
Every fall in Haines, Alaska bald eagles congregate along the Chilkat River. A fall salmon run attracts these magnificent birds, resulting in the largest gathering of bald eagles in the world. Their numbers are staggering. More than 3000 eagles arrive, and it is not uncommon to have hundreds of birds in trees across the river. This is a bucket list trip for wildlife photographers. Imagine listening to the constant chattering of bald eagles while viewing multiple birds in your camera viewfinder feasting on salmon. Amazing!
We will meet our group in Haines at the ferry dock to begin our adventure. After checking into the hotel, we will have an afternoon photography session in the field.
For the photographer, there is no easier place to photograph bald eagles in the wild than Haines. Each day we will take a short drive to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve and spend our day photographing the birds. The eagles often fight over salmon giving photographers ample chances to photograph these encounters. Frequent flybys give photographers plenty of chances to capture birds in flight against the rugged snow-capped Takinsha Mountains. In the evenings we will review images and work on editing.
You will have a lot of fun, improve your photography, and create images worthy of hanging in your home.
What you will learn:
Exposure
Composition
Wildlife Photography techniques
Photographing birds in flight
Editing in Lightroom and PhotoShop
A typical day: Our days focus on photographing the eagles. Our goal is to help you learn how to take compelling eagle photos with hands on instruction. We will cover camera settings, anticipating behavior, and specialty topics like auto-focus patterns. and pan/blur techniques.
Included in the fee:
Lodging in Haines at the Captain’s Choice
Some meals, including deli lunches while in Haines, breakfasts at the hotel
Welcome and Final Dinners at local restaurants
All instruction
Location and permit fees
Copy of Tom’s ebook Create Better Photographs
Transportation to and from ferry terminal in Haines
Daily transportation to the eagle site
Photographers will provide their own:
Round trip transportation to Haines, Alaska
Meals. lodging and transportation while getting to Haines
Dinners that are not listed
Alcoholic beverages and gratuities