2024 Alaska Grizzlies Photography Adventure

Workshop Information Packet

WELCOME!

Thanks again for joining our 2024 Alaska Grizzlies Photography Adventure. We’re very excited to share the stunning natural beauty and wildlife of Lake Clark National Park with you. But first, a little planning is required to make sure everything goes smoothly. This document contains important information to help you prepare for your travels. Please take some time to read it carefully.

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

Workshop Dates:   September 5–12, 2024
Instructor/Leader: Ken Lee

The workshop begins at 4pm on September 5 at the Lakefront Anchorage hotel in Anchorage, Alaska and ends upon our return to Anchorage on September 12. We will overnight in Anchorage on Sep 5 and travel to Silver Salmon Creek Lodge (SSCL) inside Lake Clark National Park by small airplane the following morning. We’ll check-in and get settled at SSCL, which will be our home base for the remainder of the trip.  After lunch, we’ll head out into the field for our first bear photography session, returning after sunset. For the next 4 days, we will rise early and head out into the field on foot or ATV carts for a full day of wildlife photography returning to the lodge for meals and breaks.  Limited Wi-Fi (i.e. email only)  and cell phone service (depends on your carrier)  should be available atthe lodge.  On the final day (Sep 12), we will have one final early photo session before returning to the lodge for breakfast and our mid-morning return flight to Anchorage. The workshop ends upon our arrival in Anchorage.

Balance of Fees

The balance of your workshop fees is due as follows:

$2500 – due Dec 1, 2023
Remaining Balance – May 1, 2024

You will receive invoices by email approximately 20 days before each due date. Payment can be made online by credit card. Please contact us if you wish to use another form of payment. Your prompt payment is much appreciated.

ANCHORAGE – TRAVEL & LODGING

Flights –

Arrival – book your inbound flight to arrive in Anchorage (Airport code: ANC) no later than ~1pm on Sep 5 (our first group activity is at 4pm). 

Departure – schedule your homeward flight for after 5pm on Sep 12. Note: Our flight from Lake Clark is scheduled to arrive in Anchorage around noon but it’s common for this flight to be delayed due to weather or other factors. You may want to overnight in anchorage and fly home the following day.  

COVID-related requirements (as of Feb 2023)

American citizens & permanent residents – proof of vaccination and pre-travel Covid testing are NOT required

Non-citizens – proof of vaccination is required but pre-travel Covid testing is NOT required.

This information is accurate as of Feburary 2023 but requirements may change – click here for up-to-date information.

Anchorage - Lake Clark Flights – are via small ‘bush’ plane which depart from a local airstrip. Flight duration (one way) is approximately 1 hour and the cost of the flights is included in the workshop fee.

Anchorage Hotel – all group activities on Day 1 will take place at the The Lakefront Anchorage Hotel located less than 5 minutes from the airport. The rate for our group is TBA (2023 rate was $239 + taxes per night). We will let you know when 2024 prices are confirmed. Please let the hotel know you are part of the Art of Seeing group when booking your reservations.

The Lakefront offers complimentary 24-hour shuttle service from/to the Anchorage airport. Please call 907-243-2300 after collecting your luggage to arrange transport.

Staying at the Lakefront is convenient but not required.

Note: The cost of hotels & meals in Anchorage are NOT included in the workshop fee. You must book your own hotel reservations for your nights in Anchorage.

HEALTH/MEDICAL

Prescription Medications – remember to pack an adequate supply of any prescription medications (also supplements, sleep aids, non-prescription pain relievers, etc.) you take as there are no stores or services at SSCL.

Allergies – please let us know about any allergies you have AND the severity of your reactions. It is your responsibility to carry appropriate medications (e.g. Epi Pen) in case of accidental exposure.

WHAT TO PACK

Luggage Weight Limit – there is a 50lb (23kg) luggage weight limit per passenger including photo gear on the flights to/from Lake Clark. Excess baggage may be accommodated (depending on the combined weight of all passengers & baggage) but will incur an additional charge. You are responsible for any overweight fees you incur. It is also possible to ship items to the lodge in advance of your arrival. Please contact us for details if you plan to do this.

Weather Note – expect cool coastal conditions. Daytime temps are typically in the 50’s to 60’s Fahrenheit (~10°–21° C) with rain likely. Waterproof (not water resistant) raingear is essential.

Clothing – as always, layering is the key to staying warm, dry and comfortable as conditions and activity levels change. The following are general recommendations and not intended to be a complete packing list.

