Tom and Cree just finished their Katmai Bears Workshop and are sharing the highlights with you. They joined 9 photographers on daily flights in small planes to locations all over Katmai National Park in Alaska. Photographing multiple sets of triplet cubs was a highlight for everyone.
To see photos from our Katmai Bears Workshop, check out our trip report by clicking here
What’s new:
Interested in seeing images from our workshops this Summer? Join us for a free online Summer Image Celebration on Sunday, August 25 at 6 pm MDT Denver time. We will be showing images from photographers on our workshops to Lake Clark NP, Badlands NP, Katmai NP, Nome and the Pantanal. Click here and request a link if interested in viewing or participating.
Any upcoming openings?
Route 66 Albuquerque to Winslow: Oct 23-27, 2024 Read more Photograph iconic locations like the WigWam Motel, Route 66 Diner, and Petrified Forest National Park. Learn more about using a speed light to add color and creativity to your images.
Arches and Canyonlands: Nov 3-7, 2024 Read more An all time classic. Photograph brilliant red rock arches on crystalline blue skies.
Bosque and White Sands National Park: Dec 8-12, 2024 Read more Perfect workshop for photographers who want to improve their birds in flight photography. Photograph the dazzling white gypsum dunes at White Sands National Park.
Tom and Cree just finished their Nome Workshop and are sharing the highlights with you. They traveled with a small group of 5 to remote Nome, Alaska to photograph arctic birds and primitive muskox. Several of the photographers in the group commented on how special it was to photograph animals in the wild that they had never seen before.
To see photos from our Nome Workshop, check out our trip report by clicking here
What’s new:
Tom and Cree have settled into their new home in Palmer, Alaska and have their offices up and running. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about workshops.
Tom and I celebrate great images from workshop participants by selecting a Photo of the Month. For November we chose an image taken on our Chilkat Eagles Workshop. The image was taken by Marni Nagy on a snowy day on the Chilkat River in Alaska. Marni’s creativity extends to her business as well. Check out Capturing Couture to see her beautiful, custom camera straps. Perfect item for the Holidays!
Congratulations to November 2023 ‘s featured photographer – Marni Nagy
Marni on the edge of the Chilkat River
The Story…
I was off to the side. I got a different angle than everyone else. One of the eagles, the one I call Mohawk, was the aggressor all week. Based on her size, I think she was a female. She was often the one going after other eagles. I have the before and after sequence from this image. The eagle who had the fish flipped over and had it’s back on the ground to get it’s talons in the air.
I didn’t realize that eagles were scavengers. Eagles would grab a salmon and bring it out of the river and then another eagle would come in and take it. There were plenty of fish to go around in the river.
I was working on protecting my ISO. This was my biggest learning from the workshop. Tom and I discussed exposure compensation vs ISO. He recommended giving up exposure compensation to have a lower ISO.
Having a day of snow was just magical. Even the grasses became pictures.
Photo of the Month – Eagle Dance on the Chilkat River
EXIF Data:
Camera: Nikon D850
Lens: Sigma 150-600 mm at 600 mm
Aperture: f6.3
Shutter: 1/2500 sec
ISO: 1100
Mode: Manual, auto ISO
Exposure Comp +.3
Mature Bald Eagle in Flight
About Photographing in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
I had never been to Alaska. Only to Colorado. I feel like the vistas in Alaska were much grander than in Colorado. When the fog rolled in I could really get the layers with the trees. The mountains were stunning. I turned my landscape into a black and white image. There were so many layers of majesty.
The number of eagles made it very easy to find a photo. The difficulty was to find a picture that showed the quantity of eagles. I wish I had gotten a better shot of just how many eagles were sitting there. It was just amazing.
Across the scenic Chilkat River
Marni’s Tips for Photographing Eagles
Tip 1
Go to the right place. At Chilkat the eagles were all right there.
Tip 2
You needed to have patience. Some of the groups would leave after 20 minutes because there were no eagles. The eagles would always show up if you waited long enough.
Tip 3
I was at 600mm most of the time. Bring a long enough lens.
Tip 4
Try using manual mode, with auto ISO for wildlife. I had not shot in manual before. I will use this again. I used the group area tracking in the D850 and liked the results.
On Marni’s Horizon:
Bosque
Iceland
Northern Lights
Marni and new photo friends
Tom and Cree are headed to Bosque for the last 2 workshops of the year. Sandhill cranes fly through vibrant New Mexico skies as they land on the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge. For the last two days of the trip we photograph soft hues of pink and blue over the dramatic dunes at White Sands National Park. Keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram for posts.
The Northern Lights have been spectacular in Fairbanks this fall. Get in on the action on our Northern Lights and Iditarod Workshop in March 2024. Three spaces available. Click here to learn more.
We just returned from our Lake Clark Bear Workshop and are already longing to go back next year. The spring cubs were just wonderful. Take a look at our trip report to see the photos and catch up on what Crimp’s Cub looks like this year.
Tom has been busy working on articles for Nikon in his spare time. Check out his new piece on the Pre-release Feature of the Nikon Z9. If you are an Olympus user you probably already know about it. If you are a Nikon user, this allows you to record images before you push the button and capture a burst of activity. Great read! Click here. Most of the images for the article were taken on our Texas Birds Workshops in May
Tom and I will be out of the office for several weeks in August with workshops in both the Galapagos and Greenland. We want to be able to answer all of your questions as soon as possible and will check messages whenever we have coverage.
We will be readily available and in the office from August 8-12. We are also around for the next several days (end of July) if you need anything.
Thanks for reading our posts. We hope to photograph with you soon!
Five days of sunshine and endless hours of golden light. We could not believe the weather we had in Nome, Alaska for our Arctic Birds and Musk Oxen Workshop. This was the first time we offered this workshop and we are already planning to head back in 2024 for Summer Solstice.
Click on this link to see the trip report images and read about our adventures in Nome.
Interested in joining us in 2024, June 17-22 for our next Nome Workshop? Only one space left. Read more
Thanks for reading our posts. Hope you are having a good summer!
We had some spectacular aurora this year for our Northern Lights Workshop in Fairbanks. You can read all about it in our illustrated trip report. Click here to see the report.
What’s next: we are headed to Sicily for the next few weeks with Strabo Photo Tours. If you are looking for a warmer destination, consider joining us in Southern Spain for warm weather, flamenco dancing, beautiful Moorish palaces and laughs all around. Four spaces available Southern Spain Workshop on May 13-25, 2022.
Check out our listings for domestic 2024 Workshops, more international trips coming soon.
