had a lot of trouble balancing the hot spots from direct mid day sun against the shadows crossing other parts of the bears bodies. The worst dappled light
Lucky you. This is something on my bucket list. I’d be interested in what you find to be the best lens and exposure settings while there. I figure you’re going to experiment with this, so listing what works and what doesn’t would be a good thing. Maybe also, best time of year to go, best time of day to go etc. (mostly standard stuff)