ALASKA BROWN BEARS AT BROOKS FALLS

Photograph Alaska’s top predator on a camping adventure at Katmai’s Brooks Falls

JULY 25 - 31, 2024 *** SOLD OUT ***

It’s hard to describe the thrill of locking eyes with a 800 pound grizzly bear in the wild. In most anywhere else in the world, any sane person would be filled with terror. But in Alaska, with abundant food sources, getting on the same level as these beasts with unimaginable strength and looking them directly in the eyes is not only possible, it’s the stuff that great photos are made of.

This photography adventure will take you to the legendary Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park where we will spend 5 days and nights among these apex predators in the most iconic bear habitat on earth during the salmon run as they feast. You have seen the photos of bears catching fish jumping over the falls with dozens of friends fishing below in the river. Here we will not only be trying to capture photos of “the catch” but also intimate images of bear activity from swimming in streams, splashing in the water or even fighting with one another.

Nothing quite comes close to this totally immersive experience among the largest predator in North America, wandering in the wild with them and a backdrop of tall mountain peaks and wetlands. Wandering the grounds at Brooks you never know when a big bear will cross your path, we are guests in their home and there will no doubt from the moment you arrive whose domain we are in. That said we will be in a well staffed nook of the national park with full amenities, albeit rustic. Think of it as summer camp, with bears everywhere! Whether it’s a mother with cubs, the salmon running, or a big grizzly peacefully grazing in the grasslands, there is no better environment to see these impressive animals safely and in their natural environment at this close distance. The photographs you will come away with on this workshop will be nothing short of amazing and capture memories for a lifetime! 

Please Note: This is a camping trip, meaning that we will be sleeping in tents. However there is a dining hall, small general store, bathrooms, showers, and bar at Brooks Camp. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily or participants may prepare their own food at our campsite.  

INSTRUCTOR: CHRIS BYRNE & BEN BLANKENSHIP

GROUP SIZE: 4 PARTICIPANTS

COST: $4500

INCLUDED: First night’s hotel in King Salmon, Float plane to/from Brooks Camp, Tent and sleeping pad.

NOT INCLUDED: Flights to King Salmon AK, Food, Alcohol, Camera Equipment

DEPOSIT: A $2250 deposit is required to secure a spot, with a final payment of $2250 due 90 days in advance of the workshop.

This workshop is currently Sold Out. Please click here to be added to the waitlist.

ITINERARY

The workshop will begin on July 25, 2024 with your arrival into King Salmon, Alaska. The town is not very big and we will arrange transportation from the airport to our hotel for the night. We will have a group orientation and dinner that evening and the following day take our float plane to Brooks Camp. From that point on for the next 5 days we will be exploring the small park in search of photographing interesting bear behavior. The beauty of camping in Brooks is that we will have a more leisurely experience than the day trippers that come in for a few hours each day. And we have the opportunity to photograph bears during golden hour light when the crowds have already departed.

There will be no long hikes, and we will be on our own timetable. As there is no cell service it is the perfect place to disconnect and fully immerse yourself in nature and experience the wildlife. In the evenings we can relax around the fire in the main lodge with a cold beverage trading bear stories with the other guests. The workshop will end the morning of July 31 when we pack up our camp and fly out to King Salmon for our connecting flights back home. Please note, while our dates are set, this itinerary is subject to change depending on weather, plane and boat availability.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Bears, bears, and more bears! Add in beautiful scenery of the wetlands in Katmai and you have an experience that only a privileged few have get a chance to see each year. The opportunity to watch bears here in their home, on their terms, and photograph their natural and wild behavior is a must do on the top of any nature or wildlife photographer’s list. You would be hard pressed to leave here and not become a steward of the Alaskan brown bear’s plight and this vital ecosystem.

Our trip to Brooks Falls will give you the chance to see and hopefully photograph one of the most classic scenes in wildlife photography. That of brown bears catching salmon jumping over the falls on their way to Brooks Lake. Yes it has been photographed countless times, but to see it in person and capture yourself is more than worth it. We have arranged private guided tours on a small boat to get us out of the main campground and more seclusion with these fierce animals. There is no doubt you will head home from this wildlife photography adventure with thousands of photos and even better memories of your week spent with Alaska’s iconic Grizzly Bears.

