On our most diverse Alaska wildlife photo tour, you can (in the span of 6 days) capture stunning, gallery-worthy images of brown bears, whales (humpback, fin, and orca), sea otters, river otters, puffins, bald eagles, sea lions, fox, wild horses, harbor seals, ermine, emperor geese, and (fingers crossed) the northern lights. Another reason to go? You’ll be guided by Michelle Theall, the executive editor and pro photographer for Alaska Magazine, who lives in Kodiak and promises to help you take your images to the next level.

There are places in Alaska where brown bears gather in extraordinary numbers. Kodiak offers something different: a magical maritime backdrop with the largest brown bears on earth sparring beneath rugged cliffs, playing in mossy, lush rainforests, and chasing abundant pink salmon spawning in coastal streams. These backgrounds combined with the moody weather of the island and its ever-changing light ensure photographers the most unique bear images in all of Alaska. And bears…well, they’re only a part of the tour.

On this six-day Photo Expedition we'll travel by boat, van and UTV to reach different habitats around the island, with our days shaped by wildlife activity, weather, tides and, always the light. Rather than photographing bears from a single location day after day, we'll experience Kodiak from several perspectives, giving us opportunities to create a much broader portfolio of this remarkable island. We'll also spend time on the water searching for whales breaching and fluking, rafts of sea otters tumbling and playing, puffins carrying silver fish in their beaks, and we’ll travel out to remote cove accessible only by ATV to photograph the island’s wild horses, along with more bears, foxes, and hopefully…the rare life-list bird, the emperor goose.

We'll be based near Chiniak, away from the noise, lights, and people in downtown Kodiak. Here, peaceful forest meets rugged coastline, and wildlife can turn up within steps of our lodge. So, we can always be shooting. After dark, if clear skies and aurora activity happen to align, we’ll get epic shots without having to get out of our pajamas.

Throughout the expedition, professional photographer Michelle Theall will help participants make the most of each photographic opportunity. Field instruction, image review and editing discussions are woven into the experience, with an emphasis on both technical skills and creating photographs that tell the story of Kodiak's wildlife and wild landscapes.

This is Alaska photography with room for the unexpected. On Kodiak, that's often where the best images begin.

Day 1 | Welcome to Kodiak

Arrive in Kodiak and meet your fellow photographers before we make our way to our waterfront accommodations near Chiniak.

Our drive provides our first introduction to the island, where mountains, spruce forest and coastline come together in a landscape that feels distinctly different from mainland Alaska. We'll settle in, discuss the days ahead and, depending on arrival times and conditions, head outside for our first photography session.

With five nights in one location with the photo instructor, there's no need to continually pack and move and editing happens in real time each night. More importantly, our Chiniak base puts us in position to watch for wildlife right outside our door.

Accommodations: Lakefront 7-Bedroom House near Chiniak

Meals: Dinner

Day 2 | Kodiak Brown Bears

Today we turn our attention to the animal that has made Kodiak famous.

Kodiak brown bears are the largest brown bears in the world, and late August coincides with one of the most important feeding periods of their year. As salmon return to the island's streams, bears take advantage of this concentrated food source as they prepare for the months ahead.

We'll travel to productive bear habitat based on local knowledge and recent activity. Our photography may include bears fishing, nursing cubs, feeding along streambanks or playing with one another.

Wildlife determines the pace today. We'll spend the time needed to observe behavior and work a photographic situation rather than simply getting a bear sighting and moving on. Michelle will be alongside the group throughout the experience, helping with settings, composition, anticipating behavior and making the most of changing conditions.

Accommodations: Lakefront 7-Bedroom House near Chiniak

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3 | Kodiak by Sea

Kodiak's story extends well beyond its shoreline. Today we'll head onto the water to explore the island's rich marine environment.

We'll watch for whales as we travel, along with sea otters, sea lions, and other marine mammals. Seabirds can provide another dimension to the day, including opportunities for puffins and auklets and other species associated with Kodiak's productive coastal waters.

Photographing from a boat presents its own creative and technical challenges. Michelle will work with the group on techniques for moving subjects, changing backgrounds and the constantly shifting relationship between wildlife, boat, and light.

And while marine wildlife is today's focus, this is Kodiak. If tides and weather permit, we’ll make a very special trip with our boat out to a remote fish hatchery where bears can be abundant and provide us with exclusive and intimate access.

Accommodations: Lakefront 7-Bedroom House near Chiniak

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4 | Into Kodiak's Wild Interior

Today we trade the boat for UTVs and travel toward Saltery Cove, taking us deeper into Kodiak's backcountry.

The journey itself is part of the photographic experience. We'll move through changing habitats and broad landscapes while watching for wildlife along the way. Brown bears remain a possibility, as do eagles, fox, ermine and some of the other animals that make their home on the island.

