Spaces Available: SOLD OUT
Location: Lake Iliamna Area and Katmai National Park
Cost: $10,200 See the 2022 Trip Report
Dates: August 28-September 2, 2026
“It was absolutely amazing, and I can’t imagine it could have been any better. There were so many bears, and wonderful locations resulting in many, many appealing images. Most of all, it was rewarding to have great people to share this experience with. ”
Greg Ness – Participant 2019
Details: Photographing brown bears in Alaska is a bucket list trip for wildlife photographers. Bristol Bay hosts one of the largest salmon runs in the world. The Sockeye salmon attract bears….and the number of bears are staggering. On this trip we photograph boars, sows and plenty of cubs….often chasing bright red salmon up the streams. In 2026 we will be rafting down rivers with bears fishing on both sides. We stop on gravel bars and set up to photograph bears in action.
We fly into a remote lodge on Lake Iliamna and have access to bush planes each day to transport us to our shooting locations. Each day we plan our destination based on where the bears are congregating: remote parts of Katmai National Park, and the iconic Brooks Falls.
This trip is more physical than many of our workshops. On this trip, we will be getting in and out of planes and rafts on a daily basis. We will be walking for 1-2 miles through uneven Alaskan wilderness and crossing streams to get to the bears. Participants must be in good condition and able to hike with their own gear.
Occasionally the weather in Alaska will prevent us from flying to photograph bears. This time can be used for editing images, photographing the local village or fishing. This is a regular part of photographing in Alaska and may result in rescheduling flights or hotel stays at the participants’ expense.
Come join us for this fantastic trip. We love photographing bears, and can’t wait to return!
What you will learn:
- Wildlife photography techniques
- How to photograph bears in their natural environment
- Slow water techniques at Brooks Falls
- Editing in Lightroom and PhotoShop
A typical day: After a hearty breakfast at the lodge we will head out for the day in a float plane. We will eat a sack lunch in the field. After a full day with the bears, we return to the lodge for a relaxing dinner. Our goal is to help you learn how to take compelling bear photos with hands on instruction. We will cover camera settings, anticipating behavior, and using a variety of perspectives.
Lodging:
Our group will be staying at the Jacque’s Adventure Lodge on Lake Illiamna in Alaska and these nights are included in your workshop fee. Lodging is double occupancy in cabins with private baths.
Closest Airport: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport ANC
This year we will meet our group on August 28 at 8 am at Iliamna Air Service ready to fly to Lake Iliamna. Participants will need to book their own lodging in Anchorage for the night of August 27. We recommend the Lakefront Anchorage, the Anchorage Marriott or the Copper Whale Inn. We will land back in Anchorage in the late afternoon on September 2. You will need to book your own lodging if you plan to spend the night in Anchorage on September 2.
Recommended camera gear:
- 1-2 camera bodies (back up body recommended)
- Lenses ranging from wide angle 24mm to 70-200mm
- Wildlife telephoto lens – 300mm or more (200-500mm or similar works great)
- Tripod
- Polarizing filter
- Laptop for editing and critique
- Large Photo Backpack (with extra room)
Included in the fee:
- Airplane flight to and from Iliamna from Anchorage
- Daily transportation by small plane to photography sites
- Pilots and bear guides
- Rafting gear, hip waders and boots
- All meals while at the lodge
- Copy of Tom’s ebook Create Better Photographs
Participants will provide their own:
- Hotel accommodation and meals in Anchorage
- Round trip transportation to Anchorage, Alaska
- Alcohol: the town of Iliamana is dry. You can purchase alcohol in Anchorage and take it with you or have it shipped ahead of time.
- Gratuity for staff and guides while at lodge – recommended $100 pp per day
Know Before You Go: Difficult This workshop requires walking up to two miles daily on uneven terrain with all of your camera gear. We will load into planes and rafts daily.
Deposit only Katmai Brown Bears
August 28-September 2, 2026
$1,500.00