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

Hello there! I’m Chris Byrne and I spent way too many years aimlessly wandering the earth and working for the man before finding my true passion in nature and landscape photography. My love of nature started very early in life as I would study the photographs in my dad’s huge collection of National Geographics, and also spend as much time as I could out exploring in the woods with my younger brother. Fast forward many years and after getting a finance degree in college I went to work in the stock market for over fifteen years (and didn’t get rich). During my time, I saw first hand two of the most devastating financial crises in our country’s history, and after the second go around I completely lost interest in my profession and desperately needed something more. I found myself in a place in life without any inspiration or excitement for what I was doing.

Then on a trip to Glacier, Montana I rediscovered my love of nature. However, the photographs I was trying to get just didn’t do the place any justice. It was then that I decided to get serious about photography and quickly poured all of myself into the craft, learning as much as possible as quickly as I could. I was a super sponge and had a new passion for life! As soon as I became proficient in my skills, I wanted to share my knowledge and began teaching others. Now I lead workshops to some of the best places on the globe.

Along the way I’ve won a few awards, but with so many contests out there, I wouldn’t claim that’s a good judge of a good teacher. Rather I am proud to be able to inspire others and spend as much time as I possibly can with each person in helping them connect with nature while teaching the techniques to capture the images that they want to create. Seeing people make breakthroughs in their art is something that I cherish. I truly believe that nature is good for the soul. The more you explore, the more you will be inspired. Join me on an unforgettable photography adventure!

Ben Blankenship is a professional photographer, documentary filmmaker, and photography instructor. He began his career working in film production as a cinematographer and film editor, but soon heard a higher calling, to devote himself to the preservation of our wild places and the animals that reside therein. He spent the next two years living in remote camps in Costa Rica, Belize, and Uganda, learning to harness the power of his camera as a tool for education and conservation.  In the years since, Ben has worked in some of the most pristine wildernesses in the world, sharing space an with an array of incredible wildlife, including many large predators. His work has been published in the New York Times, National Geographic, The Oregonian, and his most recent work will be published in The New Yorker (coming out soon).

Today, he calls the jungles of Costa Rica home, but Alaska will always hold a special place in his heart.  For the past six summers, he has spent weeks on end camping alongside one of Alaska’s most iconic animals; the brown bear. “Camping with Alaskan brown bears is a humbling, and unforgettable experience. There’s nothing like opening your tent in the morning to see a mother bear and her two cubs grazing just 50 feet away, totally calm and completely comfortable with your presence.”

Ben is an experienced photography instructor. He has taken well over 500 clients into the wilds of Africa, South America, Alaska and many other places. His goal is his clients’ success and enjoyment, and hopefully, for them to walk away with some of the best photos they’ve ever taken, and definitely some unforgettable stories.

CANCELLATION POLICY & TRAVEL INSURANCE - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

We reserve the right to cancel the workshop if minimum participants are not met or in the event of an emergency. In the event of emergency where Chris cannot personally attend, then a replacement guide will be the first option. If a cancellation does occur, participants may either use the fee towards a future workshop or receive a full refund. We are not responsible for travel expenses incurred and therefore strongly recommend getting travel insurance to cover such costs. Two companies that we recommend are Ripcord and Squaremouth.

A $200 change fee will be charged for changes or cancellations. Participants who cancel prior to 120 days before the workshop will receive either a full refund or credit to a future workshop minus the change fee. Any cancellations within 120 days of the workshop cannot be refunded under any circumstances. Only if we are able to fill the vacancy, will the participant will receive a credit to a future workshop minus the change fee. Workshop credits are good for one calendar year from the date of the missed workshop. If a desired replacement workshop is sold out, we will work with you on the credit.

Any cancellations within 60 days of the workshop (for any reason) will forfeit their entire registration fee as it is extremely difficult to fill the space on that short of notice. If a true emergency arises last minute we will do our best to work with you granting a partial credit towards a future workshop, but this is not guaranteed. Again travel insurance is strongly recommended.