Experience the Grandeur & Adventure
of Denali National Park, Alaska
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The Alaska Range at Sunrise, Denali National Park
1/60 sec., F/5.6, ISO 400
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Denali National Park
September 2 - 8, 2017
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This is a unique opportunity to photograph the amazing wildlife and sweeping vistas of Denali National Park. Be one of just a handful of photographers who get the chance to travel deep inside the park while living in relative luxury.
Autumn comes early to Alaska, and this trip is timed to put us there for peak fall color, and when the wildlife is at its best.
 The tundra spreads out before us for miles in shades of red, gold, and orange. The animals' coats are rich and full, beautiful after a peaceful summer of feeding.
Each day we will be in our private spacious vehicle with our own expert naturalist, with opportunities to photograph wildlife like moose, caribou, grizzly bear, and Dall sheep. And all around us will be the snow-capped Alaska Range of mountains
 with the famous Denali, the highest mountain in North America, rising majestically above it all.
Each evening we return to our well-appointed lodge for a chef-prepared dinner, photographic education, image critiques, and Q and A sessions.
Our accommodations are at the highest-rated lodge in Denali. Each double occupancy room has a private bath and all the amenities.
 The huge staff is there to make sure our stay is the best it can be. It just doesn't get any better than this.
This is the photographic opportunity of a lifetime. Even if you have been to Alaska before, you have never experienced it like this - up close and personal for several days in a row.
This trip is limited to only 10 photographers, and there are just a few spaces left, so reserve now. A deposit of $1595 will reserve your space in this unique and spectacular photo trip.
The trip begins in Anchorage with a Welcome and Orientation session on the first evening. Here is a basic trip itinerary:
Day 1 - meet in Anchorage
Day 2 - transported by motorcoach to Denali National Park with opportunities to photograph Denali ("The Great One") along the way. Overnight at a lovely hotel at the park entrance. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Day 3 - transported by bus deep inside the park to our lodging, with many stops along the way to photograph wildlife and sweeping scenics. We will have a lovely picnic supper along a river bank at about the halfway point of the 90-mile drive, with dessert when we arrive at the lodge. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Days 4, 5, 6 - full days of photographing; transported each day on large private vehicle with trained naturalist / driver. Everyone has a window seat with plenty of room for gear and to spread out. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Day 7 - transported back to the park entrance where we board our private car aboard the famous Alaska Railroad for a scenic and relaxing ride back to Anchorage. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. Tour ends upon arrival in Anchorage. 
This all-inclusive trip covers everything except your round-trip airfare from your home to Anchorage and return, and hotel and meals in Anchorage. Included in your tour fee is all lodging and meals in Denali National Park, ground transportation from Anchorage to Denali National Park and return, all ground transportation in Denali National Park, personalized instruction, image critiques, and tips.
More details are on our
website here. To protect your security, all reservations are taken by phone, so please call us at 757-773-0194 for more details, or to register.
 Or if you have questions, please either call or
email us.
READ THE BONUS ARTICLE BELOW FOR TIPS ON
PHOTOGRAPHING WILDLIFE IN DENALI NATIONAL PARK
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Photographing Wildlife In
Denali National Park
Traveling and photographing in Denali is a bit different from other areas. Because of the fragile nature of the area, with delicate tundra, short growing seasons, and limited food supplies for the wildlife, it is important that photographers understand and respect the animals and the environment.
Since we travel over great distances, and wildlife can appear at any time with little warning, it is important to be ready at all times. So here is my 6-Pack of Shooting Tips to help you get the best shots:
1. HAVE TWO CAMERA BODIES READY, each with a different lens. I carry one body with a 100-400mm lens and 1.4x extender, and the other body with a 70-200mm lens. That combination will cover nearly everything that might appear. The distances in Denali are so vast, that even the 70-200mm lens provides a wide enough angle to get some nice environmental shots of wildlife that include their surroundings. I also carry a 17-40mm wide angle lens in my camera bag to use for sweeping scenics.
2. KNOW YOUR GEAR. Even if you have exactly the right equipment ready for whatever opportunities present themselves, you must be 100% comfortable using your cameras and lenses. Taking time fumbling with settings costs you valuable seconds and may keep you from getting the shots you want.
3. USE RAPID BURST. Set your camera body to Rapid Burst. Even with slow-moving animals, shooting a burst of images will assure you of getting a variety of head positions, leg positions, open eyes, etc. It is sometimes difficult to see if the eyes are open on animals with dark fur and dark eyes. So shooting a burst will help you get successful images.
4. UNDERSTAND EXPOSURE COMPENSATION. And speaking of animals with dark fur, know how to use Exposure Compensation. Even if your exposure is technically perfect, often the dark fur will be underexposed in spite of a good-looking histogram. And any under-exposed area will have more digital noise than properly exposed areas. So I suggest a PLUS 1-stop exposure compensation setting most of the time when shooting dark animals.
5. BE PATIENT. If you arrive at an area where you think animals will appear, like a wetlands where moose feed or blueberry bushes that attract grizzly bears, be prepared to wait for them to show up. Often a little patience will be rewarded with great shots.
6. PRACTICE SAFETY. Learn the behaviors of the animals you seek, and know what signals they give when they are stressed or feel threatened. In most wilderness areas you should keep at least 100 yards between yourself and wildlife. In mating season, which is in the autumn when we travel in Denali, we maintain an even greater distance, especially with males whose main objectives are mating and protecting their harem. Approaching too closely, making noise, or making eye contact can trigger a predatory response.
Armed with this 6-Pack of tips you will be able to safely photograph the wildlife in Denali, and have a great time doing it. And you will return home with some real winners!
Happy shooting and join me in Alaska!
Mollie
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