We'll also look for Kodiak's wild horses, origins unknown, who’ve lived free for decades here with scars and knotted manes and fierce resilience. Photographing them against the unique ocean and mountain Alaskan backdrop is a once-in-a-lifetime image.

This is a day for widening our photographic perspective. After several days concentrating on wildlife encounters, we'll also consider environmental images that place animals within the dramatic landscapes they inhabit.

Accommodations: Lakefront 7-Bedroom House near Chiniak

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5 | A Day To Slow Down

After several days exploring Kodiak, today we'll stay closer to home. And that's hardly a compromise.

Our waterfront property near Chiniak is a destination, with expansive coastal views, lakeside setting, and a long beach with wildlife that can appear without us going anywhere at all. We'll have time to explore the property, watch for photographic opportunities and simply enjoy being in this beautiful corner of Kodiak. An onsite winery and wellness center offerings add to the appeal of a day without a schedule pulling us elsewhere.

For photographers, this is also an important part of the expedition. We'll slow down long enough to review what we've captured, work through editing techniques and talk about the choices that turn a technically good photograph into a more compelling image. Michelle will lead image reviews and discussions, with plenty of time for individual questions and feedback. Emphasis will be on editing…an oft-neglected part of workshops that is critical to evoking the “wow-factor” everyone is looking for in their final image.

Of course, photography instruction isn't confined to today. Throughout the expedition, Michelle will be available in the field to help with equipment, settings, technique and composition.

Participants are encouraged to photograph alongside her and ask questions as situations unfold. Often, the most useful instruction happens in those real-time moments when wildlife, light and opportunity all come together.

And for anyone traveling with us who isn't a photographer, today is simply an invitation to enjoy the property at your own pace.

Accommodations: Lakefront 7-Bedroom House near Chiniak

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6 | Farewell to Kodiak

We'll take advantage of our final morning as conditions and departure schedules allow. Wildlife don't operate according to an itinerary, and one last look outside can sometimes produce an unexpected final photograph.

After breakfast, we'll transfer to Kodiak for departing flights.

We'll leave with memory cards full of images, but also with something harder to capture: a sense of an island where bears, salmon, whales, forests and sea remain deeply connected. A place where photography gives us a reason to slow down long enough to notice those connections.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Price: $8950* per person based.

Please note that we’re staying in a 7-bedroom house with four bathrooms.

Includes: lodging for 5 nights as listed; photo workshop leader Michelle Theall; all meals from dinner on Day 1 through lunch on Day 6; private transportation, including snacks and refreshments in the vehicle; boat tour; UTV tour; and all activities as listed.

Excludes: airfare to and from your departure city and Kodiak, travel insurance (quotes available), optional activities, pre- or post-trip hotels, gratuities for your boat captain, UTV tour driver guides, housekeeping, and personal expenses.

*Reflects payment by ACH. Credit card fees, if applicable, will be assessed at the time of booking.

Group Size: 4-6 photographers, plus Michelle Theall.

Level of Difficulty - Moderate: While this expedition is designed with photographers in mind, you don't need to be a shutterbug to enjoy it! Wildlife enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates Alaska's spectacular landscapes will find plenty to love about this adventure.

This trip combines wildlife viewing by boat, backcountry exploration by side-by-side off-road vehicle, and touring Kodiak Island's road system by van and on foot. Participants should be comfortable with the following:

·       Boat and backcountry excursions: A full-day marine wildlife tour (approximately 8 hours) and a full-day backcountry adventure by side-by-side vehicle over rough terrain. Those with back or neck issues should avoid the off-road excursion.

·       Walking and standing: Walking on wet, muddy, or uneven ground, navigating stairs, and standing for extended periods while observing wildlife, sometimes for up to 3 hours at a time.

·       Transportation: Getting in and out of boats, vans, shuttles, and off-road vehicles, and riding comfortably over uneven terrain.

·       Weather: Spending time outdoors in Alaska's unpredictable weather, including sunshine, rain, wind, and cooler temperatures. Dressing in layers is essential!

·       Early starts: Most days begin by 7 a.m. to make the most of wildlife viewing and photography opportunities.

For photographers: All experience levels, from enthusiastic beginners to professionals, are welcome. We recommend bringing a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a lens of at least 300mm for wildlife photography. Rental equipment is also an option. Familiarity with your camera's basic manual settings before departure will help you make the most of the experience.

Above all, bring your sense of adventure, curiosity, flexibility, and humor! Wildlife and weather don't always follow a schedule, and some of Alaska's most memorable moments happen when you least expect them.

Throughout the tour professional photographer, Michelle Theall, will help with equipment and give hands-on instruction regarding technique, composition, and post-editing. In between activities and meals, we’ll schedule time to review images, have presentations, and discuss relevant information to help you hone your craft. That said, at any time during the trip, feel free to ask for tips, guidance, settings, etc. The best instruction happens if you shadow her in the field for minute-to-minute tips and instruction.