  • Base layers (top & bottom) – although we are not expecting extremely cold temperatures, we may be standing or sitting  in one spot for long periods. A good set of merino wool or synthetic base layers will help preserve body heat.

  • Mid Layers – down jackets/vests, wool sweaters, soft shell or fleece are good options for your mid-layers. Lined pants made for cold weather or heavyweight corduroy on top of your base layer are the best option to keep your legs warm.

  • Outer Layer – a truly waterproof jacket is a must. Waterproof pants are handy for kneeling or sitting in wet conditions.

  • Warm socks – merino wool again or synthetic.  

  • Waterproof boots – are essential. We will be walking in muddy, marshy terrain and tidal flats. The lodge has a supply of knee boots available for guests but small and large sizes may be limited.

  • Chest waders – optional

  • Gloves - a pair of thin gloves that will let you work camera controls without removing them

  • Warm hat or beanie

  • Balaclava, scarf or buff – to protect your face and neck

  • Polarized Sunglasses

  • Hand & Toe warmers – for those whose extremities get cold easily.

 Photo Gear – it’s tempting to bring everything you own, but that usually works against you. The following are what I consider to be the essentials. I am happy to give brand/model recommendations for specific items. Just ask.

  • Camera Body(s) – dSLR or mirrorless (full frame or crop sensor). ‘Bridge’ cameras with a long zoom (400mm+) are also an option.

  • Lenses – I favor zoom lenses for their flexibility in composing images, but prime lenses tend to be ‘faster’ (larger maximum aperture) which is an advantage in low light. Your longest lens should reach at least 400mm, preferably 500mm+ before adding teleconverters. Brown bears are large animals, and we will be as close as we can safely get, but you simply cannot have too much ‘reach’. You will also want 2 or 3 shorter focal length lenses. 

  • Filters – A polarizing filter is very handy for cutting glare off water, foliage  and even fur.

  • Batteries and Memory cards – you will be shooting a lot, maybe more than you ever have, easily in the thousands of images and hundreds of gigabytes total. Bring PLENTY of extra cards and batteries. You should NOT erase/overwrite any memory cards until you get home, even if you have downloaded the images to your laptop or hard drive.

  • Camera Battery Charger – do not forget! As a backup, you might consider purchasing USB powered battery charger. They are cheap and let you charge your camera batteries without a wall outlet. Google “(your camera model) USB charger”.

  • Tripod – sturdy, but light with a ballhead or gimbal and a quick release mount is the way to go. Make sure your tripod can solidly support your longest lens and that you don’t have to bend over uncomfortably WITHOUT extending the center column. Hand holding extreme telephoto lenses is not ideal for best results. Also, don’t forget your quick release tripod plates–in fact, I strongly recommend purchasing an extra plate to leave permanently attached to your long lens(es).

  • Headlamp – MUCH better than a flashlight because it leaves both hands free.

 Other Things to Pack

  • Laptop or tablet – highly recommended. Your photography will improve if you review your images daily. Doing preliminary selects and ratings also makes the mountain of images more manageable when you get home. We will also have several sessions on post processing and image management

  • Portable hard drive - for image storage and/or backup. If you are considering purchasing one, look for a “bus powered” model – a drive that gets its power from the computer and does not require a separate power cord.

  • Chargers and cables for your mobile phone and other electronics

  • Power bank – always handy when traveling

OTHER/MISC

SSCL Acknowledgment of Risks form – please download, complete and return this form to us ASAP.

Travel Insurance – is highly recommended. Policies that cover medical evacuation as well as many other things like trip delay/cancellation, lost luggage, theft/loss, etc. are widely available at reasonable cost.

Fishing  – for salmon and halibut are optional activities available at SSCL  at additional cost. Fishing licenses may be purchased at the lodge and fishing rods and tackle are available for rent.

A Word About Gratuities - Like many service businesses, SSCL’s guides and staff rely on gratuities for a substantial portion of their total income. I think you will find them to be outstanding at what they do. If you feel you received good service, a token of your appreciation would be greatly appreciated. People always ask for guidance on amounts – what I can say is that the typical range we see is:

Guide: $100-$150

Kitchen & Housekeeping staff: $50-$100 total

If I’ve missed anything or you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch by phone, text or email.

Thanks, I look forward to meeting you in Anchorage!

Ken Lee
Art of Seeing Photography Adventures
949-282-9660 mobile
ken@artofseeing.com