Churchill Polar Bears 2025

Ken Lee

Ken Lee, the founder Art of Seeing Photography Adventures is as passionate about helping others grow as photographers as he is about creating his own images. Ken’s Whole Brain approach to teaching photography addresses both the Craft (gear, technique, post-processing) and Creative (Composition & the Photographer’s Eye) aspects of image-making – and the completely different approaches needed to master both. Click the links to read more about Ken Lee and The Art of Seeing, what you can expect from an Art of Seeing workshop, or to see examples of Ken’s photography.

Day 1 (Oct 30) Winnipeg – our adventure begins at 3pm with an Introductions and  Workshop Overview meeting followed by a session on Wildlife Photography Fundamentals & Advanced Techniques. We want to hit the ground running in Churchill, so we use this day to make sure everyone’s camera settings are dialed in, answer questions, and let you know what to expect for the coming week.

Day 2 (Oct 31)  Winnipeg – Churchill – we board our morning flight to Churchill after an early breakfast. We’ll transport you to our accommodations upon arrival to drop off our bags and change. We’ll have lunch in town and head out into the field until sunset, exploring the shores of the Hudson looking for polar bears and other wildlife.

Dining options in Churchill are limited, but surprisingly good. After our meal, we’ll head back to our home base where your Ken will go over tips and best practices for managing images in the field and at home.

Days 3–6 (Nov 1-4) Churchill – Starting before sunrise each day, we venture out along 15 miles of coastline in private vehicles piloted by our professional bear guides(s), tracking polar bears and trying to anticipate their behavior to be in the best positions for eye-level photography. Whenever a photo opportunity arises, we’ll maneuver our vehicles as close to our target as the situation safely allows before getting out to begin shooting. Solo bears, sparring males and mothers with cubs are common sights. Other species such as arctic fox, red fox, arctic hares and snowy owls are often spotted.  Caribou, wolves and wolverines are much less common but have been sighted on past trips. Shooting opportunities can last from anywhere from less than a minute to an hour or more. Once the opportunity is over or we’ve had our fill, we get back in our vehicle to continue the hunt.

We break for lunch in the afternoon to recharge and warm up at the log cabin style Lazy Bear Lodge in Churchill before heading back into the field for more wildlife hunting with our lenses until twilight.

Our post dinner schedule will be dictated mostly by the weather. If conditions look favorable, we may head out to hopefully photograph the Northern Lights. Otherwise, Ken will demonstrate some favorite post processing techniques, offer comments on participants’ images or work with you individually as time allows.

Day 7 (Nov 5) Churchill–Winnipeg – one more day of photography – the number of shooting hours today depends on Calm Air’s flight schedule which varies from year to year. Then, we will head to the airport to catch our flight to Winnipeg. Our adventure ends upon arrival at Winnipeg airport.

Note: Hotel accommodations in Winnipeg for this evening are NOT included in the workshop price.

We understand life happens and plans may change. If you need to cancel your reservation, the following policies apply to this workshop:

Deposits are NOT refundable but may be transferrable to another Art of Seeing workshop for up to 24 months from date of cancellation in accordance with the following schedule:

Regardless of when you cancel, if we fill your spot*, you will receive a refund of all fees paid less your deposit and $150 processing fee. If we cannot fill your spot, the amount of your refund is based upon the cancellation date:

• Cancellation 120 days or more from workshop start date: 100% refund of fees paid less deposit and $150 processing fee. Deposit transferrable up to 24 mos.

• Cancellation 90 – 120 days from workshop start date: 50% refund of fees paid less deposit and $150 processing fee. Deposit forfeit.

• Cancellation less than 90 days from workshop start date: No refunds.

*canceled spots are filled after the workshop reaches full capacity

Click here to read our complete Terms & Conditions

Travel Insurance

A travel insurance policy which covers medical evacuation is a requirement for participation in this workshop. Such policies typically cover many other things like lost luggage or non-refundable payments if you need to cancel your trip.

Q: How is this trip different than other polar bear tours?

A: Every aspect of this workshop is specifically designed for passionate (but not necessarily expert) photographers who are looking for the best opportunities to bring home portfolio-worthy images of polar bears and other arctic wildlife and landscapes. We are not confined to a tundra buggy or attached to a large group of non-photographers. Finally, this trip is meant to be a learning experience about the art and craft of wildlife photography as much as an opportunity to photograph polar bears.

Q: How should I book my travel?

A: You should arrive in Winnipeg (YWG) no later than ~1 pm on Oct 31. Our return flight to Winnipeg on Day 7 should arrive in Winnipeg in the late afternoon, but this flight is often delayed by weather. We suggest planning an overnight stay in Winnipeg (NOT included in workshop fee) and flying home the following day.

Q: Can you guarantee we will see polar bears or northern lights?

A: No. When it comes to nature, there are never any guarantees. The workshop is timed specifically to maximize our chances of encountering large numbers of polar bears based on historical freeze-up dates but climate change and other factors are making things less predictable these days.

 We need clear, dark skies and the right type of solar activity for the northern lights (aurora borealis). 2025 is a peak year in the sun’s 11 year cycle, but we still need the other factors to coincide to have any chance at photographing the aurora – again, no guarantees.

Q: Is it safe?

A: Polar bear viewing and photography can be done safely if everyone follows instructions and acts appropriately. Our guides are experienced professionals who are knowledgeable about bear behavior. They also carry deterrents including firearms which are only deployed as a last resort. However, these bears are wild animals and individuals may not behave as expected. Intentionally approaching large predators for viewing or photography is an inherently dangerous activity. Per our Terms & Conditions, by registering for this workshop, you explicitly acknowledge and accept this risk.

Q: What else is there to photograph?

A: Besides polar bears, we may also encounter other arctic species. Arctic fox, Red fox, Arctic hares & Ptarmigan are common. Other species such as gyrfalcon, rough-legged hawks, caribou, wolves and wolverines live here as well but are much more rarely seen. Landscapes are also an option and can be quite dramatic with the right light and weather, especially after freeze-up begins. Finally, we will be on Aurora (northern lights) alert the whole time we are in Churchill – if conditions look promising, we’ll head out after dark to hopefully capture some images of the Northern Lights. However, this trip is not specifically focused on Aurora photography.

Q: What will the weather be like and how should I prepare for it?

A: Layers upon layers - a detailed packing list including specific clothing recommendations will be provided to participants after registration.

Q: What kind of photo equipment should I bring?

A: Specific recommendations will be provided to participants after registration but a telephoto lens of at least 400mm is strongly suggested as a starting point.

Q: Where will we stay in Churchill?

A: We’ve reserved two private residences (think Air BnB’s) for our group. It’s a bit unusual, but it's the best choice among limited options in Churchill