2025 Alaska Grizzlies Photography Adventure

Workshop Information Packet

WELCOME!

Thanks again for joining our 2025 Alaska Grizzlies Photography Adventure. We’re very excited to share the stunning 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 6–12, 2025
Instructor/Leader: Ken Lee

The workshop begins at 4pm on September 6 at the Marriott Courtyard Anchorage Airport and ends upon our return to Anchorage on September 12.

We will overnight in Anchorage on Sep 6 and travel to Silver Salmon Creek Lodge (SSCL) inside Lake Clark National Park via a private charter 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  at the 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 15, 2024
Remaining Balance – May 15, 2025

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 6 (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.  

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 –  a block of rooms is on hold for our group at the Marriott Courtyard Anchorage Airport but you must book your own reservations. A booking link will be provided by email to book your rooms under our group rate.

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.

Weather Note – expect cool coastal conditions. Daytime temps are typically in the 50’s to 60’s Fahrenheit (~10°–15° 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 Layers – a truly waterproof jacket AND pants are a must.

  • 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) – any modern dSLR or mirrorless (full frame or crop sensor) will work and even high-end point & shoot (aka ‘bridge’ cameras) with a long zoom (400mm+) are an option.

    However, mirrorless bodies with animal-eye-detection are particularly well suited for the type of shooting we will be doing and will increase your keeper rate significantly.

  • Lenses – Your longest lens will the workhorse of this trip and should reach at least 400mm, preferably 500mm+ before adding teleconverters. Some photographers 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. – it’s your call.  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 such as a 70-200mm or 24–105. 

  • 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).

  • Camera Raincover - There are many choices out there but we haven’t found anything better than OP/Tech’s Rainsleeve, which happens to be one of the least expensive options. Make sure to get the right size(s) to fit all your lenses.

  • Microfiber towels – one or two of these inside a Ziploc bag are always handy to have in your bag to wipe moisture off your camera body or lens

  • 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